Prevalence of prehypertension and associated risk factors in a rural Taiwanese adult population.
BACKGROUND
The Joint National Committee on the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure has recently introduced the prehypertension category of blood pressure status that needs monitoring and intervention. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of prehypertension and its associated risks in rural Taiwan.


METHODS
From community-based cross-sectional data of 6204 adults (2650 men and 3554 women) who received general health examination in the Chi-Shan district in rural Taiwan, collected between 2002 and 2007, we analyzed and compared the blood pressure and demographic, metabolic, and behavior characteristics of prehypertensive and normotensive subjects. Multiple logistic regression methods were used to identify risk factors for prehypertension.


RESULTS
Within the study population, 3354 had hypertension, 1875 had prehypertension, and 975 had normal blood pressure. The prehypertensive subjects were older, had higher body mass index (BMI), and had higher blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and uric acid levels than did the normotensive group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that BMI was the strongest predictor of prehypertension in both men and women (OR=1.102, 95% CI=1.054-1.152, P<0.001; and OR=1.121, 95% CI=1.085-1.159, P<0.001, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of prehypertension is high among adults in rural Taiwan and it was associated with many risk factors for further hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Early lifestyle modifications, such as healthy diet, optimal weight control, and exercise are recommended interventions.
Lin
Shin-Jing
SJ
Lee
Kun-Tai
KT
Lin
Ker-Cheng
KC
Cheng
Kai-Hong
KH
Tsai
Wei-Chung
WC
Sheu
Sheng-Hsiung
SH
Wu
Ming-Tsang
MT
Lee
Chien-Hung
CH
Lai
Wen-Ter
WT
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058246:Prehypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health; D013624:Taiwan