Factors associated with prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension among adults in Southern China: a community-based, cross-sectional survey

The aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in southern China. A cross-sectional, population-based survey was conducted in 180 villages across 15 counties in southern China from July to November 2010. Totally, 17437 persons completed all of the questionnaires, measurement examination and blood specimen collection. Adjusted rate of hypertension was 22.59% (95%CI: 22.52%-22.66%), for men 23.36% (95%CI: 23.25%-23.47%) and for women 21.77% (95%CI: 21.68%-21.86%). Multivariate logistic regression showed that old age, education attainment, alcohol use, diabetes, obesity, high TC and high TG were associated with hypertension. Among the hypertensive individuals, 54.33% were aware of their hypertension, and 46.34% were currently taking antihypertensive medication, but only 18.26% had their blood pressure controlled. Among all the hypertensive subjects, awareness was more common in those who were female, living in the urban, old age, low education attainment, diabetes, overweight, obese, Low HDL-C. Among the subjects aware of their diagnosis of hypertension, medication treatment was more common in those living in the urban, old age, nonsmoker and diabetes. Among the individuals who receiving medication treatment, controlled hypertension were less common in those living in the urban, young age, low education attainment, overweight and obese. Despite high rate of hypertension, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension still need to be strengthened.