Abstract
Objective This study is aimed at exploring the trends in the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in rural northeast China from 2008 to 2018. Methods Two successive cross-sectional surveys were conducted in Liaoning rural areas in 2008 and 2018, which included 131520 and 10926 representative participants aged ≥ 40 years, respectively. Results Overall, the age-standardized prevalence of hypertension increased from 44.7% to 53.6%, and male residents showed a faster pace of increase and a 2.1-fold increase than female residents (25.5% vs. 10.6%) from 2008 to 2018. Moreover, the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures increased by 9.0% and 4.1%, respectively, and the increase rates were greater in men than in women (9.2% vs. 8.9% and 5.3% vs. 3.5%, P < 0.05). Additionally, the prevalence of stage 2 and above hypertension was significantly higher in men than in women. However, the awareness, treatment, and control rates showed no improvement and remained unacceptably low. Control rates were 3.7% in 2008 and 3.6% in 2018. Even among individuals who received medical treatment, only 8.7% and 10.1% had controlled hypertension in 2008 and 2018, respectively. Conclusions The prevalence of hypertension and mean blood pressure increased steadily in the past 10 years in rural northeast China, especially in men. However, the awareness, treatment, and control rates of hypertension remained extremely low. Therefore, long-term comprehensive strategies are urgently needed to prevent further development of cardiovascular diseases in these areas.
Highlights
Hypertension has long been considered as a major public health problem [1]
The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures increased by 9.0% and 4.1%, respectively, and the increase rates were greater in men than in women (9.2% vs. 8.9% and 5.3% vs. 3.5%, P < 0:05)
The present study showed that the hypertension status was becoming worse over the past 10 years in rural northeast China
Summary
Hypertension has long been considered as a major public health problem [1]. A previous study reported that the number of individuals with hypertension was projected to be nearly 1.56 billion by 2025 worldwide, and approximately 3/4 of them will be in developing countries [3]. The economic burden of hypertension was estimated to cost approximately US $370 billion and 10% of healthcare expenditures worldwide [4]. Strategies targeted on hypertension management could provide underestimated public health gains. The status of hypertension varies widely with different geographic, demographic, and socioeconomic factors. More than half of the Chinese population is composed of rural residents. These populations possibly remain unaware, BioMed Research International
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