Blood pressure and contributing factors in inhabitants of Estonia: 15-year trends

AIM: To study the 15-year trends of blood pressure (BP) values in inhabitants of Estonia, three independent random samples of the population of Tallinn aged 20-54 years were examined in 1984/86, 1992/94 and in 1999/2001. RESULTS: A substantial decrease in BP values was observed in the population of Tallinn by the early 1990s; it continued to a smaller extent during the late 1990s. An improvement in some factors contributing to the development of arterial hypertension: decrease in body mass index (BMI) mean values and positive dietary changes were observed during this period. In the late 1990s, the changes in contributing factors were less synonymous. In men, the BMI mean values, intake of calories and alcohol increased but smoking rates dropped substantially; physical activity and P/S ratio increased. In women, the BMI mean values, which decreased considerably between the 1980s and early 1990s, remained stable, as well as smoking rates; physical activity increased and positive changes in nutrition were more pronounced than in men. The BP values also decreased in women to a greater extent than in men. CONCLUSION: Favourable trends in BP and contributing factors were found in Estonia during the transition period accompanied by a cardiovascular disease mortality decline since 1995.