Table 2

The Hordaland Health Study (HUSK). Own and familiar cardiovascular morbidity, lifestyle factors, and health status in 3 341 elderly persons (70 – 74 years old), using and not using antihypertensive drugs.


Males (n = 1473)
Females (n = 1868)



No drugs (n = 955 64.8%)
Drugs (n = 518 35.2%)
No drugs (n = 1260 66.8%)
Drugs (n = 626 33.2%)

Myocardial infarction
63 (6.6)
149 (28.8)**
20 (1.6)
93 (14.9)**
Angina pectoris
68 (7.1)
138 (26.6)**
45 (3.6)
128 (20.4)**
Apoplexia
32 (3.4)
55 (10.6)**
32 (2.5)
28 (4.5)*
Diabetes mellitus
40 (4.2)
56 (10.8)**
52 (4.1)
65 (10.4)**
Family history of coronary disease
364 (38.1)
224 (43.2)**
566 (44.9)
346 (55.3)**
Family history of myocardial infarction < 60 y
129 (13.5)
96 (18.5)*
206 (16.3)
130 (20.8)*
Family history of apoplexia < 70 y
100 (10.5)
76 (14.7)*
173 (13.7)
118 (18.8)*
Daily smoking
158 (16.5)
57 (11.0)**
210 (16.7)
57 (9.1)**
Quit smoking
543 (56.9)
351 (67.8)**
283 (22.5)
170 (27.2)*
Alcohol > 14 times/month
79 (9.7)
48 (10.7)
45 (4.5)
13 (2.7)
No physical exercise
108 (12.0)
72 (14.5)
170 (15.3)
125 (22.1)**
Hard physical exercise
337 (38.8)
134 (28.5)**
213 (20.5)
88 (16.6)
BMI => 27 kg/m2
289 (30.3)
210 (40.5)**
431 (34.7)
314 (50.2)**
Education < 12 y
297 (57.4)
181 (65.1)*
573 (79.9)
304 (86.4)*
Depressed mood
29 (3.5)
11 (2.5)
37 (3.7)
32 (6.8)**
Less than good general health
212 (22.6)
180 (35.7)**
389 (31.9)
285 (46.5)**

Proportions, given in numbers and percentages, are compared using chi square tests.

*Significant difference between samples with versus without drugs (chi square test), p < 0.05.

**Significant difference between samples with versus without drugs (chi square t-test), p < 0.01

Brekke et al. BMC Geriatrics 2006 6:16   doi:10.1186/1471-2318-6-16