title: Trends in blood pressure levels, prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in the Czech population from 1985 to 2000/01.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess trends in blood pressure (BP) levels, prevalence, awareness, and control of hypertension in the Czech population from 1985 to 2000/01.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five independent cross-sectional population surveys conducted in 1985, 1988, 1992, 1997/98, and 2000/01.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six, mostly rural, districts of the Czech Republic (Praha-východ, Benesov, Pardubice, Chrudim, Cheb, and Jindrichův Hradec).
  
  
  METHODS
  Men and women aged 25-64 years randomly selected from six districts using the National Population Register/General Health Insurance Company Register (covering, by law, all citizens). The total number of participants was 11 726.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed the mean systolic BP, diastolic BP and pulse pressure, prevalence of hypertension (systolic BP > or = 140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP > or = 90 mmHg, or current treatment with antihypertensive drugs), awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean systolic BP, diastolic BP, and pulse pressure decreased significantly over a period of 15/16 years. This was associated with a significant decrease in the prevalence of hypertension (from 47.1 to 39.1%, P < 0.001) and with an increase in its awareness (from 49.5 to 67.2%, P < 0.001), use of antihypertensive medication (from 29.3 to 49.3%, P < 0.001), and hypertension control (from 3.9 to 17.0%, P < 0.001). Despite having lower BP values and prevalence of hypertension, females showed higher awareness of the disease, and were more frequently taking antihypertensive medication, and their hypertension was better controlled.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reduction in population BP and improved control of hypertension may have contributed to the decrease in cerebrovascular and coronary heart disease mortality in the Czech Republic. The positive longitudinal changes seen in the MONICA regions need not necessarily reflect the situation in the country as a whole. The situation is far from being optimal; a major problem is inadequate treatment of hypertension
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Cardiology, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic. recf@medicon.cz
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cífková
authors.forename: Zdenka
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Skodová
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lánská
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Adámková
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Novozámská
authors.forename: Zdena
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Petrzílková
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jozífová
authors.forename: Markéta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Plásková
authors.forename: Zdenek
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hejl
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Palous
authors.forename: Markéta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galovcová
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018153:Czech Republic / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012042:Registries
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents