cultural considerations pharmacological and nonpharmacological means for improving blood pressure control among hispanic patients文化因素和药物和非药物方法改善拉美裔患者血压控制.pdfVIP

Hindawi Publishing Corporation International Journal of Hypertension Volume 2012, Article ID 831016, 6 pages doi:10.1155/2012/831016 Review Article Cultural Considerations: Pharmacological and Nonpharmacological Means for Improving Blood Pressure Control among Hispanic Patients Neela K. Patel,1 Robert C. Wood,2 and David V. Espino1 1 Division of Geriatrics, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA 2 Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA Correspondence should be addressed to Neela K. Patel, pateln4@ Received 16 July 2011; Accepted 19 August 2011 Academic Editor: Blas Gil Extremera Copyright © 2012 Neela K. Patel et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, and its prevention and treatment remain a priority for the medical community. Ethnic variations account for some differences in the prevalence of hypertension and blood pressure (BP) control rates among Hispanics, indicating the need for culturally appropriate management models. Aggressive treatment strategies are key to achieving optimal BP control in high-risk Hispanic patients. Hypertension in this ethnic group continues to be a major health concern. Of note, when provided access to comprehensive care, Hispanics demonstrate similar response rates to treatment as the majority of non-Hispanic whites. This highlights the importance of effective, culturally