[A survey on prevalence of hypertension in Macao area]

To study the prevalence of hypertension and population blood pressure levels in Macao area.

According to requirements set in "Manual for National Sampling Survey on Hypertension in 1991", 5,171 permanent residents aged more than 15 years in Macao area were investigated and their blood pressure measured with standardized methods and under strict quality control.

The survey showed that crude prevalence rate of hypertension was 29.46 percent in Macao, 20.45 percent after standardization, and it should be categorized into a hypertension prevalent area based on the domestic criteria for hypertension categorization. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure averaged 17.18 kPa (128.82 mmHg) and 10.86 kPa (81.47 mmHg), respectively, for males and 16.32 kPa (122.38 mmHg) and 10.15 kPa (76.15 mmHg), respectively, for females, higher than those in Guangdong Province and Beijing. Prevalence in males was higher than that in females and it increased more quickly in those more than 35 years old, similar to that in the other areas at home. Prevalence in new immigrants was lower than that in the original residents.

Hypertension was severely prevalent in Macao area and an important issue in public health not to be ignorant. Health education and health promotion should be strengthened to reach the primary and secondary prevention for it.