The objectives of the survey were to measure the distribution of arterial blood pressures and the magnitude of hypertension by demographic and socioeconomic variable characteristics in the Korean cultural setting. To examine more critically the local notions, beliefs and hypotheses related to hypertension, as well as the relation between salt intake and blood pressure, were also part of the objectives of the study.

General patterns of distributions of blood pressures by age and sex were found to be very similar to that of other countries.

However, remarkably lower mean systolic blood pressures found at all ages in females, consistently low prevalence rates for hypertension in both sexes, low rates for systolic hypertension in females and remarkably higher rates for diastolic hypertension in both sexes were found.

The more educated, those with higher incomes, the more mental work done and dwellers of the larger cities had the higher blood pressures. These findings are compatible with beliefs long held by Koreans. A negative correlation was also observed indirectly, however, between salt intake and blood pressure.