Adverse Economic and Social Conditions Increase Risk of Hypertension

A new study has found that the risk of treatment-resistant hypertension is higher when people experience adverse effects of economic and social conditions. Further, Black American adults saw an even higher risk than white American adults in these circumstances. NIH's website has the press release.

Some of the factors associated with this risk include “having less than a high school education; a household income less than $35,000; not seeing a friend or relative in the past month; not having someone to care for them if ill or disabled; lack of health insurance; living in a disadvantaged neighborhood; and living in a state with low public health infrastructure.”

Scientists examined data on 2,257 Black and 2,774 white adults, and found that, over 9.5 years, “24% of Black adults developed the condition compared with 15.9% of white adults. Exposure to adverse social determinants of health increased the risk in both Black and white adults, however, Black adults are more likely to face adverse social determinants of health.”

Researchers concluded that “addressing social determinants of health could reduce the racial disparities seen in apparent treatment-resistant hypertension and reduce the increased risk of stroke and heart attack in the Black American population.”