Assessment of Prevalence, Awareness, and Characteristics of Isolated Systolic Hypertension Among Younger and Middle-Aged Adults in China

Key Points Question What are the characteristics of young and middle-aged adults with isolated systolic hypertension in China, and what is the prevalence and awareness of isolated systolic hypertension among this population? Findings In this cross-sectional study of young and middle-aged adults in China, isolated systolic hypertension was identified in 27% of participants with hypertension, 87% of whom had not received treatment; less than 7% of individuals with untreated isolated systolic hypertension were aware of having hypertension. Among individuals with isolated systolic hypertension, 16% had systolic blood pressure of 160 mm Hg or higher, but awareness rates remained low even in this group. Meaning In this study, a substantial proportion of young and middle-aged adults with hypertension had isolated systolic hypertension; there is an opportunity to improve awareness of isolated systolic hypertension among this population.