OBJECTIVETo estimate the current knowledge on hypertension and the effect of management on hypertension in patients attending hospital clinics.

METHODSA cross-sectional survey was used in the outpatients over the age of 35 years in 18 general hospitals (provincial, district and community) which represented the different levels of medical care in 8 major cities covering Northern and Southern China including an interview with two blood pressure measurements and one questionnaire in one clinical visit.

RESULTSA total of 9 703 subjects participated in this project, who were similarly distributed by gender and age in the hospitals at different levels. Of all the 9 703 subjects, 4 510 (46.5%) were found to be hypertensive. 6.4%, 12.1%, 25.5%, 41.1% and 14.6% of all the participants were categorized into knowledge on hypertension grade 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 respectively. The classification was based on the number of correct answers to four questions about knowledge of hypertension. The higher the grade of hypertension knowledge the more response to higher rate of awareness, treatment, and control in this hypertensive population was noticed. There was significantly positive correlation between the grade of hypertension knowledge and treatment compliance. The major cause of poor treatment compliance was due to lack of hypertension knowledge.

CONCLUSIONThere was poor knowledge on hypertension in the investigated participants, which would influence on the management of hypertension. Data suggested that health education on the knowledge of hypertension in the population needs to be improved.