Factors affecting the incidence of hypertension.

The incidence of hypertension was determined among 10,173 patients of general practices in southwestern Ontario studied from 1978 to 1982. For both sexes the incidence of hypertension rose with increasing age. The incidence was higher among men than among women until age 50, after which it was similar for the two sexes. Obesity was positively associated with incidence for both sexes. In men this association diminished significantly with increasing age. The similar trend in women fell just short of statistical significance. In men but not women heavy alcohol consumption was positively related to the incidence of hypertension. However, the broad definition of this variable may have obscured a relation in women. Among men the effect of obesity on the incidence of hypertension was less for heavy drinkers than for light drinkers. Smoking was not related to the incidence of hypertension in either sex.