Prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of high blood pressure among Chinese rural population in Haimen, Jiangsu

Nowadays, high blood pressure (HBP) is one of the most common chronic diseases in China. This survey aims to assess HBP prevalence, and related disease awareness, treatment and control among rural population in Haimen, Jiangsu province, China. A total of 7538 rural residents, aged over 18 years, from four randomly selected villages in Haimen, were selected to participate in the blood pressure examination in September 2010, the male-to-female ratio of participants was 1: 1.57. In all, 2034 patients were diagnosed with HBP. The total crude prevalence of HBP was 26.98%, the overall standardized prevalence of HBP was 24.38%. Both male and female prevalence rates demonstrate ascending trend with age. Awareness, treatment and control rates among all patients were 68.34%, 61.46% and 27.43% respectively, whereas the corresponding rates in young group (18-44 years) were lower (50.94%, 35.85%, 24.53%). Improving treatment coverage and efficacy should be the focus of HBP prevention in rural areas in China.