Hypertension Self-Management Among African American Adults

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Health
• Public Health
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Hypertension disproportionately impacts African Americans, posing significant challenges to achieving adequate blood pressure (BP) control.
• Effective self-management of hypertension (HTN-SM) is crucial for improving BP outcomes and reducing related morbidities in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe hypertension self-management (HTN-SM) behaviors in middle- to older-aged African American adults.
• To examine the relationship between HTN-SM behaviors and self-reported BP levels in this demographic.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional correlational design was employed.
• Data were collected from African Americans aged 45 and older using self-report surveys, including the Self-Care of Hypertension Inventory, via Qualtrics or telephone interviews.

Main Results:

• Participants (N=142, mean age 63) reported a mean systolic BP of 133 mmHg and diastolic BP of 80 mmHg.
• 36% had Stage 2 hypertension (≥140/90 mmHg) and 37% had Stage 1 hypertension (≥130/80 mmHg).
• Higher HTN-SM scores correlated with lower BP readings, though only 28% achieved adequate scores; medication adherence and diet were common, while low-salt food choices and exercise were less frequent.

Conclusions:

• A substantial proportion of participants exhibited uncontrolled BP and low HTN-SM scores.
• Facilitating effective HTN-SM is essential for BP reduction in African American adults.
• Assessing HTN-SM is recommended to identify and address potential barriers to better BP control.