[Multicenter trials in the treatment of arterial hypertension. Socioeconomic repercussions].

The various therapeutic trials conducted throughout the world demonstrate the benefit of treatment even for a moderate elevation of diastolic pressure (90 or 95 mmHg). At this level of hypertension, treatment is more preventative than curative. This article discusses the benefits and the costs on the individual and collective scale in the context of two opposed strategies: mass treatment after a certain level of blood pressure or treatment of subjects at high risk of cardio-vascular disease. To achieve a collective benefit, all of the hypertensives defined in this way need to be detected, treated and followed-up in the long-term. Stimulation of the present medical system would appear to be more effective and less costly than the creation of specialized structures.