Blood pressure control in hypertensives--a model for the study of life events

Life events were elicited during an average recall period of 8.5 months among 235 hypertensive patients whose blood pressure was under control just prior to the beginning of the recall period. At the end of the recall period, the 41 patients no longer under control reported a significantly higher proportion both of unfavourable and unexpected life changes compared with the 194 patients whose blood pressure was still under control. The differences persisted after allowing for potentially confounding variables. The patients were not aware of their blood pressure status at the time of the life events interview.