Racial/Ethnic Variability in Hypertension Prevalence and Risk Factors in National Health Interview Survey

Abstract

Objective. Hypertension is one of the leading causes of death attributed to cardiovascular diseases, and the prevalence varies across racial/ethnic groups, with African Americans being disproportionately affected. e underlying causes of these disparities are not fully understood despite volume of literature in this perspective. We aimed in this current study to examine ethnic/racial disparities in hypertension utilizing Hispanics as the base racial/ethnic group for comparison. Research Design and Methods. We utilized the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), which is a large cross-sectional survey of the United States non-institutionalized residents to investigate the racial/ethnic disparities in hypertension aer the adjustment of other socio-economic, demographic, and prognostic risk factors. e study participants were adults (n = 30,852). Data were analyzed using Chi square statistic, and logistic regression model. Results. ere were statistically signi�cant differences by race/ethnicity with respect to income, education, marital status, smoking, alcohol, physical activities, body mass index, and age, P < 0.01, but not insurance coverage, P > 0.01. Hispanic ethnicity (18.9%) compared to either non-Hispanic White (27.7%) or non-Hispanic Black (35.5%) was associated with the lowest prevalence of hypertension. Race/ethnicity was a single independent predictor of hypertension, with non-Hispanic Black more likely to be hypertensive compare with Hispanic, prevalence odds ratio (POR), 2.38, 99% Con�dence Interval (CI), 2.17-2.61 and non-Hispanic White, POR, 1.64, 99% CI, 1.52-1.77. Aer controlling for the confounding variables, the racial/ethnic differences in hypertension persisted. Conclusions. Racial/ethnic disparities in hypertension persisted aer controlling for potential predictors of hypertension in NHIS, implying the inability of known hypertension risk factors to account for racial/ethnic variability in hypertension in US.

Effect of age, parity, and race on the incidence of pregnancy associated hypertension and eclampsia in the United States

“…The rank order of risk among racial groups for PAH and eclampsia in the present study is consistent with the prevalence of hypertension in the general population among these racial groups [27][28][29][30][31][32]. There are few studies available that have compared racial groups for the incidence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy [33,34].…”

Hypertension and ethnicity

“…Important risk factors for development of HTN mirror those that have been identified for CVD, including obesity, diabetes, smoking, and physical in activity [11].…”

“…[19][20][21][22][23][24]. Important risk factors for the development of HTN in Hispanics include obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome [11].…”

Characterizing Depression and Comorbid Medical Conditions in African American Women in a Primary Care Setting

“…In particular, previous studies have consistently noted a higher incidence overall of type 2 diabetes in African Americans compared with non-Hispanic whites, with even higher rates of diabetes in African American women than African American men. 38,39 Recent research has focused on the role of socioeconomic status and environmental risk as the underlying cause of these disparities in diabetes diagnosis and treatment. 40,41,42,43 In fact, research has determined that comorbid conditions interact in a multitude of ways among African Americans.…”

“…For example, African Americans who developed a later diagnosis of diabetes had significantly higher prevalence rates of hypertension than non-Hispanic whites who later developed diabetes. 38,39 Similarly, African Americans have lower rates of diagnosis, treatment, and control of hypertension compared to non-Hispanic whites. 44,45,46,47,48,49 …”