Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2026

The Antihypertensive Effects and Mechanisms of Huotan Jiedu Tongluo Decoction in Rats with H-Type Hypertension
05:57

The Antihypertensive Effects and Mechanisms of Huotan Jiedu Tongluo Decoction in Rats with H-Type Hypertension

Published on: May 17, 2024

Race-based therapy for hypertension: possible benefits and potential pitfalls

Keith C Ferdinand1, Daphne P Ferdinand

  • 1Division of Cardiology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA. kferdinand@abcardio.org

Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy
|November 21, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Race-based guidelines for hypertension treatment show potential benefits and pitfalls. While race/ethnicity data is complex, recognizing specific aspects may aid patient care, though individual needs remain paramount.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Pharmacology
  • Health Disparities

Background:

  • Hypertension is a primary risk factor for cardiovascular diseases like heart attack and stroke.
  • Current antihypertensive therapy guidelines acknowledge race/ethnicity, particularly for African Americans.
  • Utilizing race-based categories in treatment presents both potential advantages and significant challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the benefits and drawbacks of using race-based categories in antihypertensive therapy.
  • To evaluate the evidence for race/ethnicity-specific differences in drug efficacy and cardiovascular outcomes.
  • To discuss the implications of race/ethnicity data in hypertension management.

Main Methods:

  • Review of clinical trial data comparing antihypertensive drug efficacy and safety across different racial/ethnic groups.
  • Analysis of cardiovascular outcomes in relation to race/ethnicity.
  • Examination of current treatment guidelines and recommendations.

Main Results:

  • Evidence suggests some differences in drug response and cardiovascular outcomes based on race/ethnicity.
  • Data availability for race/ethnicity is more robust for African Americans in US trials.
  • International studies are increasingly collecting race/ethnicity data, though less extensively.

Conclusions:

  • Race/ethnicity can be a complex and imperfect factor in guiding hypertension treatment.
  • While some race-based recommendations exist (e.g., thiazide diuretics for Black patients), compelling indications should drive medication choice.
  • Further research is needed to refine the role of race/ethnicity in personalized antihypertensive strategies.

Related Concept Videos

Hypertension IV: Drug Therapy and Lifestyle Modifications01:28

Hypertension IV: Drug Therapy and Lifestyle Modifications

Multiple classes of antihypertensive medications are employed in treating hypertension. The most commonly recommended first-line treatments include:Thiazide Diuretics, such as chlorthalidone, increase sodium and water excretion from the body, reducing blood volume and blood pressure.Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, like lisinopril, block the conversion of angiotensin I to II, a potent vasoconstrictor lowering blood pressure.Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs) prevent angiotensin II...
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Calcium Channel Blockers01:26

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Calcium Channel Blockers

Receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are two critical categories of drugs employed in the treatment of pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH). PAH is a disease that causes high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries, resulting in chest pain, fatigue, and shortness of breath.
TKIs, such as imatinib (Gleevec), are particularly effective in tackling the growth and mitogenic factors that become upregulated in PAH patients. These factors contribute to the...
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Endothelin Receptor Antagonists01:18

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Endothelin Receptor Antagonists

Endothelins (ETs) are potent vasoactive peptides critical in the human body's various physiological and pathological processes. One of the most promising therapeutic strategies for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) involves counteracting the effects of these endothelins using a class of drugs known as endothelin receptor antagonists.
ETs are synthesized through a complex sequence of enzymatic steps, primarily involving an enzyme referred to as endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE). Of...
Heart Failure Drugs: Inhibitors of Renin-Angiotensin System01:26

Heart Failure Drugs: Inhibitors of Renin-Angiotensin System

The activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) contributes to cardiac remodeling, and inhibiting the RAAS is a pharmacological target in heart failure management. As a result, neurohumoral modulation is a crucial treatment principle for managing heart failure. This approach involves using medications like ACE inhibitors (ACEIs), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), β-blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs), and neutral...
Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:30

Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

Hypertension is asymptomatic and also referred to as the "silent killer" until it progresses to a severe stage or causes target organ disease. Patients may experience symptoms stemming from the strain on blood vessels and tissues in various organs or the heart's increased workload.Physical exams might show no abnormalities other than high blood pressure. Signs of vascular damage, when present, correspond to the organs supplied by the affected vessels, leading to target organ damage. For...
Hypertension I: Introduction01:28

Hypertension I: Introduction

Hypertension is a widespread, long-term medical condition where blood pressure in the arteries remains elevated. It is characterized by systolic blood pressure readings of 130 mm Hg or above or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) readings of 80 mm Hg or higher. Unmanaged hypertension poses significant health risks, making the distinction between primary (or essential) hypertension and secondary hypertension crucial, as their management and implications vary.Primary HypertensionPrimary hypertension,...