In 1979, in the city of Volta Redonda, a cross-sectional epidemiological investigation was carried out to estimate the prevalence of arterial hypertension and to study the association between different factors and arterial blood pressure. About 650 residents between 20 to 74years old were studied. The habit of smoking, the use of alcohol, the low level of education and the insecurity o f employment are some of the characteristics of people with a greater risk of arterial hypertension and, in general, higher average levels of blood pressure. People who knew that their parents had high blood pressure had higher average blood pressure levels and had more chance of being hypertensive according to WHO standard (systolic > 160 and/or diastolic > 95mmHg). Finally, migrants and natives of Volta Redonda do not show any significant difference in their average pressure and arterial hypertension prevalence.
