OBJECTIVETo assess and analyze the risk and community treatment of hypertension in rural population of Changshu city, Jiangsu province.

METHODSA stratified cluster sampling technique was conducted to select a sample of 800 people, aged 35 - 74 years old, in a rural village according to the proportion of the national population in Changshu. Weight, height, blood pressure, serum lipid, blood glucose and other related factors were examined and analyzed.

RESULTSThe prevalence rate of hypertension in the rural area was 32.01%, and significantly higher with the increase of age (P < 0.01). The average systolic blood pressure of hypertension in females was significantly positively correlated while, the average diastolic blood pressure of male and female hypertensives was significantly negatively correlated to age. The proportions of risk factors of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) as senility, hyperlipemia, premature familial history of CVD and overweight of hypertension were significantly high than those without hypertension (P < 0.01). The percentage of medium-low risk on hypertension was 85.72%, but of high risk was 14.28%. The ratio of using medication, exclusive non-medication, comprehensive treatment or total cure were 42.05%, 2.84%, 14.20% and 59.09%, accordingly. The rates of blood pressure control under the above approaches were 35.14%, 40.00%, 36.00% and 39.77%.

CONCLUSIONAssessment on the risk of hypertension in the rural areas suggested that the priority should be given to medium-low risk groups, while the rate of medication and non-medicine intervention was at low level. It is necessary to strengthen a comprehensive intervention program for hypertension control.