Review of the Build and Blood Pressure Study and the Influence of Treatment on Moderate Hypertension

Although there is no definite dividing line between normal and abnormal blood pressure, the World Health Organization has proposed cetain criteria defining high blood pressure for classification purposes. Under these proposals, a systolic blood pressure below 140mm. of mercury and a diastolic blood pressure below 90mm. of mercury would be called normal. A systolic pressure of 140-159mm. of mercury and/or a diastolic of 90-94mm. of mercury would be labeled borderline or mild hypertension. A systolic pressure of 160mm. or greater and/or a diastolic of 95mm. or greater would be designated as definite high blood pressure. These are the criteria which were used for classification purposes in the 1979 study. About 530,000 of the 4,350,000 policies under consideration were issued to men and women with borderline and definite high blood pressure.