[Hypertension and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in a general population of a rural areas in China].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the association of hypertension and carotid atherosclerosis in a general population in China.


METHODS
A population-based epidemiological survey on cardiovascular diseases was performed in autumn, 2002. A total of 1198 rural residents with 426 men and 776 women aged 43 - 73 years, underwent carotid duplex examination. Hypertension was classified into 6 groups of optimal, normal, high-normal, stage 1, 2 and 3.


RESULTS
(1) A significant positive dose-response relation was found between hypertension categories, duration of hypertension and intima-media thickness (IMT) in both genders (trend test P < 0.01). After adjustment of age, body mass index, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, glucose and smoking, the relation did not change. The associations between duration of hypertension and IMT disappeared after further adjustment with blood pressure. (2) The occurrence of plaque was positively associated with blood pressure groups and duration of hypertension, as well as in the age-adjusted models. The associations between duration of hypertension and plaque weakened or disappeared after further adjustment with systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure or hypertension categories.


CONCLUSIONS
Hypertension was associated with subclinical carotid atherosclerosis. Prolonged course of disease might aggravate the carotid atherosclerosis.
Lü
Min
M
Department of Epidemiology, Cardiovascular Institute and Fu Wai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100037, China.
Shi
Lu-jiang
LJ
Shi
Ping
P
Kang
Sheng
S
Wu
Liu-xin
LX
Wu
Yang-feng
YF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health; D014463:Ultrasonography