This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Racial disparities identified in hypertension treatment, control
Black and Hispanic patients with hypertension were less likely to get their condition under control compared with white patients, according to recent findings.
The differences were most pronounced in younger people and those without insurance, according to the researchers.
“High [BP] is very common and it is strongly linked to [CVD] like stroke and HF,” Edgar Argulian, MD, MPH, assistant professor of medicine and a cardiologist at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s Hospital, said in a press release. “High [BP] is also very treatable, so from a public health perspective, it’s important to know if prevention and treatment strategies are working and what differences exist across racial and ethnic groups.”
Using stratified, multistage probability sampling of the non-institutionalized U.S. population, the researchers analyzed 8,796 patients with hypertension aged 18 years or older from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
Patients were considered hypertensive if they had systolic BP 140 mm Hg, if they had diastolic BP 90 mm Hg or if they were taking medication to control hypertension.
During the study, there was an increase in hypertension treatment and control for all three racial groups.
Treatment rates were 73.9% (95% CI, 71.6-76.2) for white patients, 70.8% (95% CI, 68.6-73) for black patients and 60.7% (95% CI, 57-64.3) for Hispanic patients, according to the researchers.
The hypertension control rates were 42.9% (95% CI, 40.5-45.2) for white patients, 36.9% (95% CI, 34.7-39.2) for black patients and 31.2% (95% CI, 28.6-33.9) for Hispanic patients (adjusted OR for black patients vs. white patients = 0.73; 95% CI, 0.63-0.83; adjusted OR for Hispanic patients vs. white patients = 0.73; 95% CI, 0.61-0.87), Argulian and colleagues wrote.
Regardless of insurance status, black and Hispanic patients had lower rates of hypertension control compared with white patients, but the differences were more pronounced in those without insurance (OR for insured black patients = 0.74; 95% CI, 0.64-0.86; OR for uninsured black patients = 0.59; 95% CI, 0.36-0.94; OR for insured Hispanic patients = 0.74; 95% CI, 0.6-0.91; OR for uninsured Hispanic patients = 0.58; 95% CI, 0.36-0.94), according to the researchers.
Among those younger than 60 years, odds of achieving hypertension control were less for black patients and Hispanic patients compared with white patients (OR for black patients = 0.58; 95% CI, 0.47-0.72; OR for Hispanic patients = 0.62; 95% CI, 0.46-0.83), but the differences were not significant in patients aged 60 years or older, according to the researchers.
Black patients received more intensive therapy, whereas Hispanic patients appear to be undertreated, the researchers wrote.
“We need better patient education, better physician–patient communication and support for patients making lifestyle changes like exercising more and eating healthy.” Sen Gu, MD, PhD, assistant professor at St. John’s University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in New York, said in the release. “The good news is that more people are receiving treatment and getting their high [BP] under control. At the same time, it is important to note that disparities between whites and racial and ethnic minorities persist.”– by Dave Quaile
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.