Hypertension and Burden of Myocardial Infarction in China: Risk Factors, Gender Differences, and Temporal Trends from a National Chronic Disease Surveillance Study (2021-2023).

Abstract

Background: Myocardial infarction (MI) remains a leading global cause of morbidity and mortality, with rising prevalence in China. Hypertension persists as a predominant modifiable risk factor. This study investigates MI prevalence, trends, and risk factors using data from China CDC's Chronic Disease Surveillance program.

Methods: Data from 258,742 participants (2021-2023) were analyzed. Demographic characteristics, risk factors, and gender/urban-rural disparities in MI prevalence were assessed. Multivariate logistic regression identified significant risk factors.

Results: Hypertension was the leading MI risk factor (64.3%), followed by dyslipidemia (58.6%) and smoking (42.3%). Men had higher MI prevalence than women (58.2% vs. 41.8%), and urban residents surpassed rural residents (56.7% vs. 43.3%), with significant lifestyle disparities (e.g., physical inactivity, smoking). Multivariate analysis identified age ≥60 years (OR = 2.75, 95% CI:2.46-3.08), hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, and obesity (BMI ≥25) as key risk factors. MI incidence increased by 3.14% nationally from 2021 to 2023.

Conclusions: China's MI burden is escalating, with notable gender, age, and residence disparities. Older adults and individuals with hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, or obesity face elevated risks. Hypertension contributes to nearly two-thirds of MI cases, emphasizing the urgency for targeted prevention strategies, particularly in high-risk groups (hypertensive individuals, older adults, urban populations).