title: Hypertension subtype and risk of cardiovascular disease in Chinese adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We examined the relationship between hypertension subtype and cardiovascular disease incidence and mortality in Chinese adults.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We conducted a prospective cohort study in a nationally representative sample of 169 871 Chinese men and women aged >or=40 years. Data on systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and other variables were obtained at a baseline examination in 1991 with the use of standard protocols. Follow-up evaluation was conducted in 1999-2000, with a response rate of 93.4%. Hypertension subtypes were defined as combined systolic and diastolic hypertension (SBP >or=140 and DBP >or=90 mm Hg), isolated systolic hypertension (SBP >or=140 and DBP <90 mm Hg), isolated diastolic hypertension (SBP <140 and DBP >or=90 mm Hg), and 2 categories of treated hypertension (SBP <140 and DBP <90 mm Hg or SBP >or=140 and/or DBP >or=90 mm Hg). After participants with missing BP values were excluded, 169 577 adults were included in the analyses. Compared with normotensives, relative risks (95% CIs) of cardiovascular disease incidence and mortality were 2.73 (2.60 to 2.86) and 2.53 (2.39 to 2.68) for combined systolic and diastolic hypertension, 1.78 (1.69 to 1.87) and 1.68 (1.58 to 1.78) for isolated systolic hypertension, 1.59 (1.43 to 1.76) and 1.45 (1.27 to 1.65) for isolated diastolic hypertension, 2.01 (1.64 to 2.48) and 1.61 (1.28 to 2.03) for treated hypertension with SBP <140 and DBP <90 mm Hg, and 3.37 (3.07 to 3.69) and 2.88 (2.60 to 3.19) for treated hypertension with SBP >or=140 and/or DBP >or=90 mm Hg, respectively, after adjustment for important covariables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that all hypertension subtypes are associated with significantly increased risk of cardiovascular disease in Chinese adults. Primary prevention of hypertension should be a public health priority in the Chinese population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
authors.forename: Tanika N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Dongfeng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jian-feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Ji-chun
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiufang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Xigui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: C Lillian
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Yau
authors.forename: Paul K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Whelton
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000145:classification* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000401:mortality; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D020521:Stroke / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000401:mortality