Enhanced hypertension prevalence in non-Han Chinese minorities from Xinjiang Province, China

Hypertension and its risk factors have been thoroughly investigated in multiple population studies, but little is known about Chinese minorities. In this study, we examined the association of hypertension prevalence with its risk factors in Han and non-Han minorities from Xinjiang Province, China, who have distinct lifestyles. A total of 9551 Han and non-Han Chinese (Han 83.9%, non-Han 16.1%) 17-81-years old participated in this clinical survey and anthropometric screening. Physical examination was performed on each participant, including measurement of systolic and diastolic blood pressure and body mass index (BMI). The prevalence of hypertension in non-Hans was found to be significantly greater than in Hans, in both men (39.92% vs. 28.55%, P<0.001) and women (19.49% vs. 10.29%, P<0.001) among the 36-55-year old age group. BMI was also found to be significantly higher in non-Hans than Hans in men (BMI: 26.54+/-3.23 vs. 24.82+/-2.77 kgm(-2), P<0.001) and women (BMI: 26.92+/-3.20 vs. 24.19+/-3.16 kgm(-2), P<0.001) in the same age group, but not in those <36-years old. Although Han women had normal weights or were slightly overweight (age >36, BMI=22.25-24.19 kgm(-2)), non-Han women from the same age group were found to be severely overweight (ages 36-55, BMI=24.94 kgm(-2), ages >56, BMI=26.92 kgm(-2)). A strong association between increased BMI and hypertension was shown in all ethnic and gender groups. The prevalence of hypertension in overweight (BMI> or =24 kgm(-2)) and obese (BMI> or =28 kgm(-2)), aged (36-81), male, and non-Han participants was significantly greater than in lean (BMI <24 kgm(-2)), young (17-35), female Hans, after adjustment for these variables in a multivariate logistic regression analysis (P<0.001). A high prevalence of hypertension in overweight and obese elderly non-Han men suggests that BMI, age, sex and race are important risk factors for hypertension in this Chinese population.