This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Nissinen, A. Articles by Puska, P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Nissinen, A. Articles by Puska, P. Pubmed/NCBI databases Medline Plus Health Information High Blood Pressure

Hypertension, Vol 5, 564-572, Copyright © 1983 by American Heart Association

ARTICLES

North Karelia (Finland) hypertension detection project. Five-year follow-up of hypertensive cohort

A Nissinen, J Tuomilehto, J Elo, A Alasoini, P Varvikko and P Puska

A 5-year follow-up study of a random sample of middle-aged hypertensives indicated that the North Karelia (Finland) Hypertension Detection Project was effective in reducing blood pressure levels. This analysis indicated that the intensification of drug treatment caused marked blood pressure reduction in the community, especially among individuals with previously undetected cases of hypertension. Reduction of blood pressure levels among nontreated persons was observed in this study and may reflect in part the importance of both active case finding and follow-up including health education and preventive services. The community approach used in this study reached and brought under control most of those people who were undetected at the beginning of the study and most of the hypertensives. On the basis of the results, it is concluded that a well-organized hypertension control program can meet the challenge of hypertension care and benefit millions of people throughout the world.