Community-based prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases

The Annual Report on Cardiovascular Health and Diseases in China (2022) intricate landscape of cardiovascular health in China. This is the third section of the report with a specific focus on community-based prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This section of the report underscores the importance of initiatives outlined in the "Healthy China 2030 Plan," emphasizing the comprehensive prevention and control strategy for chronic diseases. A key aspect of this plan involves the establishment of national demonstration areas aimed at comprehensive prevention and control of chronic diseases. By 2020, 488 such areas had been set up across China, surpassing the initial target and covering a significant proportion of counties and districts. The report highlights the successful implementation of these strategies in Lishan district, Anshan city, where demonstration areas for comprehensive prevention and control of chronic diseases were launched in 2013. Over the course of seven years, the number of healthy units increased substantially, leading to improvements in managing risk factors for CVD among residents. Significant reductions in prevalence rates of overweight, obesity, smoking, passive smoking, and drinking were observed, along with the development of healthier behaviors among residents. Similarly, Qiaokou district in Wuhan City, designated as a national demonstration area in 2014, implemented comprehensive public health promotion initiatives. Notably, special clinics for hypertension intervention were established, contributing to an increase in self-reported rates of hypertension, a slight decrease in prevalence, and a remarkable improvement in the control rate among treated patients. Overall, these efforts underscore the effectiveness of community-based approaches in driving positive health outcomes and advancing the comprehensive prevention and control of chronic diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases, in China.