Incidence of hypertension and risk of cardiovascular events among ethnic Chinese: report from a community-based cohort study in Taiwan.
BACKGROUND
Hypertension confers risk on cardiovascular events; however, less is known concerning hypertension incidence among ethnic Chinese. The effect of prehypertension on new onset of hypertension and cardiovascular events is also unknown.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the incidence of hypertension, risk factors and cardiovascular events in Taiwan.


METHODS
A prospective community-based cohort design.


METHODS
The Chin-Shan Community Cardiovascular Cohort consisted of 1703 men and 1899 women aged 35 years old and above, of homogeneous Chinese ethnicity, from 1990 to 2005.


METHODS
Hypertension incidence rates, cardiovascular events.


RESULTS
The patterns of adjusted cumulative incidence probability were curvilinear, increasing from 1% in the first period to 27% in the fourth period in normotensive subjects. The patterns among pre-hypertensives were from 4% in the first period to 59% in the fourth period. Women had an 18% lower risk of developing hypertension than men. The survival curves were distinctly different for different blood pressure categories (P < 0.001). Baseline blood pressure categories played important roles in predicting cardiovascular risks; the hazard risks of prehypertension and hypertension increased from 1.73 to 4.52, compared with baseline normotensive subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
The hypertension incidence rates among ethnic adult Chinese were high and were associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome status. Furthermore, the baseline prehypertension elicited significant risk of cardiovascular events in the community.
Chien
Kuo-Liong
KL
Institute of Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Hsu
Hsiu-Ching
HC
Sung
Fung-Chang
FC
Su
Ta-Chen
TC
Chen
Ming-Fong
MF
Lee
Yuan-Teh
YT
D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000401:mortality; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003153:Community Health Services; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000401:mortality; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology