Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Study Institute, Hannover, Germany, July 13-25, 1979

High blood pressure (BP) (with fats and smoking) is one of the three roots of cardio-cerebro-renovascular disease affecting up to 25% of the adult population. Hence, high blood pressure should be recognized and treated, to reduce any complications and prolong life, as noted by Michael Weber of the Veterans Administration Hospital in Long Beach, California. He further emphasizes the need for monitoring before one starts the treatment of high blood pressure. Indeed, he refers to the results of the Australian study on mild hypertension with a large percentage of placebo responders and rightly suggests that many people are treated who should not be because of 'white-coat-associated high blood pressure'. He also points to the lack of standardization of techniques for data analysis and of methods of BP measurement. Ambulatory monitoring under usual condi tions without concomitant recording of events does not allow even a qualitative assessment of the impact of varying stimuli, in weber's opinion."

This yearbook presents important research in the field of cardiovascular research from around the world. Particular emphasis is placed on circadian medicine and its relationship to cardiovascular events as well as other new areas such as gene therapy in heart disease. This book begins with a piece dedicated to the former editor of Cardiology and head of that specialty at the Mayo Clinic, followed by a consensus directed by a board member of the World Health Organization (also a minister of health) with a university president.

This yearbook presents important research in the field of cardiovascular research from around the world. Particular emphasis is placed on circadian medicine and its relationship to cardiovascular events as well as other new areas such as gene therapy in heart disease.