Objective: This study was planned to determine the prevalence of hypertension by the population of 35 years and over in Elazig district of Sivrice province and to determine the risk factors affecting it.

Materials and Methods: The population of this definitive and cross-sectional study is composed of individuals aged 35 years and older who reside in the Elazig district center of Sivrice province. A total of 364 people were included in the study. Blood pressures of the individuals participating in the questionnaire were measured three times and their means were taken. Criteria for hypertension will be based on the American National Committee (JNC-7) classification according to Report 7 i.e. Prevention, Determination, Assessment and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. According to this, blood pressure ≥140/90 mm Hg is considered as hypertension.

Results: The overall prevalence of HT was 35.4% in total. The rate of those who were found to have hypertension during the measurements was 30.5%. In this study, 48.1% (62) of the patients who were diagnosed as having hypertension were aware of their illness and 46.5% (60) were taking medication and 30.0% (18) of them were under care. In our study, 42.7% of the women and 27.9% of the men had hypertension. The prevalence of hypertension increases with age and it is 17.1% in 35-44 age group and reaches 70.1% in over 65 age group. In our study hypertension prevalence was found to be higher in the following groups; singles, people with low level of education, housewives, people with high Body Mass Index (BMI), people with Diabetes Mellitus (DM), people who haven’t smoked, people who don’t use alcohol and people not exercising regularly.

Conclusions: In the study group, hypertensive patients have low treatment and check-up rates and high rates of obesity. Necessary measures should be taken, such as education, awareness-raising activities, and mass walking activities for hypertensives in the society.