[Current status of primary hypertension in China: an epidemiological study of 12 provinces, 1 autonomous regions, and 1 municipality].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the current prevalence of primary hypertension in China in 2002 so as to lay a foundation for further control of hypertension in future.


METHODS
Physical examination, including measurement of the blood pressure using international standardized methods especially, was conducted among 29,076 persons aged 35 - 85, 13,555 males (46.6%) and 15,521 females (53.4%), by cluster sampling in Tianjin, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Henan, Shandong, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Yunnan, and Shaanxi.


RESULTS
The prevalence of hypertension was 27.9% in general. The prevalence increased along with the age. The rate of awareness of being ill with hypertension was 60.71% in general (9872/29,076), and was 55.64% among the males, significantly lower than that among the females (65.42, P < 0.001). The treatment rate 49.65% (4901/9872) in general, and was significantly higher among the females than among the males (P < 0.01). The control rate was 5.7% (562/9872). In general, the prevalence of hypertension was higher in the North than in the South, and was becoming lower and lower from the North to the South.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of hypertension is high, while the rates of awareness, treatment and control are low in China.
Zhao
Xiu-li
XL
Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China.
Chen
Jie
J
Cui
Yan-li
YL
Wu
Feng
F
Hu
Da-yi
DY
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors