Abstract: Objective To assess the prevalence of prehype rtension and its risk factors in retirees of Hangzhou city for the prevention of hypertension and card iovascular disease.Methods Random cluster sampling was used to select 1959 retirees from four communities.Ques tionnaire survey,physical examination and laboratory test were carried out by trained doctors.Results The preva lence rate of prehypertension was 30.6%.Multiva riate logistic regression analysis revealed that risk factors associated with prehyp ertension were overweight(OR=1.874,95%CI=1.376-2.553),obesity(OR=2.211, 95%CI=1.034-4.726),alcohol drinking(OR=1.420,95%CI=1.001-2.1015),abnormal blood glucose(OR=1.760, 95%CI=1.050-2.949),abnormal blood lipid(OR=1.358,95%CI=1.045-1.765).Conclusion The preva lence of prehype rtension is high among the retirees in Hangzhou city and associated with many risk factors.Early lifestyle modifications are recommended.