Objective: To assess the trends in blood pressure (BP) affecting lifestyle factors in hypertensive and normotensive Finns from 1982 to 2002.
Design and setting: Five independent cross-sectional population surveys conducted in 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997 and 2002 in the provinces of North Karelia and Kuopio in eastern Finland and the region of Turku-Loimaa in southwestern Finland.
Participants: Stratified random samples of men and women aged 25-64 years were drawn from the national population register. The participants (n = 28 235) were classified into four groups according to their BP level and treatment status: normotensive, unaware hypertensive, aware but untreated hypertensive, and treated hypertensive subjects.
Main outcome measures: Alcohol intake, body mass index (BMI), 24-h urinary sodium and potassium excretion (a subsample of 5849 subjects) and the proportion of subjects with leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) at least three times a week.
Results: Mean BMI increased significantly in all groups except in untreated hypertensive women. Alcohol intake increased in all men but especially in hypertensive women (P < 0.001). The 24-h urinary sodium excretion decreased significantly in all BP groups. The proportion of subjects with a recommended level of LTPA increased significantly and similarly in all BP groups (P < 0.001).
Conclusions: The unfavourable trends observed in mean BMI and alcohol intake in the entire population should be reversed in order to decrease the frequency of hypertension in Finland. The health behaviours of hypertensive subjects should be carefully monitored and modified in a more systematic and efficient way than at present.