To determine the prevalence of prehypertension in the occupational population and the risk factors associated with the progression of hypertension.
Data were collected from 13,791 people who attended occupational health examinations in Chengdu, Deyang and Mianyang in 2019 and 2023. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze prevalence and progression rates, and logistic regression was applied to assess factors influencing the progression from prehypertension to hypertension.
The prevalence of prehypertension was 53.66% in 2019 and 55.46% in 2023. Data from 2023 indicated that 14.05% of individuals with prehypertension had developed hypertension. Chi-square analysis revealed statistically significant associations between prehypertension progression and factors such as gender, age, BMI, enterprise size and exposure to occupational harmful factors. Logistic regression identified male gender, older age, higher BMI, and smaller enterprise size as significant risk factors for hypertension progression among individuals with prehypertension.
The prevalence of prehypertension is high among occupational populations in China, with higher susceptibility noted among men and individuals with elevated BMI. Occupational health intervention strategies should be developed to manage and prevent the progression of hypertension.