Screening for hypertension: case finding.

A 13 year review of a Hamilton, Ontario, family practice resulted in the detection of 607 hypertensive patients through case finding. By using a series of simple strategies, the measurement and recording of patients' blood pressures increased from 41% in 1965 to 98% in 1977. Team members now consistently measure and record the blood pressures at virtually all encounters of patients at risk and are convinced that case finding is the only method of detection of hypertension which is at all logical, economical and practical.