Open AccessHypertension in Women: The Women Take Heart Project
Author(s) -
FurumotoDawson Alice A.,
Pandey Dilip K.,
Elliott William J.,
Carlos F. Mendes de Leon,
AlHani Arfan J.,
Hollenberg Steven,
Camba Noel,
Wicklund Roxanne,
Black Henry R.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
the journal of clinical hypertension
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1751-7176
pISSN - 1524-6175
DOI - 10.1111/j.1524-6175.2003.1383.x
Subject(s) - medicine , blood pressure , prospective cohort study , cohort , disease , public health , cardiology , diastole , heart disease , hypertensive heart disease , physical therapy , heart failure , nursing
Hypertension is an important, modifiable risk for cardiovascular disease. The Women Take Heart study, a prospective, community‐based cohort study of risk factors for heart disease, provides an opportunity to examine prevalence, awareness, and control of hypertension specifically in women. In 1992, 5932 women, age 35 and older (mean age, 52.9; 86% white, 9% African American, 5% other) and free of active heart disease symptoms for 3 months, were recruited through Chicago area public announcements, and their baseline examination data analyzed. Overall, 47.6% were hypertensive (systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mm Hg, or self‐report). Only 17.3% reported being hypertensive; in 63.2% of all hypertensive women, the hypertension was undetected or unacknowledged. Blood pressure was controlled to <140/90 mm Hg in 24.1% of self‐reported hypertensives. Results from this study and national surveys indicate that hypertension detection and control remain major public health challenges in preventing cardiovascular disease in older women.