A 3-year follow-up of middle-aged men with borderline blood pressure

Ninety-eight middle-aged men with untreated borderline raised blood pressure (BP) have been reexamined after three years. Twenty-five subjects were considered to be hypertensive, motivating a shorter interval for rescreening. Systolic BP had decreased in 23%, diastolic BP in 46% and both pressures in 15%. Those who developed hypertension had higher systolic BP at the initial examination. A family history of hypertension was more common in this group.