Background:Hypertension is an important public health challenge worldwide and is most important modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and renal disease. Blood pressure determination forms an integral part of anaesthesiologist’s evaluation of hispatient’s condition prior to and during surgery. Data are not available which indicate changes in blood pressure occurring preanaesthetically in hospitalized patients. There are several risks from untreated preoperative hypertension in perioperative and postoperative phase.

Objective: To know the incidence of hypertension in preoperative patients undergoing major surgery

Methods: This retrospective observational study was based on the data collected from preanaesthetic checkup record book from January 2010 to December 2010.

Results: A total of 955 patients were studied and analyzed in terms of hypertension and demographic characteristics. The total incidence of hypertension in preoperative phase was 10.16%. Among them 64.9% being male and 35.1% female. Maximum incidence was found in age group 50-59 years i.e. 26.6%. Among the case detected maximum patients i.e. 52% were patients with newly diagnosed hypertension and among those under medications 61.1% were using calcium channel blockers.

Conclusion: Knowing the incidence will help in proper preoperative optimization of the hypertensive patients and also help in decreasing the incidence of postoperative complications..