Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Improved Home Blood Pressure Control by CT-guided Ozone-mediated Renal Denervation for Patients with Resistant Hypertension
04:37

Improved Home Blood Pressure Control by CT-guided Ozone-mediated Renal Denervation for Patients with Resistant Hypertension

Published on: June 6, 2025

Characteristics of inner-city African-Americans with uncontrolled hypertension

Gerard Coly1, Jane M Kotchen, Clarence E Grim

  • 1Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.

Journal of the American Society of Hypertension : JASH
|April 23, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Hypertension control remains low in urban African Americans. Key factors include lack of medication adherence and specific health behaviors, necessitating targeted interventions for both patients and providers.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Health
  • Public Health
  • Health Disparities

Background:

  • Low hypertension control rates are prevalent in inner-city African American populations.
  • Understanding demographic and clinical factors is crucial for improving management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the characteristics of uncontrolled hypertension in inner-city African Americans.
  • To identify factors associated with poor blood pressure control in this demographic.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 3,943 African American volunteers (aged 18-55) in an outpatient setting.
  • Data collection included questionnaires on health behaviors and measurements of blood pressure, anthropometrics, and blood chemistries.
  • Participants were categorized as normotensive, hypertensive, aware of hypertension, on drug therapy, or with uncontrolled hypertension.

Main Results:

  • 52% of volunteers had hypertension; 78% of those had uncontrolled blood pressure.
  • Among hypertensive individuals, 75% were aware, and 76% of those were on medication.
  • Uncontrolled hypertension was linked to younger age, lower BMI, smoking, alcohol use, and less salt restriction; lack of medication was a primary driver.

Conclusions:

  • Lack of antihypertensive drug therapy is a major cause of uncontrolled hypertension in this population.
  • Aversive health behaviors are associated with uncontrolled hypertension.
  • Intervention strategies must target both patients and healthcare providers to enhance hypertension control.

Related Concept Videos

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 and Regulation of Blood Pressure01:18

Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure

Hypertension, the most common cardiovascular disease, is diagnosed through repeated measurements of elevated blood pressure. Its risks, including damage to the kidney, heart, and brain, are directly proportional to blood pressure levels. Starting from 115/75 mm Hg, the risk of cardiovascular disease doubles with each increment of 20/10 mm Hg. The diagnosis relies on blood pressure measurements, not on patient symptoms, as hypertension is often asymptomatic until end-organ damage is imminent or...
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,...
Hypertension II: Pathophysiology01:29

Hypertension II: Pathophysiology

Hypertension is a chronic condition in which the blood's force against artery walls is excessively high, posing risks such as heart disease. The condition's underlying mechanisms involve complex interactions among the cardiovascular, kidney, and autonomic nervous systems.Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS): This system significantly influences blood pressure regulation. When blood pressure decreases, the kidneys secrete renin. This enzyme transforms angiotensinogen, a plasma protein,...
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...
Factors affecting Blood pressure01:28

Factors affecting Blood pressure

Several physiological and lifestyle factors influence blood pressure (BP). Understanding these factors is crucial as they are significant in patient education and blood pressure management.
Physiological Factors: