Prevalence of hypertension among Puerto Ricans compared to mainland Hispanics

BACKGROUND: Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System (BRFSS) data suggests higher hypertension rates among Puerto Rican Hispanics, compared to Hispanics in the US. However, it is unclear whether the differences can be explained by traditional risk factors. METHODS: Data from 2005 BRFSS were used to explore the differences in hypertension prevalence between Hispanics residing in Puerto Rico and those residing in the mainland US. The analysis was limited to respondents who identified themselves as Hispanics, residing in Puerto Rico (N=3,035) and in the mainland U.S. (N=19,249); diabetics were excluded. Multivariate logistic models were run to assess whether self-reported diagnosis of hypertension was higher among Puerto Rican residents vs. US Hispanics, adjusting for age (in 10-year categories), sex, relative weight (overweight and obese vs. normal BMI), smoking (never, former, current), heavy drinking (men consuming >2 drinks/day and women consuming >1 drink/ day), binge drinking (>5 drinks/ occasion), 5-level physical activity index, and 4-level fruit and vegetable intake index. RESULTS: Age-adjusted prevalence of hypertension was significantly higher among Puerto Ricans (OR of 1.54; 95% CI: 1.40, 1.68). After adjusting for all additional confounders (sex, BMI, alcohol intake, smoking, physical activity and diet) the prevalence of self-reported hypertension diagnosis among PR residents remained significantly higher than mainland Hispanics (OR of 1.59, 95%CI: 1.42-1.78). CONCLUSIONS: After adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, Hispanics residing in Puerto Rico had higher prevalence of hypertension compared to the mainland U.S. Hispanic population.