[High blood pressure is still being inadequately treated]

In a group of 300 patients with essential hypertension, grades I and II (WHO), the medicamental treatment and the relation of blood pressure before and during their stationary treatment at a clinic for rehabilitation of cardiovascular disease were explored. 23% of the patients were admitted to the clinic without any antihypertensive treatment. Only 18% of the patients had been treated before according to the general directions with beta-receptor-blockers and/or diuretics (so-called basic therapy). These percentages remained almost constant during the period of observation from 1977 to 1979. According to the relation of blood pressure a change of medicaments to the so-called basic therapy was necessary in 59% of the cases. In 11% of the patients an adequate reduction of weight made medicamental treatment unnecessary.