J Natl Med Assoc
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The Evans County, Georgia, cohort of the Hypertension Detection and Follow-up Program (HDFP) was reexamined seven years after termination of the trial in 1979. Of the 510 survivors, 91 percent of the black and 91 percent of the white hypertensive subjects were evaluated by blood pressure (BP) levels, electrocardiograms (ECG), height-weight measurements, and questionnaire. The HDFP had treated a randomly selected half of the patients in an intensive stepped care (SC) program and the other half was referred to usual care (RC). ⋯ Weight loss of 15 lb was associated with normotension. Weight gain of 9 to 10 lb over seven years was associated with hypertensive BP levels. The supportive or detrimental effect of weight loss or weight gain on BP levels was thus reconfirmed in this biracial cohort.