Prehypertension and clustering of cardiovascular risk factors among adults in suburban Beijing, China.

BACKGROUND: Prehypertension is common in China and is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The present study estimated the current prevalence of prehypertension and its association with clustering of other modifiable cardiovascular risk factors (CRFs) among adults in suburban Beijing.

METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of a representative sample of 19 003 suburban adults aged 18 to 76 years was carried out in 2007. Questionnaire data and information on blood pressure, anthropometric characteristics, and laboratory measurements were collected.

RESULTS: The age-standardized prevalence of prehypertension was 35.7% (38.2% in men and 31.8% in women) among adults in suburban Beijing. The prevalence of overweight/obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and physical inactivity was higher in participants with prehypertension (26.7%, 4.8%, 34.3%, and 60.4%, respectively) as compared with normotensive participants (15.9%, 2.7%, 20.5%, and 29.1%, respectively), and in participants with hypertension as compared with those with prehypertension. Overall, 85.3%, 49.8%, and 17.8% of prehypertensive men had 1 or more, 2 or more, and 3 or more CRFs (overweight/obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia, current smoking, and physical inactivity). These proportions were higher than those in normotensive men (81.5%, 45.1%, and 13.4%) and lower than those in men with hypertension (91.7%, 56.4%, 19.2%). Similar results were found when women with prehypertension were compared with women who were normotensive or hypertensive.

CONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence of prehypertension and clustering of other modifiable CRFs are common among prehypertensive adults in suburban Beijing. More-effective population-based lifestyle modifications are required to prevent progression to hypertension and reduce the increasing burden of cardiovascular disease in China.