Inaccuracy of Self-reported Low Sodium Diet among Chinese: Findings from Baseline Survey for Shandong & Ministry of Health Action on Salt and Hypertension(SMASH) Project

This study was aimed to evaluate the agreement between the self-reported sodium intake level and 24-h urine sodium excretion level in Chinese. The 24-h urine collection was conducted among 2112 adults aged 18-69 years randomly selected in Shandong Province, China. The subjects were asked whether their sodium intake was low, moderate, or high. The weighted kappa statistics was calculated to assess the agreement between 24-h urine sodium excretion level and self-reported sodium intake level. One third of the subjects reported low sodium intake level. About 70% of the subjects had mean 24-h sodium excretion 〉9 g/d, but reported low or moderate sodium intake.

Profile and Correlates of Health-related Quality of Life in Chinese Patients with Coronary Heart Disease

Background： Although coronary heart disease （CHD） is one of the major cardiovascular diseases, risk factors associated with the health-related quality of life （HRQoL） of CHD patients remain unclear. The present study was designed to determine the profile and significant factors of the HRQoL in CHD patients.Methods： A cross-sectional study was conducted in rural communities of Fangshan District, Beijing. China. Socio-demographic, lifestyle, and comorbidity information of CHD patients were collected by a structured questionnaire and medical records. HRQoL was measured using European Quality of Life 5-dimensions （EQ-5D） scale and EQ Visual Analog Scale （EQ-VAS）. Multiple linear and logistic regressions were performed to explore the association of potential risk factors with HRQoL scores and each EQ-SD, respectively.Results： Totally, 1928 CHD patients （mean age 61.64 ± 9.24 years; female：male = 2.4：1） were enrolled in the study. The mean score of EQ-5D index and EQ-VAS were 0.889 ±0.172 and 71.56 ±17.65, respectively. Multiple linear regression revealed that marital status, physical activity, moderate alcohol drinking, and family＇s population were positive independent correlates of EQ-VAS, whereas diabetes mellitus and stroke were negative independent correlates （all P 〈 0.05）. Age and stroke were negatively while physical activity, moderate alcohol drinking, family＇s population and household income were positively correlated with EQ-5D index （all P 〈 0.05） independently. In addition, each of the five HRQoL dimensions had various specific determinants, including obesity, underweight. smoking or education. Conclusions： Findings of the study highlight certain socio-demographic, lifestyle factors, and comorbid stroke or diabetes mellitus as correlates of HRQoL in Chinese CHD patients. Large-scale cohort studies should be carried out to confirm our results in the future.

Gender Differences in the Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity,Associated Behaviors,and Weight-related Perceptions in a National Survey of Primary School Children in China

Objective To in vestigate potential gender differences in the odds of overweight/obese, weight-related perceptions, and behaviors among Chinese school children. Methods Height, weight, and a survey of weight-related perceptions and behaviors were measured in a nationally representative survey of 12,811 children in primary schools in China. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess gender differences, adjusting for confounders. Results Boys had higher odds of being overweight/obese compared to girls within both urban [adjusted odds ratio （OR） 2.30, 95% CI 2.00 to 2.65] and rural areas （OR = 1.85, 95% CI 1.55 to 2.20）. Girls reported healthier diets （e.g., daily vegetables OR = 0.79, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.85） whereas boys consumed fried food （OR = 1.21, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.38） and sugar-sweetened drinks more often （OR = 1.49, 95% CI 1.34 to 1.65）. Gender differences included higher odds of boys perceiving themselves as overweight if they had more highly educated mothers （OR = 1.35, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.68）, less educated fathers （OR = 0.79, 95% CI 0.63 to 0.99）, and if they frequently consumed carbonated drinks （OR = 1.48, 95% CI 1.07 to 2.05）. Conclusion Childhood obesity prevention in China should be gender-focused, particularly for boys who reported an unhealthier diet but were less likely to see they were fat, even though more boys were overweight or obese than girls.

Prevalence and Correlates of Elevated Blood Pressure in Chinese Children Aged 6-13 Years: a Nationwide School-Based Survey

Objective To estimate the prevalence of elevated blood pressure（EBP） in Chinese children and identify individual and family factors associated with EBP. Methods A nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted in 2010 using stratified cluster sampling. Participants＇ blood pressure was measured, and their parents completed a questionnaire on personal and family characteristics. Prevalence and correlates of EBP were assessed. Results Among a total of 24,333 participants, 20.2% of boys and 16.3% of girls had EBP. The prevalence of EBP increased with the ascending trend of waist circumference, Waist-to-height ratio, and body mass index. The adjusted prevalence ratios（aP Rs） for obese boys and girls were 2.50 and 2.97, respectively. Fewer urban boys（16.2%） had EBP than rural boys（21.7%）. Boys with a family history of hypertension were 12% more likely to have EBP. Children whose mothers received a college education tended to have lower likelihood of EBP; with an aP R was 0.85 among boys and 0.78 among girls. Conclusion EBP is common among obese students and those who have a family history of hypertension. A negative association between mothers＇ education levels and EBP risk in children was found.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Atrial Fibrillation in Chinese Elderly： Results from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey

Background： Prevalence of atrial fibrillation （AF） is increasing as the world ages. AF is associated with higher risk of mortality and disease, including stroke, hypertension, heart failure, and dementia. Prevalence of AF differs with each population studied, and research on non-Western populations and the oldest old is scarce. Methods： We used data from the 2012 wave of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, a community-based study in eight longevity areas in China, to estimate AF prevalence in an elderly Chinese population （n = 1418, mean age = 85.6 years） and to identify risk factors. We determined the presence olAF in our participants using single-lead electrocardiograms. The weighted prevalence olAF was estimated in subjects stratified according to age groups （65-74, 75 84, 85-94, 95 years and above） and gender. We used logistic regressions to determine the potential risk factors of AF. Results： The overall prevalence of AF was 3.5%; 2.4% of men and 4.5% of women had AF （P 〈 0.05）. AF was associated with weight extremes of being underweight or overweight/obese. Finally, advanced age （85 94 years）, history of stroke or heart disease, low high-density lipoprotein levels, low triglyceride levels, and lack of regular physical activity were associated with AF. Conclusions： In urban elderly AF prevalence increased with age （P 〈 0.05）, and in rural elderly, women had higher AF prevalence （P 〈 0.05）. Further exploration of population-specific risk factors is needed to address the AF epidemic.