The Hypertension Detection and Follow-up Program (HDFP)

Objectives:

This program was designed to test the efficacy of antihypertensive therapy in reducing all-cause mortality in a population-based study.

Background:

Several studies have indentified elevated arterial blood pressure as a prominent risk factor for morbidity and mortality from all causes in general, and cardiovascular disease in particular. However, they were not designed to determine whether reduction of blood pressure was accompanied by reduction of disease and death.

Subjects:

A population-based screening in 14 communities recruited 10,940 hypertensive participants, aged 30-69. They were randomly assigned to Stepped Care or Referred Care groups within each center by entry diastolic blood pressure.

Conclusions:

The systematic effective management of hypertension has a great potential for reducing mortality for the large numbers of people with high BP in the population, including those with mild hypertension (JAMA 1979; 242:2562-2571).