BLOOD PRESSURE AND ITS TREATMENT IN A COMMUNITY THE ALBURY BLOOD PRESSURE STUDY

Abstract

In a sample of all people aged 50 to 59 years In an Australian provincial city, the prevalence and mode of treatment of hypertension were estimated. Of 1,744 who filled in questionnaires relating to past and present diagnosis and treatment of hypertension, 1,515 (87%) were examined. Twenty‐two per cent had at some time been told they had high blood pressure and 15% of women and 9% of men were currently receiving treatment for hypertension. Of those receiving treatment, 30% had diastolic blood pressures of 110 mm Hg or more at the time of the survey. Additionally, 9% of the population had diastolic pressures of 110 mm Hg or more and were not currently receiving treatment; three‐quarters of these had not been previously diagnosed as having high blood pressure. The most common type of treatment indicated was with one drug, and the commonest drugs were diuretics and methyl‐dopa.