Survey on prevalence of hypertension in China: Background, aim, method and design

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the first cause of death worldwide [ [1] Gaziano T.A. Cardiovascular disease in the developing world and its cost-effective management. Circulation. 2005; 112: 3547-3553 Crossref PubMed Scopus (282) Google Scholar ] and in China [ [2] Hu S.S. Kong L.Z. Gao R.L. et al. Outline of the report on cardiovascular disease in China, 2010. BES. 2012; 25: 251-256 Google Scholar ] as well. It is estimated that there are 230 million people with CVD in China [ [3] National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases Report on cardiovascular diseases in China (2007). Encyclopedia of China Publishing House, Beijing2008 Google Scholar ]. Hypertension is one of the major risk factors of CVD. The prevalence of hypertension was 5.1% in 1959, rising to 7.7% in 1979, 13.6% in 1991, and 18.8% in 2002; there were an estimated 160 million patients in 2002 [ [4] Sun H. Zhang Q. Luo X. et al. Changes of adult population health status in China from 2003 to 2008. PLoS One. 2011; 6: e28411 Crossref PubMed Scopus (16) Google Scholar ]. The awareness, treatment and control of hypertension were only 30%, 25% and 6%, respectively [ [5] Wu Y. Huxley R. Li L. et al. Prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in China: data from the China National Nutrition and Health Survey 2002. Circulation. 2008; 118: 2679-2686 Crossref PubMed Scopus (442) Google Scholar ]. With the rapid economic development, urbanization, acceleration of population aging, and changes of traditional dietary habits and life style profile, it is expected that the prevalence of hypertension in China will continue to rise [ [3] National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases Report on cardiovascular diseases in China (2007). Encyclopedia of China Publishing House, Beijing2008 Google Scholar ]. Since the survey in 2002, there were no large-scale surveys on hypertension in China; we hope to ascertain the current status of hypertension.