Community control of hypertension at work-site: epidemiological data of the Agusta project

In order to set up a program of community control of hypertension at the work site, 8811 employees belonging to 12 factories of the same company (Agusta SpA, Italy) were screened. Seven hundred and seventy-two subjects (8%) were found to be hypertensive; 48% of them were hypercholesterolemic, 44% were smokers, 5% presented with hyperglycemia and 4% had left ventricular hypertrophy. Multiple regression analysis showed a significant correlation between hypertension and age, hypercholesterolemia, body mass index, occupational exposure to noise exceeding 80 dB and, below the age of 40 years, the type of job. Seven hundred and twenty-nine hypertensives were assigned to pharmacological treatment. This group of patients will be followed up for 3 years.