title: Correlation between tea consumption and prevalence of hypertension among Singaporean Chinese residents aged ⩾40 years.
abstract: By a cross-sectional epidemiology study, we attempted to correlate the consumption of tea and/or health supplements, living habits and socio-demographic factors to the prevalence of hypertension among Singaporean Chinese residents. Singaporean Chinese residents aged ⩾40 years were randomly selected and interviewed face-to-face by clinical research assistants. Hypertension was defined as measured systolic blood pressure at least 140 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure at least 90  mmHg or self-reported history/treatment for hypertension. The prevalence of hypertension among the whole investigated population (N=1184, 58.27% females) was 49.73% and the prevalence increased to 66.47% in the sub-population aged ⩾60 years. High risk of hypertension was associated with age ⩾60 years (odds ratio (OR): 4.15-4.19, P<0.01), obesity (body mass index >25 kg m(-2), OR: 2.10-2.11, P<0.01), family history of hypertension (OR: 2.69-2.76, P<0.01), diabetes history (OR: 2.29-2.33, P<0.01), hyperlipidemia history (OR: 1.79-1.80, P<0.01), male (OR: 1.56-1.59, P<0.01) and coffee intake (OR: 1.44-1.46, P<0.05). In contrast, drinking green tea at least 150 ml per week was associated with lower hypertension risk (OR: 0.63, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.43-0.91, P<0.05). Drinking combination of green tea and British tea was associated with higher reduction in the risk of hypertension (OR: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.39-0.85, P<0.05). This cross-sectional study suggests that consumption of tea, especially green tea and British tea, was associated with lowering the risk of hypertension. On the other hand, consumption of coffee could be a risk factor of hypertension. These findings may provide useful information for health promotion to reduce risk of hypertension and warrant further study to confirm and elucidate such association.
authors.affiliation: Singapore College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Singapore, Singapore.|Department of Pharmaceutics, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: National University Hospital of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Centre for Complementary Medicine Research, University of Western Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: X S
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Ho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013662:Tea
chemical_list: D013662:Tea