Trends in blood pressure, lipids, lipoproteins and glucose metabolism in the Northern Sweden MONICA project 1986-99

Aim: The authors present an analysis of time trends in blood pressure, hypertension, and lipids in the adult population of Northern Sweden over the period 1986-99. Method: Four population surveys were undertaken with new and independent cohorts, 25-64 years old. Results: Small changes in blood pressure were observed during the study period with increased systolic blood pressure in men and decreased diastolic blood pressure in women. The proportion with high blood pressure was found to be constant over time and only 50% were prescribed antihypertensive drugs and of these only a minority were normotensive. Total serum cholesterol decreased from 6.4 to 5.7 mmol/l in men and from 6.3 to 5.7 mmol/l in women over the study period, and this was accompanied by an increase in HDL cholesterol by about 10% in both sexes. The proportion with high cholesterol decreased from 41% to 26%. Triglycerides increased between 1986 and 1990 and no further changes were found in the following surveys. Conclusion: In the Northern Sweden MONICA population total cholesterol has declined and HDL cholesterol has increased during the past 13 years and small changes in blood pressure have been observed for both men and women.