Odds of Uncontrolled BP Increased for Black Versus White Women

MONDAY, Feb. 27, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Black women have higher odds of uncontrolled blood pressure (BP) than White women, even after accounting for social determinants of health (SDoH), according to a study published online Feb. 27 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Claire V. Meyerovitz, from the UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester, Massachusetts, and colleagues examined SDoH and BP control by race and ethnicity among 1,293 women aged 20 to 50 years with hypertension (59.2 percent White, 23.4 percent Black, 15.8 percent Hispanic, and 1.7 percent Asian).

The researchers found that compared with White women, more Hispanic and Black women experienced food insecurity (32 and 25 versus 13 percent). Black women maintained higher odds of uncontrolled BP than White women after adjustment for SDoH, health factors, and modifiable health behavior, while no difference was seen for Asian and Hispanic women.

"Black women have higher odds of uncontrolled hypertension, even when SDoH are controlled for," the authors write. "This potentially indicates a greater role for alternative factors, including racism and discrimination, which have affected daily life and opportunities for generations."

One author disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical and medical technology industries.

Abstract/Full Text