title: Prevalence of prehypertension and associated risk factors in a rural Taiwanese adult population.
abstract: 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.
authors.forename: Shin-Jing
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Kun-Tai
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ker-Cheng
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Kai-Hong
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Wei-Chung
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Sheng-Hsiung
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Sheu
authors.forename: Ming-Tsang
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Chien-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Wen-Ter
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058246:Prehypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health; D013624:Taiwan