Status of cardiovascular disease epidemics and its risk factors prevention and control in China: an evaluation based on China Cardiovascular Health Index of 2017

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the current situation of cardiovascular diseases and the exposure as well as control level of their risk factors in the Chinese residents. Methods: Based on the 2017 China Cardiovascular Health Index (hereafter referred to as CHI) study, data on the 29 indicators from three dimensions named as prevalence of cardiovascular disease, exposure to relevant risk factors, and prevention and control of risk factors of the 31 provinces in China (excluding Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) were obtained. To make a higher CHI score indicate better cardiovascular health levels, all the reverse metrics were firstly converted into positive metrics. Thenstandard normal conversion were adopted and a percentage score was assigned to each value according to its area proportion under the standard normal conversion distribution curve. Finally the scores of the three dimensions and the total CHI were calculated by weighted sum of these scores. Scores and ranks in each dimension were used to compare the performance in different provinces. Results: Heilongjiang, Tibet, Jilin, Henan, Xinjiang had the lowest scores in the prevalence of cardiovascular disease. Tianjin, Hebei, Liaoning, Shanxi and Beijing had the lowest scores in the exposure to relevant risk factors. Hainan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Shaanxi and Guangxi had the lowest in the prevention and control of risk factors. In terms of behavioral risk factors, smoking rates, rate of insufficient physical activity, obesity rate of adults aged 18 in the 31 provinces in China excluding Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan were 26.80% (25.15%, 29.25%), 17.80% (11.60%, 19.45%) and 12.00% (8.90%, 17.95%), respectively. The daily per capital salt intake level was 8.6 (8.2, 9.3) g. As for metabolic risk factors, the prevalence of dyslipidemia (33.7%) exceeded hypertension (26.0%) and diabetes (9.7%), while its awareness rate (14.5%), treatment rate (7.9%) and control rate (5.4%) were all below the corresponding levels of hypertension and diabetes. Conclusion: Risk factors of cardiovascular disease in China is relatively severe and the prevention and control of dyslipidemia needs to be further strengthened.