Experience with a community screening program for hypertension: results on 24,462 individuals

A hypertension screening program was conducted by means of mobile units generally used for detection of tuberculosis and chest diseases. From 1st October 1973 to 31st July 1976, 24, 462 individuals aged 35 and over were examined. 10.7% were found to have elevated blood pressure (greater than 160/95 mm Hg). Among these subjects, 43% of the male and 24% of the female had never been told they were hypertensive. 5.6% of the men and 7% of the women had a diastolic reading of 105 mm Hg or more. Undetected hypertension decreased with age and was less frequent in women than in men. Young male hypertensives were frequently aware of their disease. When known, hypertension remained untreated in 14.5% of cases and badly controlled in 26%. One yr after screening, 400 patients who had been found to have undetected hypertension were contacted; 358 (89.5%) had seen their family doctor and 42% of them were under continuous medical treatment. These results further underline the challenge of undetected, untreated and uncontrolled hypertension.