RESEARCH ARTICLE Use of Medications and Lifestyles of Hypertensive Patients with High Risk of

Background Hypertension, with a global prevalence of 40%, is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). We conducted an exploratory study in Zhejiang China to understand the prevention of CVD among hypertensive patients with a 10 year CVD risk of 20 % or higher. We as-sessed current practices in a rural ‘township hospital ’ (a primary care facility), and compared them with international evidence-based practice. Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted to examine the use of modern drugs (antihyperten-sive drugs, statins and aspirin) and traditional drugs, compliance to medications and life-style among 274 hypertensive patients aged 40-74, with a CVD risk of 20 % or higher (using the Asian Equation). Results The majority (72%) were diagnosed with hypertension at township hospitals. Only 15 % of study participants used two anti-hypertensive drugs, 0.7 % took statin and 2.9 % aspirin