Isolated Systolic Hypertension in the Community. Data From a Population Survey and Hypertension Register in Northern Italy

Abstract

In the Region Veneto, north-eastern Italy, a survey of three random samples of population aged 20-64 has been made during the initial phase of the international cooperative pilot project called "Community Control Programme of Hypertension", promoted by World Health Organization. 15,187 subjects were examined (47.2% males). The prevalence of "isolated" systolic hypertension (ISH: "casual" blood pressure at or above 160 for systolic readings and below 95 for diastolic) was 6.2%, that of "isolated" diastolic (IDH) 9% and that of "simultaneous" systolic diastolic hypertension (SDH) 15.5%. ISH had an awareness rate of 29.4% and a treatment rate of 10.6%, which is less than for SDH but more than IDH. Analysis of the Hypertension Register set up in one of the three areas showed no important differences in heart rate, Body Mass Index, serum sodium or potassium, B.U.N. and total cholesterol between the different forms of hypertension. The assessment of coronary risk by means of Multiple Logistic Function yielded similar figures for ISH and SDH in males, higher figure for SDH in females. Electrocardiographic changes of left ventricular hypertrophy and of ischaemia were more frequent among subjects with ISH than those with SDH and IDH. It is concluded that ISH is present in a substantial proportion of the population and carries with it no less risk of cardiovascular complications than the other forms of hypertension.