Electrocardiograms in hypertensive subjects from a population random sample: basic characteristics and correlations with some biological variables.

During the initial phase of the WHO "Community Control Programme of Hypertension" in Italy, 1,190 hypertensives (of both sexes, aged 20-64) were identified through the screnning of 5,856 people randomly selected from the whole population of the community of Camposampiero (Padova), and had a standard ECG tracing recorded. ECGs were all read according to the 2nd version of the Minnesota code (MC), by only one coder. First of all, the prevalence of the various items of MC in the two sexes was calculated. Absolutely normal ECGs (item 1-0) were found in 41.1% of the examined subjects; another 23.3% had only a shift of the transition zone to the right or to the left (items 9-4). Among pathological codes, the most frequent were those of class 3 relating to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) (i.e. 3:1 or 3:3) and those of classes 4, 5 and 7 relating to myocardial ischaemia (ISC) (i.e. 4:1-3 or 5:1-3 or 7-1). The overall frequencies of LVH and, respectively, of ISC (calculated by suitably grouping the above described items) were as follows. LVH: 21.3% in males (M), 14.6% in females (F); ISC: 5.7% in M, 18.1% in F. A significant (p less than 0.005) positive correlation with age was found both for LVH and ISC codes in F, only for ISC codes in M. A significant negative correlation between LVH codes and body mass index (BMI) was instead evident only in males.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Prevalence of arterial hypertension in the community. Experience of the province of Veneto]. / La prevalenza di ipertensione arteriosa nella comunita'. L'esperienza del Veneto.

In the context of a W.H.O. Community Control Program of Hypertension, 15.187 subjects aged 20-64 years were examined in three distinct areas of the Veneto region: Camposampiero (Padua), Valdagno (Vicenza) and Mirano (Venice). The prevalence of hypertension was evaluated according to W.H.O. criteria. The prevalence of the three forms of hypertension "systolic only", "diastolic only" and "systo-diastolic together", the difference according to sex and the correlation with age were also calculated. In particular the correlation with age was evaluated in four arbitrary classes of relative weight. The mean prevalence of hypertension into the three samples was 30.7%. The most common form was "systo-diastolic together" (15.5%). The prevalence of hypertension was higher in males and increased with age in both sexes. A positive association between the prevalence of hypertension and the age was observed in all the three classes of relative weight. This association was more noticeable in the classes of a higher relative weight. The association between weight and prevalence of hypertension is discussed in view of a primary prevention of hypertension. The results obtained clearly show the extent of the effort involved in order to control hypertension in the community.

[Screening of hypertension in a community. Data from the "Camposampiero Project" (author's transl)]. / L'ipertensione arteriosa nella comunità: valutazione dello stato del controllo in una popolazione generale. Dati dal "Progetto di Camposampiero".

During the initial phase of the international "Community Control Programme of Hypertension" sponsored by W.H.O., and carried out in Italy by the Clinica Medica II of the University of Padua, a random sample of 5852 subjects was screened (11% of the whole population). The response rate was of 75.3%; the prevalence rate of hypertension (160 or 95), based on casual blood pressure readings, was 29.5%. Measures of the control of hypertension and other relevant results are: a 35.6% of all hypertensives were aware of their condition, and of these 41% were under treatment. Effective treatment of hypertension was seen in one 12.3% of all treated hypertensives (values lower than 16/95), while 14.2% of all hypertensives had values at or above 200 (systolic) or 120 (diastolic). 98.2% of all hypertensives were not under effective control. As a whole, control of hypertension was better in women and in elderly patients.

Blood pressure and its spontaneous variations in a northern Italian population.

1. Blood pressure has been measured in a random sample of 5852 subjects (both sexes, 20-64 years old). The prevalence of hypertension (blood pressure greater than or equal to 160 mmHg and/or 95 mmHg; 150 mmHg and/or 90 mmHg under the age of 30 years) was 29-5%. 2. In a cohort of 972 detected hypertensive subjects, longitudinal changes (2 and 5 months after the initial examination) were evaluated. The phenomenon of regression toward the mean value was evident. 3. The implications of the variability of blood pressure in a community control programme of hypertension are discussed.