Blood pressure differences in people with various individual characteristics in Guangdong Province

Objective To study the differences in blood pressure (BP) levels and the main factors raising BP among the population in Guangdong Province. Methods The data analyzed stem from the sampling survey of hypertension in Guangdong Province in 1991, covering 42, 894 subjects over 15 years old. Individual characteristics included age, sex, occupation, education, smoking, alcohol drinking and body mass index (BMI) . Results Systolic and diastolic BP increased with age. The hypertension prevalence rate in male is higher than in female. The age - adjusted prevalence rate in office personnel is the highest (12.9 % ) among all occupations. It was increased with education level and BMI (in people educated at university and over is 13. 1 % ), and higher in smokers and alcohol-drinkers than non-smokers and non -alcohol-drinkers. Conclusions Age, occupation, education, smoking, alcohol drinking and BMI all effect BP. These risk factors should be reduced in the Guangdong population.