AN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY OF CIRCULATORY DISORDERS IN A RURAL AREA, AKITA PREFECTURE
10.2185/jjrm.28.134
- VernacularTitle:秋田県の一農村地区における循環器疾患の疫学的研究
- Author:
Shinji MIYAHARA
;
Domi SUZUKI
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:Journal of the Japanese Association of Rural Medicine
1979;28(2):134-139
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
-
Abstract:
To detect essential hypertension and eventually to prevent cerebral apoplexy, we have measured blood pressureof the inhabitants in the Kamigo Section of Kisakata Town, Akita Prefecture (no. of households- 515 ; pop.- 2, 489) by making house-to-house calls once every three years since 1971.
The ratio of those having their blood pressure taken to the total population was 49% in 1971, 79% in 1974 and54% in 1977.
The average systolic pressure reading was 138.7mm/Hg for man and 136.5mm/Hg for woman, while the averagediastolic pressure was 84.9mm/Hg for man and 82.0mm/Hg for woman.
Twenty-six percent of the hypertensives were taking anti-hypertensive drugs regularly in 1971. The percentagewent up to 51% in 1974 and 56% in 1977.
Over the past six years, the patients with cerebrovascular attacks (CVA) dropped from 60 to 53 persons (changesin population adjusted). The deaths from cerebral apoplexy also decreased from 84 to 64.
The peak age of the persons who were seized with and died of cerebral apoplexy advanced from 65 to 75. Only4% of the CVA patients aged below 70 took anti-hypertensive drugs regularly. Seventy-nine percent did not takethe medicine at all.
All this suggests that taking anti-hypertensive drugs is effective to the prevention of cerebral apoplexy.
