10-year follow-up of young male patients with mild hypertension

In 1977, 92 male patients with mild hypertension (persistent diastolic blood pressure between 90 and 104 mmHg) were found from among 1608 men aged between 18 and 40 years old who were employees of an industrial company. Of these, 81 patients were followed-up for 10 years. After that time, blood pressures (BP) of 44.4% of the mild hypertensive patients became normotensive (group N); BP of 22.2% remained mild hypertensive (group M); and BP of 33.4% increased to higher levels than the starting BP (group H). Higher levels of systolic and diastolic BP, a higher incidence of family history of hypertension, a higher voltage of SV1 + RV5 on ECG and a lower concentration of serum triglycerides at the starting point were risk factors for the progression to higher levels of hypertension. Body weights of patients in group H increased significantly during the follow-up period. These results indicate that male mild hypertensive patients with the above-mentioned risk factors should be followed carefully, especially with regard to increased body weights.