[Prevalence of hypertension among Chinese adults in 2010]

To examine prevalence and distribution of blood pressure level among Chinese adults in 2010.

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.

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.

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.