RESUMEN
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the association of hypertension and carotid atherosclerosis in a general population in China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A population-based epidemiological survey on cardiovascular diseases was performed in autumn, 2002. A total of 1198 rural residents with 426 men and 776 women aged 43 - 73 years, underwent carotid duplex examination. Hypertension was classified into 6 groups of optimal, normal, high-normal, stage 1, 2 and 3.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) A significant positive dose-response relation was found between hypertension categories, duration of hypertension and intima-media thickness (IMT) in both genders (trend test P < 0.01). After adjustment of age, body mass index, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, glucose and smoking, the relation did not change. The associations between duration of hypertension and IMT disappeared after further adjustment with blood pressure. (2) The occurrence of plaque was positively associated with blood pressure groups and duration of hypertension, as well as in the age-adjusted models. The associations between duration of hypertension and plaque weakened or disappeared after further adjustment with systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure or hypertension categories.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Hypertension was associated with subclinical carotid atherosclerosis. Prolonged course of disease might aggravate the carotid atherosclerosis.</p>