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The development of hypertension care over the 10-year period 1972-1982 in North Karelia and a reference area was assessed using three separate random samples of the population aged 30-59 years. The results show a clear improvement in the blood pressure levels of the population and in the hypertension care in North Karelia between 1972 and 1977 when the activities of the hypertension program of the North Karelia Project were gradually implemented. Awareness of elevated blood pressure increased from 39% to 71% among men and from 60% to 87% among women. The proportion of men under antihypertensive drug treatment increased from 4% to 10% and that of women increased from 10% to 15%. After 1977, the hypertension care was maintained but no further improvements were observed in general blood pressure levels. An improvement in hypertension care started in the reference area later than in North Karelia. In spite of favorable changes, the blood pressure level of the population was still high in 1982, the mean casual value among men being 145/87 mmHg and that among women being 141/84 mmHg. It is obvious that further progress in hypertension care is needed.

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Following a survey in 19 European countries of the habits, attitudes and knowledge of medical students regarding tobacco, World Health Organisation European Office and the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease jointly circulated to the Deans of all European medical schools a summary of the results, including figures for mortality for smoking-related diseases in their countries and a brief questionnaire concerning faculty action on the tobacco problem. The response rate was just over 50%, higher in Northern Europe (66%) than in Southern (35%) or Eastern (38%). Only 8% of faculties had a specific teaching module on tobacco. In most it was either systematically (35%) or unsystematically (55%) integrated in other teaching. Teaching hospitals, teaching areas and faculty meetings were said to be smokefree by over 90%; figures were lower for other areas. Seventy-seven per cent of Deans intended to discuss our approach with their teaching staff; 72% gave the name of a staff member with a particular tobacco interest.