Antihypertensive Adherence and Drug Class among Asian Pacific Americans

Abstract

Our findings of substantial disparities among Asian Pacific American subgroups highlight the need to examine subgroups separately. Future qualitative research is needed to determine appropriate interventions, particularly for Filipino, Korean and Hawaiian patients.

Awareness, Treatment and Control of Hypertension Among Filipino Immigrants

“…29 In our sample, only 21.7 % of hypertensive individuals exhibited hypertension control, a rate nearly half that of hypertensive adults in NYC overall (47.1 %), as well as Hispanics and non-Hispanic Blacks (both 46.8 %), and Asians overall (39.9 %). 29 Similar to previous research in Filipino and other ethnic groups, older age was associated with a greater awareness of hypertension and treatment for hypertension, 18,27 having health insurance was associated with greater BP control, 15,27,30 lower self-rated health and comorbidities were associated with greater awareness of hypertension, 15,26 and smoking cigarettes was associated with not being on treatment for hypertension. 15 A family history of hypertension was significantly associated with awareness of hypertension, and longer time lived in the U.S. was associated with treatment for hypertension.…”

“…Second, measures of awareness (treatment and past diagnoses of hypertension) were collected via participants' self-report, as opposed to hospital records or requiring individuals to bring in medication bottles. 15,18,20 Third, our screening survey did not include several important variables, including educational attainment, income, routine sources of health care, and knowledge regarding hypertension, which other studies have shown to be predictors of awareness, treatment, and control. 18,29,32,35,36 Finally, white coat hypertension could modify the prevalence of hypertension in the unaware group, since hypertension was defined using 1 day of BP readings.…”

“…15,18,20 Third, our screening survey did not include several important variables, including educational attainment, income, routine sources of health care, and knowledge regarding hypertension, which other studies have shown to be predictors of awareness, treatment, and control. 18,29,32,35,36 Finally, white coat hypertension could modify the prevalence of hypertension in the unaware group, since hypertension was defined using 1 day of BP readings. 2 Following recommendations, we took repeated measurements that were at least 3 min apart and used the last two out of three measurements to reduce the chance of wrongly detecting hypertension.…”

“…16,17 Further, research has focused on the West Coast of the U.S. and Hawaii, excluding the differential experiences of Filipino populations living in the Northeast U.S. Of the few cardiovascular studies including Filipino Americans, five have reported on antihypertensive medication use, and the only study to examine awareness, treatment and control of hypertensive was based on the 1979 California Hypertension Survey. 7,[17][18][19][20] This study found that the rate of uncontrolled hypertension among Filipinos was 24.5 %, despite the high rates of hypertension awareness (63 %) and hypertension treatment (49 %) among Filipinos. 17 In regards to hypertension treatment, a study in Hawaii found that Filipinos were the least adherent Asian group.…”

“…17 In regards to hypertension treatment, a study in Hawaii found that Filipinos were the least adherent Asian group. 18 This study builds off the limited research on hypertension among Filipino Americans, and it is the first study to examine hypertension awareness, treatment, and control strictly among a Filipino sample in the Northeast U.S. The objectives of this paper are: 1) to identify the rates of hypertension awareness, treatment, and control among hypertensive Filipino Americans living in the New York (NY) metropolitan area; and 2) to examine the factors associated with awareness, treatment, and control among this group.…”