title: Health Insurance Coverage and Hypertension Control in China: Results from the China Health and Nutrition Survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  China has rapidly expanded health insurance coverage over the past decade but its impact on hypertension control is not well known. We analyzed factors associated with hypertension and the impact of health insurance on the management of hypertension in China from 1991 to 2009.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We used individual-level data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) for blood pressure, BMI, and other socio-economic variables. We employed multi-level logistic regression models to estimate the factors associated with prevalence and management of hypertension. We also estimated the effects of health insurance on management of hypertension using propensity score matching. We found that prevalence of hypertension increased from 23.8% (95% CI: 22.5-25.1%) in 1991 to 31.5% (28.5-34.7%) in 2009. The proportion of hypertensive patients aware of their condition increased from 31.7% (28.7-34.9%) to 51.1% (45.1-57.0%). The proportion of diagnosed hypertensive patients in treatment increased by 35.5% in the 19 years, while the proportion of those in treatment with controlled blood pressure remained low. Among diagnosed hypertensives, health insurance increased the probability of receiving treatment by 28.7% (95% CI: 10.6-46.7%) compared to propensity-matched individuals not covered by health insurance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypertension continues to be a major health threat in China and effective control has not improved over time despite large improvements in awareness and treatment access. This suggests problems in treatment quality, medication adherence and patient understanding of the condition. Improvements in hypertension management, quality of medical care for those at high risk, and better health insurance packages are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Global Health Policy, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Department of Global Health Policy, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gilmour
authors.affiliation: Department of Global Health Policy, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shibuya
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001364:Awareness / Q000502:physiology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics*; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000191:economics*; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys / Q000379:methods; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology*; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents