HYPERTENSION PREVALENCE AND STATUS OF AWARENESS, TREATMENT AND CONTROL IN CHINA

A nation-wide survey of blood pressure (BP) and high BP was made in Ch ina in 1991, using standardized methods and covering 950 356 men and w omen aged 15 years and above, from 30 provinces, autonomous regions, a nd municipalities. The purpose of the study was to estimate the preval ence and the status of awareness, treatment, and control of hypertensi on. The overall prevalence rate of hypertension defined as systolic BP greater than or equal to 140 or diastolic BP greater than or equal to 90 mmHg or currently on antihypertensive medication was 13.6%, and wa s higher in urban (16.3%) than in rural(11.1%) setting. The rate was 6 .6% if a BP cut-point of 160 / 95 mmHg was used, Rates were low in you nger age-groups but rose sharply after age 45. The total number of hyp ertensives in 1990 was estimated to be close to 90 millions. Of all hy pertensives, about 1 / 4 were aware of their high BP, half of these we re on medication, and only 3% had their BP controlled. All the rates w ere higher if the BP cut-point was 160 / 95 mmHg. Higher rates were fo und in urban than rural setting and, to a lesser degree, for women tha n men. In conclusion, hypertension was found to be common in China, an d the rates of awareness, drug treatment, and controlled BP were low, indicating an urgent need for developing a national program of treatme nt and prevention of high BP.