Community control of hypertension— experiences from Finland (original) (raw)

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Journal of Human Hypertension volume 18, pages 553–556 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, National Public Health Institute (KTL), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
    A Nissinen & J Tuomilehto
  2. Department of Public Health and General Practice, Kuopio University Hospital University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland
    M Kastarinen
  3. Department of Internal Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland
    M Kastarinen

Authors

  1. A Nissinen
  2. M Kastarinen
  3. J Tuomilehto

Corresponding author

Correspondence toA Nissinen.

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Nissinen, A., Kastarinen, M. & Tuomilehto, J. Community control of hypertension— experiences from Finland.J Hum Hypertens 18, 553–556 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jhh.1001696

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