RESUMO
Four groups from a urban population of Morelia were inquired, to determine frequency of high blood pressure and provide basic information of arterial hypertension in relation with other variables; 2638 persons were checked. Age ranged from 10 to 90 years, (771 men, 1867 women). Age, sex, weight and height were also measured. Evaluations were performed in the morning with mercury sphygmomanometer registering first and fifth korotkoff's sounds in orthostatic position with a second selective evaluation in sitting position. Availability of medical services and knowledge about presence of arterial hypertension were also evaluated. Blood pressure and prevalence of hypertension had similar behavior with regard to age: pressure recordings were higher in men before 40 years. After this age were higher in women. In general, 14% had high blood pressure, in the second evaluation this value dropped to 7%. For 11% of the studied population, high blood pressure had been previously recorded 7 out of 10 cases of hypertension did not have any control. Three of them had not information about this illness. We found a positive correlation between weight and blood pressure (p less than 0.001) specially among women.