About Half of Hispanic or Latino Adults Developed Hypertension

About half of Hispanic or Latino adults without hypertension at baseline developed the condition over approximately 12 years in a large US cohort. At the latest examination, fewer than one-third of participants with hypertension met contemporary blood pressure targets.

The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos followed adults from the Bronx, Chicago, Miami, and San Diego. The analysis included 9,061 participants who completed the most recent in-person visit, including 5,082 who did not have hypertension at baseline.

Over 12.4 years of follow-up, 50.5% developed hypertension, corresponding to an age-adjusted incidence rate of 36.4 per 1,000 person-years. Compared with South American adults, adjusted incidence was higher among Central American, Cuban, and Dominican adults. Older age, male sex, lower income, overweight or obesity, and greater alcohol consumption were also associated with higher incidence.

Among participants treated for hypertension, blood pressure control decreased from 40.2% at the first visit to 34.7% at the third visit. Hypertension was defined as a systolic blood pressure of at least 130 mm Hg, a diastolic blood pressure of at least 80 mm Hg, or antihypertensive medication use.

The study represented Hispanic or Latino adults from four urban communities, which may limit its generalizability to other geographic regions. Antihypertensive treatment was self-reported, potentially introducing measurement error. The authors said the marked variation among heritage groups underscores the importance of culturally tailored, community-specific approaches to hypertension prevention and management.

Source: Drexler Y, Pathak SP, Cordero C, et al. Hypertension incidence and blood pressure control in Hispanic or Latino adults in the HCHS/SOL study. JAMA Netw Open. 2026;9(8):e2631853. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.31853