Abstract: ObjectiveTo explore the prevalence and influencing factors of prehypertension among residents aged 18 years and over in Zhaoqing City, so as to provide the evidence to make preventive and control measurements for prehypertension.MethodsMultistage random sampling was used to selected residents aged 18 years and over from eight counties of Zhaoqing. Questionnaire survey, physical examinations and blood biochemical test were conducted to collect the information of prehypertension. Survey contents included basic information, smoking, alcohol consumption, diet, physical activity, height, weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, blood glucose, and blood lipid. Univariate and multivariate unconditional logistic regressions were used to analyze the influencing factors associated with prehypertension.ResultsA total of 3 269 participants were included in the study, including 1 244 (38.05%) males and 2 025 (61.95%) females; 1 131 participants (34.60%) were from urban area and 2 138 (65.40%) were from rural area. The crude prevalence of prehypertension was 37.17% and age-standardized prevalence was 36.99%. The age-standardized prevalence of prehypertension in rural area (41.03%) was higher than that in urban area (30.34%) (P＜0.01), and in males (44.49%) was higher than that in females (31.44%) (P＜0.01). Multi-logistic regression indicated that the male (OR=1.979), 40-49 years age group (OR=2.084), 50-59 years age group (OR=3.211), 60-69 years age group (OR=4.471), 70 years and over age group (OR=3.793), rural area (OR=1.710), central obesity (OR=1.274), and overweight/obesity (OR=1.476) were risk factors associated with prehypertension. Constant exercise (OR=0.762) was protective factors for prehypertension.ConclusionThe prevalence of prehypertension was high in the adults in Zhaoqing. Corresponding measures should be taken for prevention and control of prehypertension.