ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the relationship between blood pressure control status and patients' knowledge on hypertension prevention and control among hypertensive patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 726 hypertensives were selected from four community health service centers (2 urban and 2 rural) in Beijing. All subjects were investigated by questionnaires and their blood pressures were measured at the same time.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The rate for blood pressure under control (< 140/90 mm Hg, 1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) in the rural and urban patients were 46.4% and 23.9% respectively. The control rate increased with the increase of patients' knowledge on prevention and control of hypertension in both urban and rural patients. The cumulative effect of knowledge on hypertension control status could contribute 30.0% to the difference in hypertension control rate between rural and urban patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Patients' knowledge on hypertension control was significantly related to the rate on hypertension control. Health education should be helpful to improve the rate on hypertension control.</p>