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(Stroke. 1974;5:76.)
© 1974 American Heart Association, Inc.

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The Veterans Administration Cooperative Study on Antihypertensive Agents. Implications for Stroke Prevention

EDWARD D. FREIS M.D.¹

¹ Veterans Administration Hospital; Professor of Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C

Hypertension and atherosclerosis are the leading causes of stroke. The risk of stroke is directly related to the height of the blood pressure.

The Veterans Administration Cooperative Study included 523 male patients. If the results of two subgroups (115 to 129 mm Hg and 90 to 114 mm Hg initial diastolic) are combined, the total incidence of stroke was 25 in the control group and six in the treated group.

In addition to widespread lack of awareness of the medical profession of the benefits of treatment, there also is a failure of detection of hypertension in large segments of our population. There is need for greater professional as well as public education concerning hypertension.

Key Words: hypertension • atherosclerosis • cerebrovascular disease • epidemiology study • risk factors