Objective: To examine prevalence and distribution of blood pressure level among Chinese adults in 2010.
Methods: A total of 98 548 adults, which were sampled from 162 surveillance points, were enrolled in the blood pressure measurements in the 2010 China Chronic and non-communicable disease surveillance. Blood pressures were examined by electronic blood pressure monitor. After being weighted according to complex sampling scheme and post-stratification, the sample was used to estimate the prevalence of hypertension by age, gender, urban and rural areas, and geographic locations.
Results: There were 37 461 respondents with hypertension in the sample which indicates an unweighted prevalence of hypertension was 38.0%. The average systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of the sample were (132.7 ± 21.9) and (81.4 ± 11.9) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa), respectively, whereas the weighted average SBP and DBP were (130.8 ± 21.3) and (80.4 ± 11.7) mm Hg respectively. After being weighted, the weighted prevalence of hypertension in Chinese adults was 33.5% (95%CI: 31.6% - 35.4%). Hypertension prevalence increased with age, which was lowest among residents aged 18 - 24 years (9.7%, 95%CI: 8.5% - 10.9%) and highest among individuals aged 75 years and above (72.8%, 95%CI: 70.4% - 75.2%) (P < 0.05). The prevalence was statistically higher among males (35.1%, 95%CI: 33.1% - 37.1%) than females (31.8%, 95%CI: 29.8% - 33.9%) (P < 0.05). Residents living in urban area had a prevalence of hypertension (34.7%, 95%CI: 32.4% - 37.1%) similar to those in rural area (32.9%, 95%CI: 30.3% - 35.5%) (P > 0.05). Prevalence of hypertension in east, central, and west region of China were 36.2% (95%CI: 33.1% - 39.3%), 34.1% (95%CI: 30.7% - 37.5%), and 28.8% (95%CI: 25.1% - 32.6%) (P < 0.05), respectively.
Conclusion: The prevalence of hypertension was quite high among Chinese adults aged 18 years and over in 2010 with variations by gender, age and geographic regions.