Table I.

Hypertension‐Related Epidemiology, Morbidity, and Mortality in African Americans*

Epidemiology

Hypertension

Affects 37% of all African Americans

Develops at an earlier age

More often severe

Higher prevalence of multiple cardiovascular

disease risk factors

Obesity

Inactivity

Dyslipidemia

African American status predictor of lack of

awareness of hypertensive condition

More frequent left ventricular hypertrophy

Morbidity

32% of African Americans have treated, but

uncontrolled, hypertension

More frequent hospitalization for heart failure

1.3 times more frequent nonfatal stroke

4.2 times more frequent end‐stage renal disease

Begin dialysis at an earlier age

Mortality

More frequent premature death** from heart

disease

1.8 times more frequent fatal stroke

Higher rate of hypertension‐related mortality

1.5 times more frequent death from heart disease

*Where relevant, in comparison with United States non‐Hispanic whites; **premature death is defined as that occurring at ≤65 years. Sources: 2003 Heart and Stroke Statistical Update. 9 Men and heart disease: an atlas of racial and ethnic disparities in mortality. 10 Am J Hypertens. 2000;13:103–104. 8 Yancy CW. Heart failure in African Americans: a cardiovascular engima. J Card Fail. 2000;6:183–186.