An epidemiological screening of 8011 industrial workers and 7090 pupils made possible the active detection of some risk factors carriers and of those individuals with borderline essential arterial hypertension (BEAHT) and essential arterial hypertension disease (EAHTD). It was noticed that the association of 2-4 risk factors is more common in the subjects with BEAHT or EAHTD, fact indicating their increased aggressivity in the various types of associations present in the same carrier. In the worker series a prevalence of 16.2%-18.0% for BEAHT and 6.3%-7.1% for EAHTD as compared to 4.3%-6.0% and 4.9%-5.3%, respectively, in the pupil series were recorded. The epidemiological screening had a strong educational effect, reflected in an increased cooperation of the screened population, and revealed the fact that the risk factor carrier state and the increased arterial pressure levels were ignored, at long term, by 50-90% of the investigated subjects.

7,917 pupils in schools, between 10-19 years old, of both sexes, were investigated within an epidemiologic screening, performed in the school milieu, for detecting the prevalence of some risk factors (RF) and of the AT modifications with a view to work out the programmes for the essential arterial hypertension (EAHT) primary prevention. 84.4% of all the pupils in the Vth--VIIIth forms and 93.9 pupils in the IXth--XIIth forms were included in the screening. 422 cases of labile arterial hypertension (LAHT) (5.1%) and 457 of benign arterial hypertension (BATH) (54%) were found. In the children with normal arterial hypertension (NAHT) the following were recorded: 46.5% increases only of the diastolic tension: 44.0% of the systolic-diastolic and 7.1% of the systolic tension respectively. Although present, the differences between the LAHT and BAHT prevalence in the gymnasiums (4.3% and 5.4%) and lyceums (5.5% and 6.4%) are not significant and might be functions of: age, sex, psychomotor development, structure of the respective collectivities, the momentary psychoemotional reactions, lability of the blood pressure, specific to the childhood, several screening difficulties etc. The observations made on the prevalence of the growth of the AT values were correlated with the occurrence at some significant levels of the RF, suggesting the measures to be taken for the steady improvement of the primary and secondary prophylaxis of EAHT in schools.

Based on an epidemiological screening of 6411 pupils from 7 schools of different types, the frequency and intensity of the association of 8 risk factors for essential hypertension in a series with increased blood pressure values and in a normotensive one was compared. The frequency of the various studied risk factors was significant especially in the pupils with increased blood pressure values. The average number of risk factors in the two series was unsignificant. The intensity of 2, 3 or 4 risk factors different associations was more marked in the pupils with increased blood pressure values than in the controls. Some risk factors proved to be more frequently involved in multifactorial associations. The importance of such studies for the elaboration of prevention programmes in underlined.

The results of an epidemiological screening followed by the investigation of 9 risk factors for essential hypertension in 1218 individuals with increased values of blood pressure are presented. Stress, overweight and dietary preferences for fats and eggs had the incidence especially in, the age groups over 40 years. Both the individuals with borderline hypertension or arterial hypertension and the controls presented 2, 3 or more associated risk factors of variable intensity, the higher values being recorded in the greater than or equal to 40 years age group. When more than 3 risk factors were associated, the increases in systolic and diastolic pressures were significant. The investigation of 7 biochemical constants revealed that 50% of 190 cases with arterial hypertension presented cholesterol levels higher than 220 mg%. Increased total lipids, free fatty acids and triglycerides levels were also recorded. The results plead for multifactorial prevention programmes.

The statistical correlations between body weight, glycemia, total lipids, cholesterol in 200 patients with essential hypertension, especially borderline essential hypertension, followed up for 6 years indicate that the complex environmental factors in Slănic-Moldova Health Resort associated with balneotherapy may induce a return to normal values of the above mentioned parameters. Good results were also obtained in the patients with essential hypertension and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, their treatment including reduction diets (1200-1400 calories/day).