Incidence of temporary disability due to essential hypertension and coronary heart disease and ways to reduce it (a population study)

: A three-percent random sample (1267 persons) of the unorganized population of one of the administrative districts of Moscow was examined. Arterial hypertension (AH) was diagnosed in 38.5 percent of the examinees of both sexes aged 35 to 64 years. 65.9 percent of men and 80.9 percent of women were fully aware of being affected with AH. However, only 10.1 percent had received efficient treatment. According to the Rose questionnaire angina pectoris of effort was discovered in 9.6 percent of the examinees. In all 25.8 percent of cases and 30 percent of disability days fell to the lot of essential hypertension and coronary heart disease. The repeated issue of sick-leaves (from 2 to 6 times a year) due to essential hypertension was recorded in 33.8 percent of cases which indicates the lack of regular treatment and control on the part of the treating physician. The sick-leaves were found to be closed irregularly but with the definite intervals, primarily on the 7th, 14th, 21st and 30th days of disability. If hypotensive treatment was given routinely, the mean duration of disability per one patient was two times shorter as compared to that in patients who did not receive any regular treatment.