MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY IN RELATION TO BLOOD-PRESSURE AND ANTIHYPERTENSIVE TREATMENT - A 12-YEAR FOLLOW-UP-STUDY OF A POPULATION-SAMPLE OF SWEDISH WOMEN

Google Scholar
  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 215  (4) , 313-322
Abstract
Morbidity and mortality in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and total mortality were studied in a longitudinal population study initially comprising 1462 women representative of the general female population. When related to the initial blood pressure (BP) levels of women not on antihypertensive drugs (hypertensives and non-hypertensives), the distributions of women with myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke during the 12-yr follow-up period seemed to be U-shaped, with the highest incidences in women with the lowest and the highest BP levels. Women recognized as untreated hypertensives in the initial study were offered regular control by the study team during the whole 12-yr period and were treated when treatment was considered indicated. They were found to be similar to the non-hypertensives with regard to the incidence of MI and stroke and total mortality. The results may be explained by continuity of medical care, the antihypertensive treatment per se or the types of antihypertensive drugs administered.