Epidemiological Features of Hypertension Among Ischemic Survivors in Northeast China: Insights From A Population-Based Study, 2017-2019

Background Hypertension remains the major modifiable risk factor of stroke recurrence. The study aimed to determine the up-to-date epidemiological features of hypertension among the survivors of ischemic stroke. Methods Our cross-sectional study included 18,796 adults aged ≥ 40 years and residing in northeast China. Ischemic stroke was diagnosed according to the World Health Organization’s criteria. Hypertension was defined according to the Chinese hypertension guidelines. Results Of the 986 survivors of ischemic stroke, 819 (83.1%) were diagnosed with hypertension. Among hypertensive patients, the awareness, treatment and control rates were 76.8%, 66.7% and 7.3% respectively. Only 11.0% achieved an appropriate blood pressure among those who took hypertensive medications. 16.1% of treated hypertensive patients received combination therapy, and calcium channel blockers were the most frequently used anti-hypertensive medication as monotherapy. The mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of the stroke population was 155.3 ± 22.9 mm Hg and 89.2 ± 12.3 mm Hg. Both SBP and DBP were higher in rural patients than in urban patients (158.5 ± 23.8 mm Hg vs. 146.4 ± 17.5 mm Hg and 90.3 ± 12.9 mm Hg vs. 85.9 ± 10.1 mm Hg, respectively; p < 0.001). The rates of stage 2 and above hypertension in the ischemic stroke population were 32.5% and 18.7%, and was significantly higher in rural areas than in urban areas. Conclusions The prevalence of poorly-controlled hypertension and the high rates of blood pressures at stages 2 and above in patients with prior ischemic stroke demonstrated an alarming situation in northeast China.