EPIDEMIOLOGY OF HYPERTENSION IN KIN-HU, KINMEN

Data on the prevalence and predictors of hypertension in Kinmen, an is land very close to southern mainland China but under Republic of China administration, would be very helpful to understand the effect of env ironmental and psychosocial factors on hypertension in a specific ethn ic group. In 1991, Kin-Hu residents greater than or equal to 30 years of age, living in the second largest township of Kinmen, were invited to participate in this survey incorporating face-to-face interviews wi th a structured questionnaire, collection of fasting blood samples and oral glucose tolerance test. The response rate for subjects with comp lete data was 80.3% (3289 of 4097). The prevalence rates for definite hypertension (greater than or equal to 160/95 mm Hg and/or under antih ypertensive treatment) were 20.1, 14.0, and 16.9% for men, women, and the total population, respectively. Overall awareness, treatment, and control rates of definite hypertension were 46.9, 25.0, and 4.7%, resp ectively. According to the final logistic regression model, after cont rolling for all other covariates, the significant predictors for curre nt-definite hypertension were old age, male sex, nonsmoking, obesity, alcohol intake, high waist-to-hip ratio, high serum triglyceride and h igh serum uric acid levels, In comparison with Chinese in Taiwan and m ainland China, the unexpectedly high prevalence of hypertension and di stinct set of its predictors in Kin-Hu form the basis for future study .