Trust in physicians and blood pressure control in blacks and whites being treated for hypertension in the REGARDS study.
OBJECTIVE
Among persons treated for hypertension, Blacks are more likely to have uncontrolled blood pressure compared to Whites. Few studies have focused on trust in physicians as a potential contributor to this disparity in blood pressure (BP) control. The primary objective of this study was to assess the relationship between trust in physicians and blood pressure control among Blacks and Whites being treated for hypertension.


METHODS
Cross-sectional analysis of baseline data collected from the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke cohort, a US national, population-based cohort study. Participants were recruited by telephone from 2003-2007, completed a telephone survey, and had BP measured during an in-home visit.


METHODS
2843 Black and White adults aged > 45 years with treated hypertension.


METHODS
Uncontrolled blood pressure was defined as systolic blood pressure > 140 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure > 90 mm Hg. For participants with diabetes, renal disease, or self-reported previous myocardial infarction, uncontrolled blood pressure was defined as systolic blood pressure > 130 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure > 80 mm Hg.


RESULTS
Trust in physicians was not associated with uncontrolled blood pressure in either unadjusted (odd ratio [OR] 1.07; 95% confidence interval [CI) 0.92, 1.25) or adjusted analyses (OR 0.97; 0.83, 1.14). Both Black race (OR 1.58; 1.36, 1.84) and imperfect medication adherence (OR 1.56; 1.31,1.86) were associated with higher odds of uncontrolled blood pressure.


CONCLUSIONS
Trust in physicians was not related to blood pressure control among Blacks and Whites with treated hypertension in this sample. The racial disparity in blood pressure control was not completely explained by trust in physicians or medication adherence, and a better understanding of the mechanisms leading to this disparity is needed.
Durant
Raegan W
RW
Division of Preventive Medicine; University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. rdurant@mail.dopm.uab.edu
McClure
Leslie A
LA
Halanych
Jewell H
JH
Lewis
Cora E
CE
Prineas
Ronald J
RJ
Glasser
Stephen P
SP
Safford
Monika M
MM
D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel / Q000208:ethnology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000208:ethnology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D035502:Trust; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*