The accelerating epidemic of hypertension among rural Chinese women: Results from Liaoning Province

BACKGROUND The objective of the study was to assess prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension and its risk factors in rural women in Liaoning Province in northeast China. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 23,178 women of minimum age 35 years, living in rural Liaoning province in northeast China. We measured their blood pressure (BP) and investigated associated factors. Hypertension was defined as an average systolic BP >= 140 mm Hg, and/or an average diastolic BP >= 90 mm Hg, and/or self-report of current treatment for hypertension with antihypertensive medication. RESULTS The overall prevalence of hypertension in this study was 38.6%. Among those with hypertension, 32.8% were aware that they had high BP, 27.4% were being treated with anti hypertensive medications, and in 1.4% of the women the hypertension was controlled. Multivariate analysis revealed that higher age, Mongolian ethnicity, higher body mass index (BMI), higher waist circumference (WC), excessive salt intake, smoking, alcohol consumption, lipid disorder, diabetes, and family history of hypertension were associated with the prevalence of hypertension; a higher level of education (high school or beyond) and a higher income level were inversely related to hypertension prevalence. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that hypertension is highly prevalent in rural women in Liaoning province and it is associated with known risk factors. There are unacceptably low percentages of those with hypertension who are aware of their condition, are receiving treatment, and in whom hypertension is controlled. Our study suggests the urgent need for a public health program to improve the prevention, detection, and treatment of hypertension in rural Chinese women.