I refer to the article appearing in the L?Express Newspaper of 5th february 2005, on Hypertension, page 29. The article is indeed very interesting and is a laudable initiative from l?Express Dimanche to publicise such article. However, I wish to bring to your kind attention an important point regarding the range of blood pressure considered as normal.

In the article mention is made of a blood pressure 12/9 to 14/9 considered as normal. I would like to bring to your kind attention a publication from the SSR Medical College which states that a blood pressure of 14/9 is considered as Srage 1. Hypertension based on the Sixth report on the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure, NIH Publication No. 98-4080, November 1997.

This same publication has produced a blood pressure classification chart as detailed below:

Category Systolic (mm Hg) Diastolic (mm Hg)

Optimal Less than 120 Less than 80

Normal Less than 130 Less than 85

High-Normal 130-139 85-89

Hypertension

Stage 1 140-159 90-99

Stage 2 160-179 100-109

Stage 3 180 or more 110 or more

Moreover, in this same publication, the World Health Organisation/International Society of Hypentension suggest a target blood pressure of 130/85 mm Hg.

It is also interesting to note that this target is based on findings from the 1998 hypertension optimal treatment (HOT) trial, which showed that the risk of heart attack and stroke was reduced by 30% when the diastolic pressure was less than 85 mm Hg.

As an additional piece of information, I would like to point out that the 1998 Mauritius Non-communicable disease survey define hypertension as follows:

Participants who reported having hypertension and taking drug treatment or reported hypertension and had a blood pressure of greater than or equal to 140/90 mmHg were classified as "known hypertensive". Newly diagnosed hypertensives were classified according to their blood pressure as either above 160/95 or between 140/90 and 160/95 mm Hg.

Once again I would like to thank you for this interesting article on Hypertension but I am of opinion that this additional piece of information in your next edition of L?Express Dimanche would be very helpful for all mauritian in the proper management of their blood pressure.

If you need additional information, please feel free to contact me.

<B>Azad Khodabocus MIOSH, MSc ? Occupational Health (U.K)</B>