Black/white disparity in self-reported hypertension: the role of nativity status.
This study investigates the association between race and self-reported hypertension and whether this association varies with nativity status in the National Health Interview Survey, 1997-2005. Logistic regression was used to estimate the association between race and self-reported hypertension before and after adjusting for selected characteristics. The overall prevalence of hypertension was 25.3%, with non-Hispanic Blacks (30.6%) exhibiting higher prevalence than non-Hispanic Whites (24.4%, p<.01). In the adjusted analysis, non-Hispanic Blacks, regardless of their nativity status, had 47% (95% CI 1.40-1.54) greater odds of reported hypertension than non-Hispanic Whites. Foreign-born non-Hispanic Blacks with more than 10 years in the U.S. had 58% (95% CI 1.27-1.96) greater odds of reporting hypertension than their White counterparts. The finding of no effect for nativity but for length of stay for foreign-born with more than 10 years in the U.S. is important in itself, suggesting that there may be selection factors deleterious to foreign-born Blacks' health after entering the U.S.
Borrell
Luisa N
LN
Department of Health Sciences, Lehman College, City University of New York, 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY 10468, USA. Luisa.Borrell@lehman.cuny.edu
Crawford
Natalie D
ND
Barrington
Debbie S
DS
Maglo
Koffi N
KN
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000367:Age Factors; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D015438:Health Behavior; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000208:ethnology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult