Abstract
The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of migration on hypertension among older adults in China across six groups of residents: urban, rural, urban-to-urban, rural-to-rural, rural-to-urban, and urban-to-rural. The study was conducted among adults aged 55 years and older from the Study on Global Aging and Adult Health (SAGE) (N=12,937). The study found that rural-to-rural residents had the highest prevalence of hypertension (30.97%), followed by rural residents (29.17%). Urban-to-urban residents had the lowest prevalence of hypertension (23.37%). Controlling for demographics and health behaviors, rural-to-rural and rural residents were more likely to have hypertension compared with urban residents, whereas urban-to-urban residents were less likely to have hypertension. Other factors related to hypertension were older age, lower level of education, higher income, smoking, and heavy drinking. This study suggests that migration in early life may have an impact on the development of chronic disease in later life.