Hypertension and blood pressure awareness among American Indians of the northern plains.
This study compared self-reported and measured blood pressure among American Indians of the northern plains. In 1986, a group of American Indians from the northern plains was administered the Centers for Disease Control Behavioral Risk Factor Survey (which included a question about previous blood pressure measurements) and a health risk appraisal (which included blood pressure measurement). Approximately 18% of the respondents reported being told by a doctor, nurse, or other health professional that they had high blood pressure, and 11% actually had measured blood pressures of at least 140/90 mm Hg. Overall, only 50% of hypertensive participants correctly identified themselves as hypertensive (sensitivity); specificity was 92%, predictive value positive was 43%, predictive value negative was 94%, and efficiency (the proportion of individuals who correctly classified their blood pressure status as high or normal) was 87%. These findings agree with similar studies of hypertension awareness, and they indicate that lack of this awareness remains a significant problem in the fight against cardiovascular diseases and premature death among American Indians.
Sharlin
K S
KS
Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
Heath
G W
GW
Ford
E S
ES
Welty
T K
TK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001835:Body Weight; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D007198:Indians, North American; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013023:South Dakota / Q000453:epidemiology