Characteristics of inner-city African-Americans with uncontrolled hypertension

Hypertension control rates are low in inner-city African-Americans. This article describes the demographic and clinical characteristics of uncontrolled hypertension in this population. During a single outpatient visit, normotensive and hypertensive African-American volunteers (age 18 to 55) completed a questionnaire, and the following measurements were obtained: blood pressure (BP), anthropometric measures, and blood chemistries. Volunteers received a gift for participating. Of the 3,943 volunteers, 52% were hypertensive. Among the hypertensives, 75% were aware of hypertension, and of those aware, 76% were on antihypertensive drug therapy. BP was uncontrolled in 78% of all hypertensives and in 60% of those on drug therapy. Males were two times more likely than females to have uncontrolled hypertension. Compared to participants with controlled hypertension, those with uncontrolled hypertension were younger, had lower body mass index, and were more likely to report smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, and less likely to report restricting dietary salt. Lack of hypertension control was primarily related to the lack of antihypertensive drug therapy rather than to inadequate drug therapy. Uncontrolled hypertension was associated with several self-reported aversive health behaviors, including not taking antihypertensive medications. Strategies to improve hypertension control should be directed to patients and to health care providers.