[Prospective epidemiological study of arterial hypertension in middle and old age]

The arterial hypertension frequency among the advanced and old age population was studied at 5 year intervals in 4 villages in the Rhodope mountains. 1777 persons were examined--725 in advanced and old age and 1052 young persons. The high frequency of arterial hypertension among the advanced and old age population is impressing--47.94% in the second examination. The frequency is higher in women. In advanced and old age the arterial hypertension is 3-4 times more frequent which is due to the sharply increased frequency of high arterial systolic pressure in these two age groups. In prospective plan the spread of arterial hypertension continues to increase especially in old age but the disease in this age is about 10% less frequent than in advanced age. The increasing frequency of arterial hypertension in advanced and old age is attributed mostly to the changed working and living conditions of the population.