Improvement in hypertension detection and control from 1973-1974 to 1980-1981. The Minnesota Heart Survey experience
A. R. Folsom, R. V. Luepker, R. F. Gillum, D. R. Jacobs, R. J. Prineas, H. L. Taylor and H. Blackburn
Blood pressures from a 1980-1981 survey of 1,656 adults in Minneapolis-St
Paul were compared with BPs from a similar community survey of 3,475 adults
conducted in 1973-1974. Mean age-adjusted BPs in 1980-1981 were 3 mm Hg
lower for men and 2 mm Hg lower for women than in 1973-1974. Hypertension
prevalence, defined as diastolic BP of 95 mm Hg or greater and/or use of
antihypertensive medication, was essentially unchanged. In 1973-1974,
however, only 40.4% of hypertensive persons had adequately controlled BPs,
13.7% were treated but had conditions that were uncontrolled, 20.4% had
known hypertension but were untreated, and 25.5% had previously undetected
hypertension. In 1980-1981, the respective percentages were 76.1%, 8.5%,
8.8% and 6.6%. These impressive changes in hypertension detection and
control may have contributed to the recent decline in cardiovascular
disease mortality in this community.
