Prevalence, Knowledge, Attitude, Behavior Of Hypertension Among Working Population In Several Provinces Of China

BackgroundCareer stage is an important stage in the initiation and development of hypertension and other chronic diseases. Studies from western countries have shown a higher prevalence of hypertension in working population. However, currently available data in China only involved regional findings; therefore a national survey needs to be carried out.ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the characteristics, risk factors, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension among employees in10provincesof China (including Shandong, Hunan and other provinces), and thus to lay the foundation for better control of hypertension.MethodsData were collected, using uniform questionnaires, including gender, age, education, occupation, and history of diseases; blood pressure was measured by mercury sphygmomanometer; laboratory tests such as blood cholesterol, fasting blood glucose were conducted. We also adopted unified hypertension KAB questionnaire to collect information on knowledge, awareness and behavior about hypertension. Hypertension was defined as recommendation from the2010Chinese Hypertension Prevention Guide.ResultsA total of21,214employees were recruited. Among all subjects,63.2%were male; the age was (40.4±9.0) years old; mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were (125.6±17.0mm Hg) and (78.8±11.7mm Hg), respectively. The crude and standardized prevalence of hypertension were27.6%and25.7%respectively, and the standardized proportion of high normal blood pressure was43.2%. The prevalence showed a rising trend with increasing age (P<0.001), and the standardized prevalence of male was significantly higher than that of women (31.1%vs.14.4%, P <0.001). The prevalence of hypertension showed a close association with region, type of occupation and educational level, and was higher in northern than in southern (P<0.001); the prevalence in low income groups (in western China) was significantly lower than that in other groups (in eastern and central China)(P<0.001).Blue-collar workers had the highest standardized prevalence while professional and technical population had the lowest prevalence. The prevalence of hypertension among groups earned higher educational degree was significantly lower than those with lower educational degree. Male, high income groups, low educational degree, workers, salty dietary pattern, overweight and obesity, alcohol consumption, stress, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes were associated with hypertension. The rate of awareness, treatment and control of hypertension was59.5%,32.0%,11.0%, respectively, and were better in the groups whose KAB score of hypertension was higher. Age, married status, higher education was positive correlation with KAB of hypertension, whereas low income was negative.ConclusionPrevalence of hypertension in the study population was high, and the population with normal blood pressure was less than one third. Meanwhile, awareness, treatment and control rate of hypertension was low. Prevalence of hypertension was related the level of KAB, therefore, it is urgent to strengthen to develop a program about prevention and treatment of hypertension in working population.