Racial Disparities in Hypertension Prevalence, Awareness, and Management

Abstract

It is well established that health status, access to care, and quality of care are not equal among all populations within the United States.^1,2 Although cardiovascular mortality is on the decline overall, rates have declined less among blacks than among whites and continue to be higher among blacks.³ Explanatory factors for these racial differences include differences in treatment of heart disease, for example, unequal access to cardiovascular procedures such as coronary arteriography and coronary artery bypass graft surgery.⁴ These treatment disparities do not totally explain outcome differences, however. It is also necessary to understand and address differences in the prevalence and management of risk factors for heart disease. A focus on racial differences in hypertension, a known major risk factor for cardiovascular disease,⁵ is warranted.