The Effect Of Socioeconomic Status On Hypertension Among Chongqing Residents

Objective:A cross-sectional study was conducted to find out the prevalence of hypertension and its risk factors among Chongqing residents, to focus on the impact of socioeconomic status on the prevalence of hypertension and the health equality in different socioeconomic status. And scientific basis for further discussing the prevention and control measures of hypertension and the optimizing of health resources allocation will be provided.Methods:Using evidence-based analysis method, published data were collected to analyze the relationship between socioeconomic status and the prevalence of hypertension among the population worldwide. And on this basis, an investigation with four phase stratified random sampling method was carried out in Chongqing population aged 15 and more years who lived in Qianjiang district, Yongchuan district, Hechuan district, Tongnan, Rongchang and Liangping country from 2013 to 2014. The questionnaire included demographic and sociological characteristics, risk factors such as smoking and alcohol drinking. Anthropometric measurements included height, weight, waistline and blood pressure. All the data were input into a unified data management system, and analysed using the statistical software of SPSS 17.0. Data analysis was conducted with Student’s t test, Chi-square test and Logistic regression model.Results:1. A total of 11392 participants were investigated and 11259 questionnaires were determined qualified after eliminating 133 unqualified questionnaire. The urban were 5545 (49.25%), and the rural were 5714 (50.75%). Respondents included 5598 men accountmg for 49.70% and 5661 women accounting for 50.30%.2. The education level of most respondents were primary and junior high school, and as the age increased, the level of education were reduced, men had more education than women. The main occupational groups were agricultural workers.3. The smoking rate was 26.86% and male smoking rate was obviously higher than female. Obvious relationship between smoking and education level, the highest smoking rates were in people with primary school education (33.93%), however, the illiterate and college educated had a lower smoking rates. The smoking rate of management and technical workers was higher than other occupational groups.The alcohol drinking rate was 24.90%((male 43.48%, female 6.52%). People with primary school education or college educated had a higher alcohol drinking rate. The alcohol drinking rates in unmarried people were obviously lower than people who had been married, and 37.04% of management and technical workers were drinking,which was higher than people with other occupation.Men had more body activity intensity than women.45-64 year old people had the maximum intensity activities across age groups. With the increase of education level, activity intensity first increased and then decreased. The activity intensity of agricultural workers was higher than other occupational people.The higher the education level was, the longer the people had static activities time, and the college degree or above had the longest static activities time (6.47h). Agricultural workers had the shortest static activities time in different types of occupational groups.The prevalence of hypertension was 20.57% and there was no significant difference between male and female (P=0.129). Higher educated people had a lower prevalence of hypertension. People with different occupation had different prevalence of hypertension, agricultural workers had the highest prevalence. People in Liangping district had the highest prevalence of hypertension.2. The prevalence of prehypertension was 40.41%, which was greater in male than in female (male 45.77%, female 35.12%). From 35 to 44 years old, the prevalence of prehypertension was decreased with aging in both sexes (P<0.01). Multiple logistic model revealed that rural, age(≥25 years old), marriage, working in agriculture, smoking, drinking were the possible risk factors of prehypertension (P<0.01).3. The inequality of hypertension exists in people with different SES. The prevalence of hypertension tends to the people with lower education and lower occupation and the prevalence of women was more inequal than men.Conclusions:People with lower education in Chongqing had higher prevalence of hypertension and prehypertension. Prevalence of hypertension in agricultural workers was higher than other occupation. In poor regions, the prevalence of hypertension and prehypertension were both higher. The inequality of hypertension existed in different sexes people and women had more inequal than men. Further research is required to prevent and control hypertension to reduce the risk of this disease among the most vulnerable groups in different socioeconomic status.