OBJECTIVEThe objective of this study was to estimate the current status of prevalence, awareness, treatment and control rate of hypertension in adult residents living in rural area of Liaoning Province, North China.

METHODSThe screening was finished in 2008, probability proportional to size sampling method was used to select the representative sample. Blood pressure was measured in 153481 adults (aged > 35 yr), information on history of hypertension and use of antihypertensive medications was obtained by use of a standard questionnaire.

RESULTSOverall, hypertension prevalence rate was 41.9%, the age-specific hypertension prevalence rate was 25.0%, 37.7%, 50.2%, and 64.9% in men and 22.1%, 41.1%, 56.6% and 70.2% in women age 35 to 44 years, 45 to 54 years, 55 to 64 years, and above 65 years, respectively. Among hypertensive patients, awareness rate was only 54.1%, 39.7% patients received antihypertensive medication and blood pressure control rate (< 140/90 mm Hg) was 6.9% in all participants and was 9.3% in treated hypertensive patients.

CONCLUSIONOur results indicates that hypertension prevalence is highly while awareness, treatment and control rate of hypertension was low in rural areas of northeast China. These results underscore the urgent need to develop comprehensive strategies to improve prevention, detection, and treatment of hypertension in rural population of Liaoning province.