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. 2020 Feb;22(2):150-156.
doi: 10.1111/jch.13820. Epub 2020 Jan 31.

The impact of changes in population blood pressure on hypertension prevalence and control in China

Wei-Guo Fan  1 , Feng Xie  1 , Yi-Rong Wan  2 , Norm R C Campbell  3 , Hai Su  1
Affiliations

The impact of changes in population blood pressure on hypertension prevalence and control in China

Wei-Guo Fan et al. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2020 Feb.

Abstract

In China, there are approximately 250 million adults who have hypertension with low rates of awareness, treatment and control. Changes in lifestyles at a population level have the potential to enhance or deteriorate the prevention and control of hypertension. We used data from a regional hypertension survey to examine the impact of 2/1 mm Hg decreases or increases in population blood pressure on hypertension prevalence, and rates of unawareness of the hypertension diagnosis, treatment, and control. The primary analysis was based on the average blood pressure of respondents from three visits and a diagnostic threshold of 140/90 mm Hg for hypertension. Secondary analyses examined average blood pressure from the first survey visit and also a diagnostic threshold of 130/80 mm Hg for hypertension. The baseline hypertension prevalence was 33.4%, and rates of unawareness of the hypertension diagnosis, treatment, and control were 74.2%, 25.8%, and 9.7%, respectively. Decreases or increases in blood pressure by 10/5 mm Hg resulted in changes in hypertension prevalence (22.1% vs 53.4%) and rates of unawareness of the diagnosis (60.9% vs 83.8%), treatment (39.1% vs 16.2%), and control (21.2% vs 3.6%), respectively. Similar trends were seen in the secondary analyses. Population changes in lifestyle could have a very large impact on the prevalence and control of hypertension in China. The results support implementation of programs to improve population lifestyles while implementing health services policies to enhance the clinical management of hypertension.

Keywords: clinical management of hypertension; diet/nutrition/hypertension; hypertension; prevention; public health.

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Conflict of interest statement

NRCC was a paid consultant to the Novartis Foundation (2016‐2017) to support their program to improve hypertension control in low‐ to middle‐income countries which includes travel support for site visits and a contract to develop a survey. NRCC has provided paid consultative advice on accurate blood pressure assessment to Midway Corporation (2017) and is an unpaid member of World Action on Salt and Health (WASH). The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

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