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Journal of Human Hypertension (2002) 16, 285287
2002 Nature Publishing Group All rights reserved 0950-9240/02 $25.00www.nature.com/jhhLETTER TO THE EDITORA high level of awareness but a poor control of hypertension among elderly Greeks.
The Nemea primary care studyJournal of Human Hypertension (2002) 16, 285287. DOI: 10.1038/sj/jhh/1001380Recent clinical trials in many
industrialised countries have
demonstrated a significant decline in cardiovascular disease
morbidity and mortality by treating hypertension in older
patients.13 Even though these
trials show that treating hypertension is beneficial in reducing
hypertension-associated morbidity
and mortality, nearly 50% of all
hypertensive patients are
untreated or had a poor level of
hypertension control at a threshold pressure of [H11021]140/90 mm Hg.This situation is particularly
unknown in Greece. There are
only few data about the prevalence of hypertension in older
patients and information about
the levels of awareness, treatment
and control of hypertension is
limited.4,5 The aims of this study
are to determine the prevalence of
hypertension and the levels of
awareness, treatment and control
of hypertension in Greeks aged 65
years and older.The data for this study came
from a programme on the elderly
for detection of cardiovascular
risk factors. Our study population
comprised all those individuals
who participated in this programme, residing in Nemea and
in the villages of Koutsi, Leontio
and Psari, located in Corinthia.
The target population based on a
1991 population census in the
area was 1044 subjects. A total of
637 subjects agreed to participate
in the study, 22 were rejected due
to incomplete data and in the endCorrespondence: EA Skliros, Nestoros 32,
Egaleo, 122 44 Athens, Greece. E-mail:
eskliros[L50560]otenet.grReceived 3 October 2001; revised and
accepted 28 November 2001
615 participants were included in
the analysis.Structured interviews were
conducted with all participants.
Three sitting blood pressure (BP)
measurements were taken for
each subject, 5 min after rest and
30 min after smoking, on the
patients left arm, with a 2-min
interval between them (Korotkoff
phase V for diastolic BP). Participants with elevated BP
measurement were invited to
attend a second clinic visit after
714 days to have their BP remeasured. The average BP of the
second visit was used as criterion
for the diagnosis and control of
hypertension. Hypertension in
our survey was defined using the
criteria of JNC VI6 (systolic BP
[H11091]140...