Dataset Information

Intersectional Discrimination and Change in Blood Pressure Control Among Older Adults: The Health and Retirement Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Associations between multiple forms of discrimination and blood pressure control in older populations remain unestablished.

Methods

Participants were 14 582 noninstitutionalized individuals (59% women) in the Health and Retirement Study aged at least 51 years (76% non-Hispanic White, 15% non-Hispanic Black, 9% Hispanic/Latino). Primary exposures included the mean frequency of discrimination in everyday life, intersectional discrimination (defined as marginalization ascribed to more than one reason), and the sum of discrimination over the life span. We assessed whether discrimination was associated with a change in measured hypertension status (N = 14 582) and concurrent medication use among reported hypertensives (N = 9 086) over 4 years (2008-2014).

Results

There was no association between the frequency of everyday discrimination and change in measured hypertension. Lifetime discrimination was associated with higher odds of hypertension 4 years later among men (odds ratio [OR]: 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08-1.36) but not women (OR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.86-1.13). Only among men, everyday discrimination due to at least 2 reasons was associated with a 1.44-fold (95% CI: 1.03-2.01) odds of hypertension than reporting no everyday discrimination, reporting intersectional discrimination was not associated with developing hypertension among women (OR: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.70-1.20). All 3 discriminatory measures were inversely related to time-averaged antihypertensive medication use, without apparent gender differences (eg, OR for everyday discrimination-antihypertensive use associations: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.77-0.94).

Conclusions

Gender differences in marginalization may more acutely elevate hypertensive risk among older men than similarly aged women. Experiences of discrimination appear to decrease the likelihood of antihypertensive medication use among older adults overall.

SUBMITTER: Sims KD

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8824637 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Intersectional Discrimination and Change in Blood Pressure Control Among Older Adults: The Health and Retirement Study.

Sims Kendra D KD Smit Ellen E Batty G David GD Hystad Perry W PW Odden Michelle C MC

The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences 20220201 2

<h4>Background</h4>Associations between multiple forms of discrimination and blood pressure control in older populations remain unestablished.<h4>Methods</h4>Participants were 14 582 noninstitutionalized individuals (59% women) in the Health and Retirement Study aged at least 51 years (76% non-Hispanic White, 15% non-Hispanic Black, 9% Hispanic/Latino). Primary exposures included the mean frequency of discrimination in everyday life, intersectional discrimination (defined as marginalization ascr ...[more]

PMID: 34390331

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Project description:ObjectivesTo evaluate the effect of intensive systolic blood pressure (SBP) control in older adults with hypertension, considering cognitive and physical function.DesignSecondary analysis.SettingSystolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) PARTICIPANTS: Adults 80 years or older.InterventionParticipants with hypertension but without diabetes (N = 1167) were randomized to an SBP target below 120 mm Hg (intensive treatment) vs a target below 140 mm Hg (standard treatment).MeasurementsWe measured the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), mortality, changes in renal function, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), probable dementia, and serious adverse events. Gait speed was assessed via a 4-m walk test, and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was used to quantify baseline cognitive function.ResultsIntensive treatment led to significant reductions in cardiovascular events (hazard ratio [HR] = .66; 95% confidence interval [CI] = .49-.90), mortality (HR = .67; 95% CI = .48-.93), and MCI (HR = .70; 95% CI = .51-.96). There was a significant interaction (P < .001) whereby participants with higher baseline scores on the MoCA derived strong benefit from intensive treatment for a composite of CVD and mortality (HR = .40; 95% CI = .28-.57), with no appreciable benefit in participants with lower scores on the MoCA (HR = 1.33 = 95% CI = .87-2.03). There was no evidence of heterogeneity of treatment effects with respect to gait speed. Rates of acute kidney injury and declines of at least 30% in estimated glomerular filtration rate were increased in the intensive treatment group with no between-group differences in the rate of injurious falls.ConclusionIn adults aged 80 years or older, intensive SBP control lowers the risk of major cardiovascular events, MCI, and death, with increased risk of changes to kidney function. The cardiovascular and mortality benefits of intensive SBP control may not extend to older adults with lower baseline cognitive function.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT01206062. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:496-504, 2020.

Project description:ImportanceThe local environment remains an understudied contributor to elevated blood pressure among older adults. Untargeted approaches can identify neighborhood conditions interrelated with racial segregation that drive hypertension disparities.ObjectiveTo evaluate independent associations of sociodemographic, economic, and housing neighborhood factors with elevated blood pressure.Design, setting, and participantsIn this cohort study, the sample included Health and Retirement Study participants who had between 1 and 3 sets of biennial sphygmomanometer readings from 2006 to 2014 or 2008 to 2016. Statistical analyses were conducted from February 5 to November 30, 2021.ExposuresFifty-one standardized American Community Survey census tract variables (2005-2009).Main outcomes and measuresElevated sphygmomanometer readings over the study period (6-year period prevalence): a value of at least 140 mm Hg for systolic blood pressure and/or at least 90 mm Hg for diastolic blood pressure. Participants were divided 50:50 into training and test data sets. Generalized estimating equations were used to summarize multivariable associations between each neighborhood variable and the period prevalence of elevated blood pressure, adjusting for individual-level covariates. Any neighborhood factor associated (Simes-adjusted for multiple comparisons P ≤ .05) with elevated blood pressure in the training data set was rerun in the test data set to gauge model performance. Lastly, in the full cohort, race- and ethnicity-stratified associations were evaluated for each identified neighborhood factor on the likelihood of elevated blood pressure.ResultsOf 12 946 participants, 4565 (35%) had elevated sphygmomanometer readings (median [IQR] age, 68 [63-73] years; 2283 [50%] male; 228 [5%] Hispanic or Latino, 502 [11%] non-Hispanic Black, and 3761 [82%] non-Hispanic White). Between 2006 and 2016, a lower likelihood of elevated blood pressure was observed (relative risk for highest vs lowest tertile, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.86-0.96) among participants residing in a neighborhood with recent (post-1999) in-migration of homeowners. This association was precise among participants with non-Hispanic White and other race and ethnicity (relative risk, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.85-0.97) but not non-Hispanic Black participants (relative risk, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.85-1.11; P = .48 for interaction) or Hispanic or Latino participants (relative risk, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.65-1.09; P = .78 for interaction).Conclusions and relevanceIn this cohort study of older adults, recent relocation of homeowners to a neighborhood was robustly associated with reduced likelihood of elevated blood pressure among White participants but not their racially and ethnically marginalized counterparts. Our findings indicate that gentrification may influence later-life blood pressure control.

Dataset Information

Intersectional Discrimination and Change in Blood Pressure Control Among Older Adults: The Health and Retirement Study.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Intersectional Discrimination and Change in Blood Pressure Control Among Older Adults: The Health and Retirement Study.

Similar Datasets

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