Objective - to determine the impact of vital exhaustion (VE) on the risk of arterial hypertension (AH) in a 25-64-year-old population during 16 years in the Siberian region. Material and methods. During the third screening of the WHO program «MONICA-psychosocial» (1994) a random representative Novosibirsk population sample aged 25-64 years (657 men (mean age, 44.3±0.4 years; response rate, 82.1%) and 870 women (mean age, 45.4±0.4 years; response rate, 72.5%)) was examined. During the 16-year period, AH was found in 229 women and 46 men, who had VE. Pearson’s chi-square (χ2) test was used to check the statistical significance of differences between the groups; the Сox proportional-hazards regression model (Cox-regression) was applied to estimate hazard ratio (HR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) (min-max). Results. The rate of VE was 66.8% in the men (that of high VE level was 14.6%) and 75.7% in women (that of high VE was 44.4%). During the first 5 years, the AH risk among patients with VE was higher in the men (HR=3.2) than in the women (HR=1.9). Following 10 and 16 years, the AH the men was HR=1.6 and HR=1.4, respectively; the women tended to have an increasing risk of AH. The AH risk was higher in divorced men (HR=3.3%; p<0.05) and in the 55-64 year old group (HR=5.7). AH risk in women with VE was higher in those who had incomplete or secondary/primary education (HR=1.8). Conclusion. VE is more common in women than in men. At the same time, the AH risk is higher in men than in women.