PREVENTION OF ARTERIAL-HYPERTENSION IN IN DUSTRIAL-WORKERS

A random sample comprised of 1629 blue and white collar workers aged 2 5-64 years at 9 industrial enterprises in Tallinn was examined for pre sence of coronary heart disease and its risk factors. Hypertension was found in 38.7% of men and in 28.3% of women. During following 5 years all employees (n=15000) underwent annual examinations carried out by trained nurses. Persons with risk factors received oral recommendation s and special instructive leaflets. Hypertensives were observed and tr eated by factory physicians. The final survey demonstrated a decrease in prevalence of hypertension by 10.8% in men and by 6.2% in women. Me an values of systolic and diastolic blood pressures decreased by 4,5 a nd 4,6 mm Hg, in male and by 5,1 and 3.9 mm Hg in female population.