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Summary
Since 1955, 625 hypertensives (average age 50 years) have been registered and treated for more than 5 years, most of them with thiazides, α-methyldopa and β-blockers. A total of 433 patients (225 men, 208 women) have been treated for 10 to 20 years (average 13 years): of these, 109 men (108 women) belonged to W.H.O. Stage I (uncomplicated hypertension), 55 men (60 women) to W.H.O. Stage II (cardiovascular hypertrophy), and 61 men (40 women) to W.H.O. Stage III (hypertension with complications). During the period of observation, 128 men (84 women) suffered complications of which 105 men (66 women) died. In men, the mortality of cardiac infarction was twice that due to cerebrovascular causes. In women, cardiac and cardiovascular complications leading to death were more evenly distributed. The mortality rate for men was 295% (women 216%) of the mortality in a corresponding normal population in Norway.
In the second part of the study 192 patients (124 men, 68 women) collected over the period 1965 to 1970 have been treated up to 1st January 1976 for 5 to 10 years (average 6 years). Out of 27 men with complications, 11 had cerebrovascular complications and 6 died of apoplexia (all in W.H.O. Stage III), 3 died of cardiac infarction (W.H.O. Stage I): 7 women had complications of which 2 died of cardiac infarction.
The mortality in all W.H.O. Stages has been as expected, except for men in W.H.O. Stage III where a mortality rate of 667%, was found. Hypertensive therapy has reduced the number of deaths related to hypertension but has had little influence on the progress of atherosclerosis. The most common cause of death, particularly in men, has been myocardial infarction.