HYPERTENSION SURVEY IN A CENTRAL CITY FREE CHEST X‐RAY CLINIC

Of 4,004 adults who visited a free chest X‐ray unit in one of the main streets of Sydney, 573 (14‐3%) were shown to have high blood pressure (over 160/95 mm Hg for ages below 50 years; over 170/100 mm Hg for ages over 50 years) and a further 181 (4‐5%) were found to be currently receiving treatment for hypertension. The prevalence of hypertension was higher in men than in women, particularly up to the age of 40 years. Hypertension was more common in subjects with a family history of hypertension than in those without. Subjects found to be hypertensive were advised by letter to see their own doctor, and in a random sample, 80% did so.