[Multilevel regression analysis on region cluster and risk factors of hypertension in the Chinese adult population].

Objective: To analyze the region cluster and risk factors of hypertension in the Chinese adult population and to explore the application of multilevel regression model in the risk factors of hypertension.

Methods: Multi-stage random sampling technique was used to choose 15,540 individuals aged 35-74 years from 10 regions in China. Two-level logistic regression models were fitted under MLwiN 2.02 software.

Results: The region cluster of hypertension existed and variance portion coefficient was 3.1%. After adjusting for the age and gender, overall obese people (BMI> or =28 kg/m2) were 4.50 (95% CI: 4.00-5.06) times, overweight people (BMI=24-27.9 kg/m2) were 2.26 (95% CI: 2.07-2.46) times more likely to be hypertensive as compared with those of normal BMI (18.5-23.9 kg/m2), and those centrally obesive people (Waist circumference > or =85 cm in male or 80 cm in female) were 2.62 (95% CI: 2.42-2.83) times more likely to be hypertensive as compared with those of normal WC. The age-and gender-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of triglyceride (TG), serum total cholesterol (TC), glucose, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and drinking alcohol were 2.10 (95% CI: 1.89-2.33), 2.08 (95% CI: 1.84-2.35), 1.85 (95% CI: 1.60-2.14), 1.58 (95% CI: 1.38-1.81), 1.49 (95% CI: 1.32-1.69) and 1.15 (95% CI: 1.05-1.27), respectively.

Conclusion: The prevalence of hypertension was not only affected by individual risk factors, such as obesity, drinking alcohol, abnormal glucose and serum lipids profile, but also affected by the geographic environment where people resided in. Population-and risk factors targeted strategies, proved a promising way to reduce individual risk of hypertension in the primary prevention of hypertension.