Prevalence and risk factors of the rural adult people prehypertension status in Liaoning province of China

Background Prehypertension is a new category of blood pressure (BP) classification according to the Seventh Report of The Joint National Committee. Little is known about the epidemiology of prehypertension in rural China. The purpose of the present study is to determine the prevalence of prehypertension and associated risk factors in rural adult people of China. Methods and Results Through cluster multistage and random sampling method, a resident group of 29,970 people aged >= 35 years old in Liaoning Province was selected from 2004 to 2005. The survey on BP and associated risk factors was carried out. Prehypertension was defined as systolic BP between 120 and 139mmHg or diastolic BP 80 and 89 mmHg. Overall, the prevalence of prehypertension was 47.0%, males 51.2% and females 42.6%, respectively. The prevalence of hypertension was 36.2%. Multivariable logistic regression showed overweightness, obesity and drinking were risk factors of prehypertension. Female and greater than high school education status were shown as protective factors. Conclusions The prevalence of prehypertension of rural adult people in China is dramatically high and it was associated with many risk factors. Comprehensive lifestyle modifications are needed to be taken to decrease the incidence of prehypertension and to prevent prehypertension people from hypertension and cardiovascular disease.