Urban-rural disparities in hypertension management among middle-aged and older patients: Results of a 2018 Chinese national study

OBJECTIVES: Hypertension is a well-known global risk factor associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Medication use and urban-rural disparities in medication usage patterns affect hypertension management. We investigated patient characteristics across different geographical areas to determine factors that affect medication use among Chinese patients aged ≥ 45 years, diagnosed with hypertension. METHODS: Data were extracted from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study 2018. We recorded differences in medication use, advice from healthcare providers, and health-related behaviors between urban and rural areas. RESULTS: The study included 2115 patients with hypertension (mean age 62.06 years). Advice received and medication use were significantly lower in patients from rural areas than in those from urban areas. Our findings showed that urban residence, comorbidities, advice regarding lifestyle changes, and smoking were positive predictors of medication use, whereas alcohol consumption and regular exercise reduced the likelihood of medication use. DISCUSSION: We observed urban-rural disparities in hypertension management, and several strategies, including distribution of reminders and written materials can be integrated into current clinical practice to improve the rate of medication use among rural residents with hypertension.