Objective  To examine the prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension among adult residents in Yunnan province and to provide evidences for hypertension prevention and control.

  Methods  Using convenient sampling, we conducted a questionnaire survey and physical examination among 84 319 residents aged 35 – 75 years in six cities/prefectures (Kunming, Qujing and Yuxi cities; Chuxiong Yi, Honghe Hani and Yi and Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefectures) from September 2015 to June 2017.

  Results  Among all the participants 32 436 were identified with hypertension and the hypertension prevalence rate was 38.5%. Of all the hypertension sufferers, 15 436 (47.6%) were aware of the disease; 11 259 (34.7%) reported the medication of antihypertensive drugs; and only 3 464 (10.7%) had their high blood pressure under the control. Among all the sufferers with antihypertensive medication, 8 638 (76.7%), 2 253 (20.0%), and 368 (3.3%) took one, two, and three or more kinds of antihypertensive drugs; for the sufferers reporting the medication of one, two, and three or more kinds of antihypertensive drugs, 2 519 (29.2%), 822 (36.5%), and 123 (33.4%) had their high blood pressure under the control, respectively.

  Conclusion  The prevalence of hypertension is high but the awareness, treatment, and control rate of the disease are low among adult residents in Yunnan province.