Hypertension-related mortality among Hispanic subpopulations--United States, 1995-2002.

Hypertension remains a major public health problem in the United States even though effective therapy has been available for more than 50 years. Hypertension is a strong independent risk factor for heart disease and stroke and a predictor of premature death and disability from cardiovascular complications. Although age-adjusted prevalence of hypertension is lower among Hispanics than among blacks or non-Hispanic whites, recent data indicate that certain Hispanic subpopulations (Mexican Americans, Puerto Rican Americans, Cuban Americans, and other Hispanic Americans) are characterized by low levels of hypertension awareness, treatment, and control. Because Hispanics are the fastest growing and youngest racial/ethnic population in the United States, targeted strategies to reduce morbidity and mortality rates among this population are essential. Since 1995, information on Hispanic ethnicity has been provided on nearly all death certificates issued in the United States. Although data on Hispanic subpopulations are also available on death certificates, no national mortality statistics on hypertension-related deaths among specific Hispanic subpopulations have been published. To compare age-standardized, hypertension-related death rates among Hispanic subpopulations, CDC analyzed death certificate data from 1995 and 2002. This report describes the results of that analysis, which indicated that Puerto Rican Americans had consistently higher hypertension-related mortality (HRM) rates than all other Hispanic subpopulations and non-Hispanic whites. Comprehensive hypertension prevention and control programs are needed to target these Hispanic subpopulations.