Comparison of cardiovascular risk factors between prehypertension and hypertension in a Mongolian population, Inner Mongolia, China.

BACKGROUND There is little knowledge on comparisons of cardiovascular risk factors between prehypertension and hypertension in Mongolian populations, Inner Mongolia, China. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 2,589 Mongolians aged 20 years and over were recruited as study participants. Demographic data, lifestyle factors, family history of hypertension, blood pressure measurements, physical examination and blood samples were obtained and analyzed for all individuals. Prehypertensives and hypertensives accounted for 38.39% and 37.39%, respectively, in all participants. Multivariate logistic regression using proportional odds model showed that hypertension was significantly associated with age (odds ratio was 5.79, 8.84, 30.05 and 32.28 for age 40-, 50-, 60- and 70-, respectively), family history of hypertension (7.12), alcohol drinking (2.03), overweight (4.69) and hyperlipidemia (3.49), and prehypertension significantly associated with age (3.65 for age 70-84), hyperlipidemia (1.80) in males. In females, hypertension was significantly associated with age (8.58, 14.40, 33.00, 63.67 for age 40-, 50-, 60- and 70-, respectively), family history of hypertension (5.65), overweight (3.16) and high C-reactive protein (> or = 10.356 mg/L), and prehypertension significantly associated with age (1.72, 2.00, 2.74 and 6.67 for age 40-, 50-, 60- and 70-, respectively) and overweight (1.68). CONCLUSIONS Prevalence of some cardiovascular risk factors and number of risk factors in hypertensives were higher than that in prehypertensives.