Changes in average blood pressure and incidence of high blood pressure 1983-1984 to 1987-1988 in four population cohorts in the Peopleʼs Republic of China

OBJECTIVETo assess comparative changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and incidence of high blood pressure over 4 years, and factors related to these changes, in northern and southern, urban and rural adults in the Peopleʼs Republic of China. SETTINGThis is a prospective study of populations surveyed by standardized methods in 1983-1984 and 1987-1988 in north China, Beijing area steel mill workers and farmers, and south China, Guangzhou area shipyard workers and farmers. SUBJECTSThe subjects were 8805 men and women aged 35-54 years at baseline (1983-1984), of whom 7338 were non-hypertensive (systolic blood pressure