Background The relationship of cumulative non high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (Cum-non-HDL-C) concentration with the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in individuals with hypertension remains unclear. Methods In total 27 234 participants for whom three consecutive total cholesterol and HDL-C concentrations were available, and who did not have CVD, comprising 13 617 with hypertension and 13 617 without from 2006 to 2010. Participants were placed into four groups according to Cum-non-HDL-C. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the relationship between Cum-non-HDL-C and the risk of CVD. Results Over a median 11 years, 1,298 participants with hypertension developed CVD. After adjustment for multiple potential confounding factors, compared with participants with hypertension and Cum-non-HDL-C