The Role of Parental History of Hypertension in Predicting Hypertension Risk Factors in Black Americans

Purpose: Black Americans have the highest prevalence of hypertension (HTN) in the United States. HTN has multiple contributors including hereditary, social, psychological, and lifestyle factors. The purpose of this study was to compare HTN risk factors in Black Americans with and without parental history of HTN. Design: Using a descriptive-correlational design, a secondary analysis was conducted with data from 211 participants (64 men and 147 women) between 25 and 79 years of age. Findings: Parental history of HTN, body mass index (BMI), age, gender, and income explained almost 25 % (R2 =.249) of the variance in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and 15 % (R2 =.152) of the variance in diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Neither SBP (t = 1.921, p =.056) nor DBP (t =.993, p =.332) differed significantly based on parental history of HTN, although those with parental history of HTN (n = 102) were significantly younger (t = 3.955, p =.001). BMI was significantly related to blood pressure (BP) (b = 1.323, p <. 001). Conclusion: Parental history of HTN was not strongly associated with HTN risk factors or BP in this sample. Practice Implications: Regardless of family history, clinicians should implement strategies that target obesity in Black Americans who are at high risk for developing HTN