Comparison of three DASH scoring paradigms and prevalent hypertension among older Hispanics

Older Hispanics are less likely to be aware of their hypertension or adopt lifestyle modifications for hypertension control than non-Hispanic whites. Few reports exist Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) accordance among Hispanics. This study was designed to: (1) assess accordance to a DASH pattern using three widely used DASH scoring paradigms; and (2) determine which DASH paradigm was most strongly associated with hypertension in 169 older Hispanics (mean age, 66 years and 73% female). Food frequency questionnaires were used to calculate DASH scores. Logistic regression modeling was performed for prevalent hypertension with the DASH scores, age, gender and acculturation. Using the Folsom et al. DASH scoring paradigm, 55% of adults were deemed DASH accordant compared with 17% using Fung et al. scores and 13% using the Toledo et al. Folsom et al. scores were predictive of prevalent hypertension (odds ratio=1.35, 95% confidence interval (1.04, 1.77) in this older Hispanic sample; the remaining two scoring systems were not associated with hypertension in this sample.