Sex and race disparities in high blood pressure emerge early in life

Men and African Americans are more likely to transition from ideal to elevated blood pressure, or hypertension, at a younger age than the general population, according to an NHLBI-funded study published in JAMA Cardiology. According to the researchers, the findings call for “primordial prevention in childhood and early adulthood” instead of paying attention to blood pressure as a risk factor to be treated once people become hypertensive.