Control Status Of Hypertension And Its Influencing Factors By Age Group In Rural Shandong Province

Hypertension is not only a common disease among human beings, but also the main cause of stroke and cardiovascular diseases. Although it has been regarded as a serious disease as well as an influential risk factor of health, its control rate is low. In China, the control rate of hypertension is lower than that of western countries. It is also a matter that the control rate in rural area is considerably lower than that of urban areas. This study aims to depict the status quo of hypertension control in rural areas of Shandong Province, and to improve control policies of hypertension for the rural population.Multistage stratified random sampling was adopted to get research sample. According to development levels of economics, we select 4 low economic level Countries: Shanghe Country, Cangshan Country, Ling Country, Ningyang Country; 2 middle economic level Countries: Yiyuan Country, Laicheng Country; 2 high economic level: Shouguang Country, Guangrao Country. A total of 20087 rural residents were selected. Household survey and physical tests were carried out. Health knowledge, health behaviors, and determinants of hypertensive control rate were analyzed.Results: The attained health knowledge, with respect to hypertensive prevention and control, was relatively low in rural patients, particularly in aged patients. Self-evaluated health status was poor for one third of the aged rural residents. Additionally, a half of the aged residents did not want to attain health knowledge. Further more, the health behaviors of some hypertensive patients went against blood pressure control: high salt diet, tobacco consumption, lack of physical activities in aged patients, the prevalence of overweight and obesity in young and middle-aged patients was higher than 70%. Self-reported drug therapy adherence was good in rural hypertensive patients. More than 70% of the old patients could adhere to drug therapies. Multivariable analysis showed that family history, hypertensive complications, and adjustments of health behaviors were determinants of hypertensive control rate in young patients. Duration of hypertension and types of antihypertensive were determinants of hypertensive control rate in middle-aged patients. In aged patients, duration of hypertension was the only determinant of control rate.Conclusion: Hypertensive control rate was poor in rural residents of Shandong Province, especially in old patients. In order to advance hypertension control, health education and health promotion should be improved in rural population; hypertensive knowledge attainment should be increased; health behaviors adjustments and appropriate drug therapies should be adopted.Suggestions: 1) Interventions which focus on hypertension prevention and control should be implemented in rural communities, mainly with formats of health education and health promotion. Prevent hypertension in general population, reduce blood pressure level in high risk population, and improve patient management. 2) The health education for aged population should be more understandable and feasible, taking account of the social psychological characteristics of old people. Meanwhile, rehabilitation interventions, psychological therapies, and long-term care should be advanced. 3) Enhance the human resource of health institutions. The professional skills on hypertension of rural health workers could be improved through continuing education, training, and reallocating experts to rural areas, with starting points on prevention, diagnosis, treatments and recovering.