Comparative analysis of blood pressure distribution and prevalence in different altitudes regions between Tibetan and other ethnicities in Yunnan Province
Objective This study aims to comparatively analyse the risk of hypertension in Tibetans and other ethnicities at different altitudes regions in Yunnan Province,and to provide a scientific basis for the control of hypertension among people living at high altitudes.Methods During 2020-2021,a multistage stratified cluster random sampling method was used to select four townships in the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture,Shangri-La City,Yunnan Province as survey points.These included Jiantang Town and Xiaozhongdian Town at altitudes ≥ 2500 meters,and Wujing Township and Jinjiang Town at altitudes<2500 meters.A total of 1 549 permanent residents aged 18 years and above were sam-pled for questionnaire survey,physical examination and blood biochemistry tests.The x2test was used to analyse the distribution of blood pressure levels and the prevalence of hypertension in different ethnic groups at different altitudes,and multifactorial logistic regression was used to analyse the factors affecting the prevalence of hypertension in people at different altitudes.Results The prevalence of hypertension was higher in the group with an altitude of ≥2 500 m than in the group with an altitude of<2 500 m(P=0.002).The average systolic blood pressure of Tibetan nationality was 5.29 mmHg higher than that of Han nationality(P<0.001).The prevalence of hypertension was higher among Tibetans than among other ethnic living at the same altitude in the altitude<2 500 m group(P<0.017),but lower among Tibetans than among Han Chinese and other ethnic groups living at the same altitude in the altitude ≥ 2 500 m group(P<0.017).There were no significant differences in the hypertension prevalence and mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure among Tibetan populations at different altitudes(all P>0.05).There was a negative interaction between Tibetan ethnicity and altitude on the risk of developing hypertension.People living at ≥ 2 500 m altitude have more risk factors for hypertension compared to those at<2 500 m altitude.Conclusions The hypertension prevalence among Han and other people increased as the altitude increased.Tibetans seem to show greater adaptation to plateaus and changes in blood pressure at different altitudes.