Criteria for the diagnosis of hypertension in general practice.

An accurate age-sex register was used to identify patients in a practice who might be suffering from hypertension and to record the criteria on which the diagnosis was based. Information about blood pressure readings, diagnostic labels and treatment at the time of diagnosis were noted. The definition of hypertension sufficient to require treatment was a recorded diastolic pressure of 110 mm Hg or more on three occasion. Using these criteria, only 12 per cent of patients qualified.