Eight-year survival study of treated hypertension at the Dunedin Hypertension Clinic 1953-1977

The 8-year follow-up data of consecutive 5-year cohorts of hypertensive patients starting treatment at the Dunedin Hypertension Clinic between 1953 and 1977 have been analysed. There were 975 men and 1348 women. Since 1953 treatment has been initiated in progressively milder forms of hypertension, and blood pressure has been controlled at progressively lower levels. The mean age at presentation for both men and women was 51 years. The mean age at death and the cause of death did not differ significantly among the cohorts, but the percentage incidence of events (including death) over the 8-year follow-up decreased significantly (P less than 0.0001) from 76% for males and 57% for females in the 1953-1957 cohort, to 33% for males and 25% for females in the 1973-1977 cohort. Survival was poorest in the earlier cohorts, especially the 1953-1957 cohort. The 8-year relative survival of treated hypertensives compared with the general population of New Zealand improved over time and was about 0.9 for the 1973-1977 cohort, a little less for males and a little more for females.