OBJECTIVE To evaluate the present prevalence of hypertension in the Passo Fundo metropolitan area. METHODS This is an observational, descriptive, crossectional design with populational base, of a representative random sample of the adults of this urban region. The criteria for hypertension were blood pressure > or = 160/95 mmHg or antihypertensive treatment. The average of the last three measurements was used in the analysis. Two hundred and six subjects were selected. The interview was made with standardized questionnaires. Blood pressure was corrected for arm diameter. RESULTS The prevalence of hypertension was 21.9% (CI = 19.3 to 24.5) of 45 hypertensive subjects, 53.3% were using anti-hypertensive drugs regularly, however only 20% had normal BP levels. Among the study population 4.4% were diabetics, 33.0% were smokers, 31.4% of the women were using contraceptives, 2.9% were heavy alcohol users, 29.6% were obese. The following conditions of interest were significantively associated with hypertension: age, obesity and diabetes; there was no association with sex, color, heavy alcohol use, smoking and contraceptive use. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of hypertension in the Passo Fundo metropolitan area is within the expected range, however the level of control in this population is not acceptable.