Epidemiological survey of hypertension among middle-aged and elderly adults in Anhui Province

To understand and analyze the prevalence and treatment of hypertension among residents aged 45 years and older in northern and southern Anhui Province to provide an opportunity to improve awareness, taking into account and standardizing hypertension management. Using a stratified cluster random sampling method, Anhui Province was divided into northern and southern Anhui regions using the Yangtze River as the boundary. The prevalence rate, awareness rate, treatment rate, control rate, related risk factors and complications of hypertension in the community population aged ≥ 45 years in Anhui Province were investigated using a questionnaire survey and a physical examination. The chi-square test was used to analyze the regional differences in hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment and control rates. Weighted logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors for hypertension. A total of 1331 residents aged ≥ 45 years were included. The results showed that the overall prevalence of hypertension in the Anhui Province population aged ≥ 45 years was 47.48% (50.73% in northern Anhui and 43.21% in southern Anhui), and the prevalence of hypertension in northern Anhui was higher than that in southern Anhui. The survey showed that the overall hypertension awareness rate in Anhui Province was 59.67%, the hypertension treatment rate was 44.46%, and the hypertension control rate was 30.70%. The differences between the 2 regions was statistically significant. The hypertension awareness, treatment and control rates in southern Anhui were higher than those in northern Anhui (P < .05). The risk factors for hypertension were older age, rural residence, male, obesity, low education level, high salt diet, smoking, excessive drinking, poor sleep, insufficient exercise, a family history of hypertension, a history of diabetes, and a history of hyperlipidemia. The most common complication of hypertension in middle-aged and elderly people in Anhui Province was cerebrovascular disease, followed by cardiovascular disease. Calcium channel blockers were the most commonly used antihypertensive drugs in middle-aged and elderly people in Anhui Province, followed by angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker receptor antagonists.