Objective     To explore the behavioral characteristics of therapeutic adherence and the hypertension control rate in the patients with essential hypertension in Chongqing

China

to analyze the socio-demographic factors that influence the therapeutic adherence.      Methods     A survey was conducted using a self-designed therapeutic adherence scale for the patients with essential hypertension. This survey involved 317 patients with essential hypertension

who were the outpatients and inpatients (within 24 h after admission) in 3 community health service centers and 3 grade-A general teaching hospitals in Chongqing. Multi-variable stepwise regression was used to analyze the socio-demographic factors influencing the therapeutic adherence of the patients.      Results     The hypertension control rate of the patients was 34.4%. The patients with controlled hypertension had a significantly higher therapeutic adherence than those without controlled hypertension (P0.01). The multi-variable stepwise regression showed that sex

household monthly per capita income

and mode of medical payment were the main factors that influenced the therapeutic adherence of the patients (P0.01

P0.05).      Conclusion     The hypertension control rate of the patients with essential hypertension is low in Chongqing

and the therapeutic adherence of the patients is poor. Intervention emphasis should be put on the male patients

patients with low family income

patients without medical insurance

patients with full-time jobs

and patients living in rural areas.