Antecedents to effective treatment of hypertension in Hispanic populations

Abstract

Hypertension is a common medical disorder affecting >50 million people. It is a primary modifiable risk factor to cardiovascular disease and a leading cause of death in black and Hispanic groups. This article focuses on patient-specific and physician-specific barriers that contribute to underdiagnosis, undertreatment, access issues, and poor adherence to therapy. Two cross-cultural interviewing frameworks, ETHNIC and ADHERE, are discussed as approaches that complement the traditional clinical assessment and treatment of hypertension in Hispanics.