The data reiterate the relevance of social networks to older adults' health. We close by discussing how the NSHAP measures might be employed in future analyses of health.
Background
To examine the associations between urbanization and hypertension, stage II hypertension, and hypertension control.
Methods
Data on 16,360 US adults aged 18 years or older from the 2013–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were used to estimate the prevalence of hypertension (blood pressure (BP) ≥130/80 mm Hg or use of medication for hypertension), stage II hypertension (BP ≥140/90 mm Hg), and hypertension control (BP <130/80 mm Hg among hypertensives) by urbanization, classified by levels of metropolitan statistical areas as large MSAs (population ≥1,000,000), medium to small MSAs (population 50,000–999,999), and non-MSAs (population <50,000).
Results
All prevalence ratios (PRs) were compared with large MSAs and adjusted for demographics and risk factors. The PRs of hypertension were 1.07 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.99–1.14) for adults residing in medium to small MSAs and 1.06 (95% CI = 0.99–1.13) for adults residing in non-MSAs. For stage II hypertension, the PRs were higher for adults residing in medium to small MSAs 1.21 (95% CI = 1.06–1.36) but not for adults residing in non-MSAs 1.06 (95% CI = 0.88–1.29). For hypertension control, the PRs were 0.96 (95% CI = 0.91–1.01) for adults residing in medium to small MSAs and 1.00 (95% CI = 0.93–1.06) for adults residing in non-MSAs.
Conclusions
Among US adults, urbanization was associated with stage II hypertension.
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