OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence and awareness status of hypertension in adult Gansu Gannan Tibetan population.

METHODSA total of 6948 adult (aged 18 and over) Tibetan residents were selected by random cluster multistage method. Participants were divided into city, rural dwellers and rural nomads groups. Questionnaires were collected and blood pressure measured from all participants.

RESULTSPrevalence of hypertension in this district was 24.6% (1708/6948), of which city, rural dwellers and nomadic areas were 25.3% (848/3340), 22.7% (628/2765), 27.5% (232/843), respectively. Prevalence of hypertension was significantly higher in city than in rural dwellers group (P<0.05), significantly higher in rural nomads group than in city and rural dwellers groups (all P<0.05). Awareness, treatment and control rates of hypertension in city group were 35.7% (303/848), 25.1% (213/848), 6.9% (59/848), respectively; in rural dwellers group were 28.3% (178/628), 19.3% (121/628), 4.7% (30/628), respectively; in rural nomads group were 16.8% (39/232), 8.6% (20/232), 2.2% (5232), respectively. Rates of awareness, treatment and control were significantly lower in rural dwellers than in city group (all P<0.01), and significantly lower in rural nomads group than in city and rural dwellers groups (all P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSPrevalence of hypertension in Gansu Gannan Tibetan population aged 18 and over is high. Awareness, treatment and control rates of hypertension are low, especially in rural dwellers and rural nomads residents.