Optimal blood pressure and high normal blood pressure in La Plata, Argentina.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of optimal blood pressure (BP) and high normal BP according to the definition of the Joint National Committee (JNC)-V.


METHODS
A population survey was used. BP was measured with mercury sphygmomanometers using the auscultatory method. BP was obtained as the average of two BP readings on a single occasion.


METHODS
Population, ages 15 to 75, living in La Plata.


METHODS
For sampling purposes, census areas were taken as units chosen randomly with proportional probability to the number of houses. Six thousand three hundred and eighty-six inhabitants were screened in these census areas. Individuals were screened who were not under hypertensive treatment; had BP less than 120/80 mmHg (optimal BP); and systolic BP between 130 and 139 mmHg and/or diastolic BP between 85 and 89 mmHg (high normal BP).


RESULTS
The prevalence of optimal BP was 32%. It was higher in women (39%) than in men (21%) (P < 0.0005) and decreased with age in both sexes. The prevalence of high normal BP was 18%. It was higher in men (24%) than in women (14%) (P < 0.0005).


CONCLUSIONS
Due to the low prevalence of optimal BP and the high prevalence of high normal BP, the population of La Plata has a high cardiovascular risk. Studies of primary prevention of hypertension have shown that some changes in life style are effective in lowering not only the BP but also the incidence of hypertension.
Carbajal
H A
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Sección Hipertensión Arterial, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001118:Argentina; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000517:prevention & control; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012016:Reference Values