Prevalence, Awareness and Control of Hypertension in Patients with Transient Ischemic Attacks in China

Background: Hypertension is a major risk factor for stroke recurrence in patients with transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence, awareness, treatment and control rates of hypertension in Chinese adults with TIA. Methods: We analyzed data derived from the 2010 China Chronic Disease and Risk Factor Surveillance survey, a population-based study including a nationally representative sample of 2,780 Chinese adults with TIA. The national prevalence, awareness and control rates of hypertension in adults with TIA were estimated with weighted coefficients based on the 2010 China population census. Results: Among the 2,780 TIA patients, a total of 1,919 patients were identified as having hypertension. The estimated national prevalence of hypertension in TIA patients was 67.5% (95% CI 64.0-71.0). Among the hypertensive patients, 54.1% were aware of having hypertension and 8.3% was under control. Conclusions: Hypertension is severely under-diagnosed and under-controlled in patients with TIA in China. Appropriate strategies are urgently needed to improve the identification and control of hypertension in these patients. (C) 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel