title: Disparities in hypertension-related mortality among selected Hispanic subgroups and non-Hispanic White women ages 45 years and older--United States, 1995-1996 and 2001-2002.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare hypertension-related mortality (HRM) age-standardized and age-specific rates for Hispanic subgroup and non-Hispanic White (NHW) women; to identify underlying causes of HRM by Hispanic subgroup and age; and to examine relative percent change in HRM among Hispanic subgroups and NHW women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Secondary data analyses of 1995-1996 and 2001-2002 national vital statistics multiple cause mortality files.
  
  
  METHODS
  United States-50 states and District of Columbia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mexican American (MA), Puerto Rican (PR), Cuban (CA) and NHW female decedents ages > or =45 years with hypertension listed as one of up to 20 conditions resulting in death.
  
  
  METHODS
  Age-standardized death rates (ASDR per 100,000) for HRM and relative percent change to examine trends (2-year intervals).
  
  
  RESULTS
  During 1995-1996, the ASDR (per 100,000) for HRM was highest among PR (248.5) followed by NHW (188.7), MA (185.4), and CA women (139.7). During 2001-2002, PR (215.5) and MA (205.5) had higher ASDR for HRM than NHW (171.9) and CA women (104.6). The relative percent increase from 1995-1996 to 2001-2002 was 10.8% (P < .01) among MA, while CA (-25.1%, P < .01), PR (-13.3%, P < .01) and non-Hispanic Whites (-8.5%, P < .01) showed a decrease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HRM was highest among PR and MA women, increased significantly for MA women between 1995-1996 to 2001-2002, and declined for CA, PR and non-Hispanic White women. Public health efforts should focus on strengthening heart health protection communication and hypertension control programs for PR and MA women and their healthcare providers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's Studies and Director, Consortium on Race, Gender, and Ethnicity, University of Maryland College Park, 2101 Woods Hall, College Park, MD 20742, USA. rzambran@umd.edu
authors.forename: Ruth Enid
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Zambrana
authors.forename: Carma
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ayala
authors.forename: Olivia Carter
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Pokras
authors.forename: Jasmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Minaya
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Mensah
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000401:mortality*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014798:Vital Statistics; D044465:White People