The Prevalence Of Hypertensionin In The Guangxi Bai Ku Yao Population

Objective Bai Ku Yao(White-trousers Yaos)is a special branch of Yao minority in China.They are now living in both Lihu and Baxu villages,the infertile mountain areas in Nandan County,Guangxi,China.The population is about 30,000.The special customs and culture of Bai Ku Yao,including their clothing,intra-ethnic marriages,ballad,funerals,Bronze Drum,alcohol intake, and spinning top activities are still completely conserved to the present day.The determinants of hypertension and its risk factors in this population have not been well-defined.The aim of this study was to detect the prevalence of hypertension and its risk factors in the Guangxi Bai Ku Yao population.Methods A total of 1170 people of Bai Ku Yao nationality aged 15 and over were surveyed by a stratified randomized cluster sampling.The survey was carried out using internationally standardized methods,following a common protocol.Information on demographics(age,gender,and residential area), socioeconomic status(educational level,marital status,and annual household income),cigarette smoking,alcohol consumption,and physical activity was collected with standardized questionnaires.Blood pressure,height,weight,waist circumference,serum lipid and apolipoprotein levels were measured,and body mass index were calculated as a measure of weight relative to height.The results were compared with those in 1173 subjects of Han Chinese from the same region.Results The level of physical activity,and the intakes of carbohydrate, vegetal protein,and total dietary fiber in Bai Ku Yao were significantly higher than those in Han(p＜0.001 for all),whereas the education level,height,weight, body mass index(BMI),waist circumference,and the intakes of total energy, protein,fat,dietary cholesterol,and table salt in Han were significantly higher than those in Bai Ku Yao(P＜0.05～0.001).The prevalence of hypertension in Bai Ku Yao was significantly lower than that in Han(10.85%vs.16.45%,P＜0.001).The mean levels of systolic,diastolic blood pressure,and pulse pressure in Bai Ku Yao were also significantly lower than those in Han[(115.69±16.34)mmHg vs.(119.98±16.34)mmHg,P＜0.001;(74.11±9.35)mmHg vs. (75.86±10.40)mmHg,P＜0.001;and(41.57±11.98)mmHg vs.(44.16±11.20) mmHg,P＜0.001].Hypertension was positively correlated with male,age, physical activity,BMI,waist circumference,and the intakes of total energy,total fat,and sodium,and negatively associated with education level in both ethnic groups(P＜0.05～0.001),but was positively associated with alcohol consumption only in Han.The rates of awareness,treatment and control of hypertension in Bai Ku Yao were significantly lower than those in Han[(11.81 %vs.21.76%),P＜0.05;(5.51%vs.12.95%),P＜0.05;and(2.36%vs.8.29 %),P＜0.05].Conclusion The prevalence of hypertension was significantly lower in Guangxi Bai Ku Yao than in Han,which might result from the differences of diet,sodium intake,life style,physical activity level,and genetic factors.