Blood pressure disparity leads to 8,000 African American deaths a year, study finds

A new study has found that nearly 8,000 fewer African-Americans would die each year if their blood pressure could be reduced to the average level of white Americans (Source: “Blood pressure gap leads to deaths of 8,000 blacks,” Associated Press, Nov. 11, 2008).

The study, which was published in the Annals of Family Medicine, is believed to be the first to calculate lives lost because of racial disparities in blood pressure control.

In complementary articles in the AFM, doctors differ on what may be the underlying cause of the disparity. One article examines the English national health system and found that the racial disparity exists there, as well. That leads the author to surmise that the gap may have less to do with access to care than the difference in attitude toward blood pressure treatment for different racial groups.

However, another article rejects that patients should be blamed for not following doctors orders.

"'Compliance' to me is a hateful word. It says, 'I the great doctor and we the great health care service inform you what needs to be done and you don't do it because you're stupid, you're incompetent'... I don't accept that at all," said Dr. Jeremiah Stamler, professor emeritus of preventive medicine at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine.