Key Findings: Hypertension Among US Adults by Disability Status and Type, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2001–2010

The journal Preventing Chronic Disease published a new study “Hypertension Among US Adults by Disability Status and Type, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2001-2010.”

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a leading cause of illness and death, and affects approximately 30% of US adults. While adults with disabilities are known to experience many health disparities, high blood pressure among this group has not been well studied. This study combined data from the 2001-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to estimate the percentage of adults with disabilities aged 20 years or older who had high blood pressure. It showed that adults with disabilities were more likely to have high blood pressure and is an important group to consider in efforts to decrease high blood pressure in the United States. You can read the article here https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2014/14_0162.htm.

Main findings from this study:

1. Adults with disabilities were 13% more likely to have high blood pressure than adults without any disability. Adults with mobility limitations were 23% more likely to have high blood pressure than adults without any disability. This was found even after taking socio-demographic and healthcare access factors into account.
2. A greater percentage of adults with disabilities (34.2%) had high blood pressure than did adults without disabilities (26.9%).
3. Across all disability types, a greater percentage of adults with disabilities had high blood pressure than adults without any disability, but it was highest among adults with mobility limitations.

 

Percentage of US Adults ≥20 Years of Age who had High Blood Pressure by Disability Type, 2001-2010

CDC’s activities:

CDC supports 18 state-based disability and health programs which promote healthy lifestyles and improve quality of life for people with disabilities. CDC monitors the health of people with and without disabilities, and supports the inclusion of people with disabilities in public health programs that prevent disease and promote healthy behaviors, while working to eliminate barriers to health care and improve access to routine preventive services.

What can be done:

These findings suggest that organizations and groups that are working to reduce blood pressure among US adults also focus on people with disabilities in their efforts.

Everyone, including adults with disabilities, should measure their blood pressure regularly. To prevent high blood pressure before it starts, you can:

• Eat a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Get enough physical activity.
• Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke.
• Limit alcohol use.
• Manage stress.
• Treat related conditions, such as high blood cholesterol and diabetes.

If you have high blood pressure, there are steps you can take to get it under control:

• Know and check your blood pressure.
• Take medication as your doctor prescribes it to you.
• Reduce sodium intake.
• Make healthy lifestyle changes to reduce your risks.

For more information, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/features/highbloodpressure/?nl=1

More information:

To learn more about Disability and Health, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/index.html

To learn more about high blood pressure, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/index.htm

Reference:

Stevens A, Courtney-Long E, Gillespie C, Armour BS. Hypertension Among US Adults by Disability Status and Type, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2001–2010. Prev Chronic Dis 2014;11:140162. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd11.140162.