[Prevalence of arterial hypertension and its treatment in 2,595 adults]

The prevalence of arterial hypertension, as defined by the W.H.O. (systolic BP greater than 160 mmHg and/or diastolic BP greater than 95 mmHg), and the prevalence of its treatment were studied in 2595 local government employees of Marseilles, aged from 20 to 65 years. The prevalence of hypertension was 17.96 p. 100 (466/2595, including 222 men and 244 women). The prevalence of normal tension was 57.50 p. 100 (1492/2595, including 802 men and 690 women). The prevalence of treated hypertension was 37.98 p. 100 (177/466) divided into 29.27 p. 100 (65/222) in men and 45.90 p. 100 (112/244) in women (p less than 0.0001). Blood pressure was controlled by treatment in 32.30 p. 100 (21/65) of treated men and in 36.61 p. 100 (41/112) of treated women (NS). 81.14 p. 100 (198/244) of hypertensive women and 57/82 p. 100 (399/690) of normotensive women were active (managers, executives). In treated men, the plasma level of apoprotein A1 was decreased and that of apoprotein B was increased. Among men, the global score at Bortner questionnaire was significantly lower in the group of 175 untreated hypertensive patients (176 +/- 46) than in the group of treated hypertensive patients (192 +/- 48, p less than 0.05) and in the group of normotensive subjects (186 +/- 41, p less than 0.05). This indicated that untreated hypertensive men have a tendency to type B pattern and suggested a line of research aimed at a better understanding of the relative failure of anti-hypertensive treatments in the prevention of coronary disease.