Online Program

331840
Burden of high blood pressure across sociodemographic factors in the United States: A population-based analysis using NHANES (1999-2012)


Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Alain Pujolar, BA, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
WayWay Hlaing, MBBS, MS, PhD, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
Tulay Koru-Sengul, MHS, PhD, Department of Public Health Sciences, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
Background: High blood pressure (HBP) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). A growing body of research has identified disparities in HBP across sociodemographic groups (gender, race/ethnicity, marital status, education, poverty).

Methods: National population-based surveys provide estimates of the prevalence of health conditions and help identify subgroups for tailored interventions and potential policy changes. The prevalence and risk factors of HBP among adults(≥20) are investigated with the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (1999-2012;n=36,623). A multivariable logistic regression model for having HBP is used to calculate adjusted-odds-ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) for various sociodemographic characteristics by taking into account for complex sampling design. 

Results:HBP prevalence increased from 7.7% in 1999 to 9.3% in 2012. HBP prevalence was higher among males (65.6% vs. 54.6% females), non-Hispanic-Blacks (66.6% vs. 61.3% Whites), widowed/divorced/separated (71.4% vs. 45.8% never-married), people with high school/less (65.3% vs. 54.1% college), and below national poverty level (60.8% vs. 55% above). Majority of people with diabetes (85.2%) and cholesterol (67.2%) also had HBP. In the adjusted model, significant differences in gender (male vs. female [AOR=1.95]:95%CI:1.80-2.12), race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic-Blacks vs. Whites [1.40];1.26-1.54), education (high school/less vs. college [1.40]:1.25-1.56) were found. People with diabetes ([1.72];1.49-1.98) and cholesterol ([1.28];1.20-1.37) also had higher risk for having HBP. 

Conclusions:Our results show that HBP disparities exist among different sociodemographic groups in the US population. Focusing on these groups with the highest prevalence of HBP may provide a base for tailoring future HBP prevention programs that may lead to lowering CVD risk factors.

Learning Areas:

Chronic disease management and prevention
Epidemiology
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health biology
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Analyze the burden of high blood pressure in the US population to help increase efforts in trying to create more efficient public health interventions and awareness programs. Identify the disparities in the burden of high blood pressure across sociodemographic factors in an effort to distinguish the most high-risk groups for future prevention programs.

Keyword(s): Epidemiology, Chronic Disease Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am an MSPH student, and this is the topic of my thesis.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.