Hypertension in the aged--psychosocial and psychiatric concomitants in a coloured community

In a comprehensive social, psychiatric and medical survey of a random sample of aged coloured people in Cape Town, 82% were found to be hypertensive. Hypertensive subjects were compared with non-hypertensive subjects in terms of various psychosocial and psychiatric factors. A significant association between hypertension and symptoms indicative of nervous tension was found. The roles of sex distribution, class and ethnicity as contributing factors are discussed.