Community control of hypertension- experiences from Finland.
The improvement in the hypertension control in Finland started in the 1970s by the activities of the North Karelia Project, a comprehensive programme for the control of cardiovascular diseases. The blood pressure level of the population has had a continuous downward trend according to the population surveys conducted every fifth year since 1972 and the rule of halves has changed to the rule of two-thirds. The serum cholesterol level has decreased among hypertensives, even though it is still higher than among normotensives; the patients with antihypertensive drug treatment smoke less than the rest of the population. However, the situation is far from optimal; BP levels are high and body mass index is continuously increasing among the patients. The need for intensifying both pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatment among the hypertensives on a large scale is obvious.
Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, National Public Health Institute (KTL), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. aulikki.nissinen@ktl.fi
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Nissinen
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Kastarinen
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Tuomilehto
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003153:Community Health Services; D004032:Diet; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011159:Population Surveillance
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents