Difference in the prevalence of hypertension and its risk factors depending on area-level deprivation in Japan.

, smokers, and heavy alcohol drinkers showed an increasing trend with an increase in the deprivation level. The relative index of inequality, which can be interpreted as the ratio of the age-standardized proportion for the most deprived area compared with that for the least deprived area, was significantly greater than 1 for all proportions, except for the proportion of drinkers in women. Overall, there was a disparity in the prevalence of hypertension and its risk factors depending on area-level deprivation.