Abstract
The special stroke prophylaxis program had been conducted in 12 prefectures of Japan during 3 year period, but the effect has not yet been evaluated.
We attempted to evaluate it retrospectively as a reference for future community-based hypertension control programs. Cities, and towns and villages in the same prefectures were grouped to constitute two sets of control areas for grouped program areas of the 12 prefectures. Mortality rates for all causes and those for a stroke were calculated for men and women aged 45 to 64 in the 3 areas in the 12 prefectures between 1969 and 1975.
1. Total and stroke mortality rates decreased remarkably in both the program and the control areas. The declining trends were stronger in women.
2. The ratio of stroke mortality to total mortality declined both in the program and the control areas.
3. The amount of reduction in stroke mortality rates was larger in the program areas than in the control areas. However, the amount of decrease common to the program and the control areas was much larger than the net decrease to be interpreted as the effect of the special stroke prophylaxis program.
