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Levels and trends in blood pressure (BP), as well as prevalence and treatment of hypertension, were studied in The Netherlands between 1987 and 1991. BP was measured continuously using a standardized method in 36,273 men and women 20-59 years of age. The data were weighted for the age distribution of the general Dutch population in 1990 and adjusted for each technician who measured BP. In summer in both men and women, systolic blood pressure (SBP) was about 1.5-2.0 mm Hg lower than in the other seasons, and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was 0.5-1.0 mm Hg lower. In 1987 SBP was 124 mm Hg in men and 117 mm Hg in women. DBP was 78 mm Hg in men and 75 mm Hg in women. The prevalence of hypertension was 8% in both men and women. Between 1987 and 1991, SBP decreased slightly while DBP increased slightly. The prevalence of hypertension did not change in this period. The percentage of treated hypertensive men decreased significantly from 44% in 1987 to 34% in 1991 and from 60% to 49%, in women. We conclude that the prevalence of hypertension did not change between 1987 and 1991, yet the treatment of hypertension decreased, possibly because of a change in the pattern of treatment by Dutch physicians.