Trend in hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control rates among adult residents in Guangdong province, southern China, 2002~2022

Objective: To ascertain trends in hypertension among adults in southern China over the past two decades based on the most recent survey data. Methods: A total of 25 046 adults aged 18 years and older from the China National Nutrition and Health Surveys (CNNHS) conducted in Guangdong province between 2002 and 2022 were included in the study. Hypertension status and control rate were defined according to the 2024 Chinese Guideline. Results: The aging trend in this population was significant ( P = 0.001) during the survey period. The prevalence of overweight, obesity, central obesity, and dyslipidemia increased significantly. The overall standardized prevalence of hypertension increased from 11.3% in 2002 to 30.0% in 2022. Higher increases in hypertension prevalence were noted among rural areas, the younger group, underweight individuals, alcohol consumers, heavy smokers, and those with excessive sleep. Hypertension awareness, treatment, and control rates rose significantly from 25.7 to 42.6%, 15.7 to 34.4%, and 8.1 to 14.6%, respectively. Significant improvements were seen in rural populations and the older individuals, while awareness, treatment, and control rates declined in the younger group. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression analysis identified male sex, older age, overweight/obesity, central obesity, and dyslipidemia as key risk factors for hypertension. Conclusion: The prevalence of hypertension and related health issues have increased rapidly, with marked urban-rural disparities over the past two decades in southern China, represented by Guangdong Province. Awareness, treatment, and control rates of hypertension still require improvement, necessitating targeted prevention and control strategies for younger populations, rural regions.