Characteristics of High Cardiovascular Risk in 1.7 Million Chinese Adults

Background: As cardiovascular risk increases in China, interest in strategies to mitigate it is growing. However, national information about the prevalence and treatment of high cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is limited.

Objective: To assess the prevalence and treatment of high CVD risk as well as variations in risk across population subgroups.

Design: National project of CVD screening and management.

Setting: 141 county-level regions in all 31 provinces of China.

Participants: Local residents aged 35 to 75 years.

Measurements: Rates of high CVD risk were assessed both in the overall study population and by age, sex, body mass index, geographic region, and socioeconomic status. Multivariable mixed models were fitted to assess the associations between individual characteristics and high CVD risk. Statin and aspirin use was evaluated among persons at high risk for CVD.

Results: Among 1 680 126 participants, 9.5% (95% CI, 9.5% to 9.6%) had high risk for CVD. Mixed models identified persons who were of Han ethnicity, had medical insurance, were currently using alcohol, or were obese as more likely to be at high risk for CVD. Of those with high CVD risk, only 0.6% (CI, 0.5% to 0.6%) and 2.4% (CI, 2.3% to 2.5%) reported using statins and aspirin, respectively. Among persons with high CVD risk and hypertension, 31.8% were receiving antihypertensive medications.

Limitation: Samples were not nationally representative.

Conclusion: Of the 1.7 million participants, 1 in 10 had a high risk for CVD; among those at high risk, fewer than 3% were receiving statins or aspirin. An immense opportunity exists for risk mitigation in this substantial population.

Primary Funding Source: Ministry of Finance and National Health Commission, China.