Influence of age on general practitioners' definition and treatment of hypertension

Abstract
Questionnaires, endorsed by the British Hypertension Society and identified by number only, were sent to 200 of the 1145 general practitioners in East Anglia in May 1993. This sample was randomly selected. Follow up included a thank you or reminder letter and a second questionnaire to non-responders. General practitioners were asked the lowest systolic blood pressure they would use to define hypertension, the lowest diastolic pressure to define mild hypertension, and the lowest diastolic and systolic pressures at which they would start drug treatment for three age groups: less than 45, 45-65, and greater than 65.