Changes in cardiovascular risk factors in different socioeconomic groups: seven year trends in a Chinese urban population

Study objective-To analyse trends in socioeconomic differences in cardiovas cular disease risk factors among an urban Chinese population using educatio nal attainment as the socioeconomic indicator. Design-Population surveys with randomly selected independent samples were c arried out in 1989 and in 1996. Educational attainment, blood pressure, bod y mass index, cigarette smoking and lack of leisure time physical activity were determined. Setting-Urban areas of the city of Tianjin, China. Participants-A total of 14 275 respondents aged 25-64 years. Main results-Diastolic blood pressure increased and the proportion of peopl e without leisure time physical activity decreased in both sexes during the study period. The prevalence of smoking and the number of cigarettes smoke d daily increased significantly among men. Smoking decreased in the least e ducated men and increased in those who had studied at least to college leve l. Body mass index decreased across all educational strata in women, but bl ood pressure increased in women with at least college level education. Conclusions These data reveal a different picture in trends in the associat ion of education and cardiovascular risk factors from those depicted in dev eloped countries. This highlights the need for an effective intervention pr ogramme in the study population.