An NHLBI-funded study concluded that almost one third of the cases of cardiovascular disease, which includes heart disease and stroke, in African American adults can be attributed to hypertension. The findings, published in JAMA Cardiology, highlight the importance of preventing high blood pressure among this population which experiences it at a rate of 55%, higher than any other group.
The researchers examined data from nearly 12,500 African American adults participating in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke study, which is based at the UAB School of Public Health, and the NHLBI-funded Jackson Heart Study.
The researchers found that 15.5% of participants had normal blood pressure, 7.4% had elevated blood pressure, and 77% had hypertension. Nearly 10% of participants experienced a CVD event.