[Changes in blood pressure figures after a 5-year interval. Analysis of factors for predicting future hypertensives]

11 351 adults were observed five years after a first multiphasic screening at the centre de médecine préventive in Nancy (France). 1 424 became hypertensive. A discriminant analysis was performed on the predictive value within five years of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, serum cholesterol, and uric acid, and heart rate. A discriminant variable was calculated by combination of all these parameters. Blood pressure seemed to have by far a stronger discriminative power than all the other variables though they were already disturbed at first screening. Discriminant variable is more predictive than each variable separately. However, further studies should be needed on the predictive value of pathophysiologic factors of hypertension before warranting preventive use of antihypertensive drugs.