Characterization of systemic hypertension in the San Francisco Chinese community

This report examines the prevalence of hypertension, its management and control, and the use of antihypertensive medication, diet, and exercise in Chinese adults residing in the San Francisco community. Blood pressure (BP) was measured objectively using an automated oscillometric Dinamap recorder on 708 Chinese adults (295 men and 413 women; age range from 19 to 98 years, mean 59.7), and hypertension, defined as BP >140/90 mm Hg and/or the use of antihypertensive medications, was found in 489 (69%), most of them immigrants from China. Although 202 patients (41%) received antihypertensive medications, only 28 (14%) achieved BP control (<140/90 mm Hg), and in examining the self-management of hypertension, it was found that only 45% of patients used low-sodium diets, and 49% performed regular exercises for > or = 30 minutes > or = 3 times weekly.