A Review of Hypertension Management in Black Male Patients

Hypertension affects approximately 85 million Americans, or almost 1 in 3 adults. Black men have disproportionately higher rates of hypertension and are more likely to experience complications of hypertension, including stroke, myocardial infarction, and death. In addition, hypertensive black men are less likely to achieve optimal blood pressure (BP) than women and persons of other races. In light of this, we performed a literature search for articles published from January 1, 1966, to December 31, 2018, using terms including hypertension, blood pressure, black male, and African American male. Studies were selected for inclusion according to their relevance regarding hypertensive management in black men. Subsequent findings indicated that targeted identification (ie, barbershops), medication management, and close follow-up resulted in greater control of BP. Also, a reduction of systolic blood pressure greater than 20 mm Hg occurred with the use of pharmacists following algorithms specifically for the management of hypertension in black men. Continued emphasis to identify strategies to improve control of BP and outcomes in this population is needed. (C) 2020 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research