Prevalence, Awareness, and Control of Hypertension Among Adults by Disability Status, United States, August...

Nearly half of US adults have hypertension. The prevalence of hypertension is higher among adults with disabilities than among those without disabilities; however, national estimates use old data and definitions, and hypertension awareness and control are understudied. This study compared hypertension prevalence, awareness, and control among adults with and without disabilities.

We analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (August 2021-August 2023) for adults aged ≥18 years (N = 5999). To determine disability status, we used the Washington Group on Disability Statistics questionnaire, which covers the domains of seeing, hearing, walking, communication, cognition, self-care, upper-body function, and affect. Hypertension was defined as blood pressure ≥130/80 mm Hg or use of antihypertensive medication. Among adults with hypertension, awareness was defined as self-report of physician diagnosis and control as blood pressure <130/80 mm Hg. We estimated adjusted prevalence ratios (APRs) using logistic regression, adjusting for demographic and health characteristics and accounting for the complex survey design.

Hypertension prevalence was significantly higher among adults with disabilities than among those without disabilities (57.2% vs 45.1%; P < .001). Among those with hypertension, the prevalence of awareness (71.3% vs 55.0%; P < .001) and control (27.3% vs 18.4%; P < .001) was significantly higher among adults with disabilities than among those without disabilities. Adjusted analyses showed a higher prevalence of hypertension (APR = 1.12; 95% CI, 1.04-1.21), awareness (APR = 1.22; 95% CI, 1.14-1.30), and control (APR = 1.31; 95% CI, 1.12-1.54) among adults with disabilities than among those without disabilities.

Primary prevention may be particularly important for adults with disabilities. Improving awareness and control remains a key public health challenge regardless of disability status.