Primary Submission Category: Chronic disease
An Intersectional Exploration of Factors Associated with Uncontrolled Hypertension
Authors:Â Fatima Fairfax
Presenting Author: Fatima Fairfax*
Hypertension affects almost half of the U.S. adult population. Despite universal guidance for hypertension management, rates of uncontrolled hypertension remain high. The limited literature that addresses hypertension management often neglects a holistic account of factors that may contribute to an individual’s ability to manage their blood pressure. Furthermore, previous literature is either general, examining the whole of the population, or focused on one axis of identity, such as race or gender, missing the opportunity to explore how factors differ by race-gender identity. In this exploratory descriptive study, I aim to reveal what health behavior, healthcare access, and social factors distinguish those with controlled hypertension from those with uncontrolled hypertension. Using data from the 2017 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), extensive weighted descriptive statistics and chi-square significance testing, I reveal patterns of difference between those with controlled versus uncontrolled hypertension. I take an intersectional approach, examining these factors within and between race-gender identities to explore the consequences of a racialized and gendered process of health and healthcare. Preliminary findings show that, among non-Hispanic Black and White hypertensive adults (n = 6,941), indirect factors such as depression, patient-provider interactions, and SES differentiates between those with controlled versus uncontrolled hypertension more consistently than any health-related behavior barring smoking. I also find that the factors that distinguish between hypertension status differ across race-gender identity groups such that traditional management guidance may only be sufficient among hypertensive white women. Approaches for other race-gender identity groups may necessitate an examination of healthcare providers’ treatment of patients, increased access to quality healthcare, and a recognition of social factors that act as barriers to management.