TRENDS IN STATUS OF HYPERTENSION IN SOUTH CHINA: RESULTS FROM TWO REPRESENTATIVE CROSS-SECTIONAL SURVEYS, 2012-2017

Abstract

Abstract Objective: This study aims to investigate the long-term natural trends in the status of hypertension in south China from 2012–2017. Design and method: Two successive cross-sectional surveys were conducted in Guangdong Province in 2012 and 2017, which include 10970 and 36376 participants aged 35 to 75 from different area, respectively. A multistage, stratified and cluster random sampling method was used to enroll the participants. Hypertension was defined as a mean systolic blood pressure at least 140mmHg and/or a mean diastolic blood pressure at least 90 mmHg, and/or self-reported use of antihypertensive medication within past 2 weeks, according to the 2010 Chinese guidelines for the management of Hypertension. The prevalence and control rates of hypertension were also estimated according to the 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) high blood pressure guideline. Results: In 2012, 39.3% participants had hypertension, whereas 37.6% participants had hypertension in 2017. The age-standardized prevalence was 34.7% [95% confidence interval (CI): 34.1–35.2] and 31.9% (95% CI: 31.6–32.2) in 2012 and 2017, respectively. The prevalence of prehypertension decreased from 14.5 to 13.1% from 2012 to 2017. Over the two study periods, 45.6 and 51.2% of those with hypertension were aware of their diagnosis in 2012 and 2017, respectively, and 40.8 and 44.9% were taking antihypertensive medications, respectively; the control rates increase from 15.1 to 17.0% and among those who received medical treatment 36.9 and 37.9% achieved control of BP, respectively. Based on the 2017 ACC/AHA guideline, prevalence of hypertension was 64.5% in 2012 and 59.1% in 2017. The control rate increased from 3.0 to 4.4% during this period. And among participants who received medical treatment, only 12.2 and 15.2% of participants achieve the target of hypertensive management in 2012 and 2017, respectively. Conclusions: During 2012 to 2017, the prevalence of hypertension in South China trended to be stable, and the rate of awareness, treatment and control increased but still low.