The effect of minority status and rural residence on actions to control high blood pressure in the U.S.

OBJECTIVE: We examined actions to control high blood pressure (HBP) and health-care provider recommendations for blood pressure control among adults by racial/ethnic group and rural/urban residence.

METHODS: We examined data from 45,024 participants with HBP in the 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey. We used multiple logistic regression analyses to assess the independent association between current actions to control HBP and health-care provider recommendations for blood pressure control by race/ethnicity and rural/urban status after accounting for confounders.

RESULTS: Black people, regardless of rural or urban residence, were more likely to report reducing salt and alcohol intake, changing eating habits, and taking medications than both white urban and white rural adults. Black people, regardless of rural or urban status, were more likely to be advised to cut down on salt, reduce alcohol use, and change eating habits. Black rural adults were also more likely to report being advised to take medications than white urban adults, while white rural adults were less likely to be advised to exercise than white urban adults.

CONCLUSIONS: Race/ethnicity and rural/urban status have a differential effect on actions to control HBP and provider advice to control HBP.