Community control of hypertension- experiences from Finland.
- Resource Type
- Article
- Authors
- Nissinen, A.; Kastarinen, M.; Tuomilehto, J.
- Source
- Journal of Human Hypertension. Aug2004, Vol. 18 Issue 8, p553-556. 4p.
- Subject
- *HYPERTENSION
*CARDIOVASCULAR diseases
*BLOOD circulation disorders
*BLOOD pressure
*PREVENTIVE medicine
*EPIDEMIOLOGY
*PUBLIC health
- Language
- ISSN
- 0950-9240
The improvement in the hypertension control in Finland started in the 1970s by the activities of the North Karelia Project, a comprehensive programme for the control of cardiovascular diseases. The blood pressure level of the population has had a continuous downward trend according to the population surveys conducted every fifth year since 1972 and the rule of halves has changed to the rule of two-thirds. The serum cholesterol level has decreased among hypertensives, even though it is still higher than among normotensives; the patients with antihypertensive drug treatment smoke less than the rest of the population. However, the situation is far from optimal; BP levels are high and body mass index is continuously increasing among the patients. The need for intensifying both pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatment among the hypertensives on a large scale is obvious. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]