Hypertension prevalence and status of awareness, treatment and control in China.

A nation-wide survey of blood pressure (BP) and high BP was made in China in 1991, using standardized methods and covering 950,356 men and women aged 15 years and above, from 30 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities. The purpose of the study was to estimate the prevalence and the status of awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension. The overall prevalence rate of hypertension defined as systolic BP > or = 140 or diastolic BP > or = 90 mmHg or currently on antihypertensive medication was 13.6%, and was higher in urban (16.3%) than in rural (11.1%) setting. The rate was 6.6% if a BP cut-point of 160/95 mmHg was used. Rates were low in younger age-groups but rose sharply after age 45. The total number of hypertensives in 1990 was estimated to be close to 90 millions. Of all hypertensives, about 1/4 were aware of their high BP, half of these were on medication, and only 3% had their BP controlled. All the rates were higher if the BP cut-point was 160/95 mmHg. Higher rates were found in urban than rural setting and, to a lesser degree, for women than men. In conclusion, hypertension was found to be common in China, and the rates of awareness, drug treatment, and controlled BP were low, indicating an urgent need for developing a national program of treatment and prevention of high BP.