Prevalence of hypertension and ethnic differences in sociodemographic and cardiovascular health characteristics of U.S. hypertensives

Abstract

To measure the prevalence of hypertension (HTN) in the US population as well as ethnic minorities and compare their sociodemographic and health-related characteristics. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001–2002 (n=11,039) was used to identify hypertensive participants≥18 years old of Hispanic, Black, White, and “Other” ethnicity (n=5,993). HTN was defined as SBP≥140mmHg or DBP≥90mmHg, current antihypertensive drug use, or told by health professional to have high BP. Descriptive statistics were performed on demographic, socioeconomic, and comorbidity data for hypertensives. Age-adjusted prevalence of HTN was 33% with prevalence of 29% among Hispanics (mean 51 yrs, 46% male), 46% in Blacks (mean 50 yrs, 48% male), 32% in Whites (mean 58 yrs, 47% male) and 33% in “other” ethnic groups (mean 56 yrs, 37% male). Hispanics and Blacks had lower levels of education and annual income and greater difficulty accessing health care as compared to Whites and “other” groups. Of all hypertensives, 55.2% were treated with antihypertensive medication with BP found to be controlled (<140/90mmHg) in 45%. Treatment and control rates among participants receiving antihypertensive therapy were, respectively:43% and 43% in Hispanics, 59% and 42% in Blacks, 57% and 46% in Whites and 63% and 47% in “others”. Among hypertensives, diabetes was prevalent in 27% of Hispanics (mean HgA1c 7.8), 23% of Blacks (mean HgA1c 7.8), 17% of Whites (mean HgA1c 7.1) and 20% of “others” (mean HgA1c 6.9). Cardiac disease (i.e. having being diagnosed with CHF, CHD, angina or prior MI) was prevalent in 12%, 16%, 20% and 11% of Hispanics, Blacks, Whites or “others”, respectively. Prevalence of HTN is increasing in the US with BP control rates remaining low. Significant differences in prevalence of HTN, BP treatment and control rates, access to health care and other underlying characteristics exist across ethnic groups in the USA. Important differences in prevalence of diabetes or cardiac disease were observed.