[Epidemiology of arterial hypertension in students at the University of Nice]

These students, as representative of french population, were examined in 1983. Right humeral arterial blood pressure was measured three times on dorsal decubitus with a mercury manometer by a medical doctor. People with a systolic arterial pressure greater than or equal to 150 mmHg and/or diastolic arterial pressure greater than or equal to 90, were considered as hypertensive. These hypertensive people came then for a new complete examination, six months later. A witness group, drawn by lot, were examined in the same conditions. Systolic, diastolic and mild arterial blood pressures (in mmHg) were for: (table; see text) Prevalence of hypertension is 2.2 p. 100 (46) for girls and 11.9 p. 100 (184) for boys. The most important difference between high blood pressure people and normal blood pressure people lies in morphological characters. (Table: see text). Sport activities, coffee and diet concerning sodium are identical in the two groups. High blood pressure people smoke less than normal blood pressure people. Previous history of hypertension are more frequent in high blood pressure people than normal blood pressure people. Upright posture induce modification in pressure on high blood pressure people. Meanwhile, stress induced by mental arithmetic, does not bring more elevation pressure about high blood pressure people than normal blood pressure people. Six months later: 58 p. 100 of high blood pressure group have still a high blood pressure, 26 p. 100 have a borderline blood pressure (systolic greater than or equal to 140, diastolic greater than or equal to 85).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)