Surveys indicate about 950,000 annual deaths from cardiovascular diseases, but the true figure may be at least twice as large. Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in urban areas. Pulmonary heart disease is the leading cause of death in rural areas. The prevalence of high blood pressure is higher in the North than in the South. Blood cholesterol levels are uniformly low in comparison with values reported from Western countries.
Stroke has a high incidence and, in some areas, is the leading cause of death .
The incidence of stroke is four times that of acute myocardial infarction, which, although it has been increasing in recent years, still has much lower incidence and mortality rates than those seen in most Western countries. Incidence is 1.3 million new stroke patients per year. In China, data sources suggest that there are between 1 and 1.5 million stroke deaths a year, and about 600,000 more deaths from all forms of heart disease. The prevalence of cardiovascular disease was estimated at 508.3 per 100,000 population. High blood pressure was the most prevalent at 416.3 per 100,000 population and ischemic heart disease ranged from 73 to 100 per 100,000 population.