Objective: To describe the prevalence, distribution, current status awareness, and control of hypertension among rural adult residents in Ningxia.
Methods: Stratified cluster sampling methods was used and the participants were interviewed by trained health workers under a structured questionnaire. The number of research subjects was 3324. Body mass index (BMI) and Blood pressure (BP) of all samples (3324 subjects) were measured. and the data was analyses by the Chinese hypertension prevention and care guideline, 2004.
Results: A total of 3324 adults (age 25-74 years) participated. The age-adjusted prevalence of hypertension was 15.8% in all participant, 15.7% in male subjects and 16.1% in female subjects. Only 31.5% of all hypertensive patients were aware of their status, 13.6% were taking antihypertensive medication and 2.7% were controlled (blood pressure < 140/90 mmHg under antihypertensive medication). More Han ethnic group (36.4%) were aware of their hypertension than were Hui ethnic group (26.8%) (P = 0.019), treatment and control had no statistically significant between Hui ethnic group and Han ethnic group (15.4%, 3.2% vs 11.9%, 2.1%, P = 0.097 P = 0.209).
Conclusion: Our results indicate that hypertension is highly prevalent among rural residents in Ningxia. The percentages of those with hypertension who are aware, treated, and controlled are unacceptably low. These results underscore the urgent need to develop national strategies to improve prevention, detection, and treatment of hypertension in the population.