Management of high blood pressure in African Americans - Consensus statement of the hypertension in African Americans Working Group of the International Society on Hypertension in Blacks

The purpose of this consensus statement is to offer primary care providers (including physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants) a practical, evidence-based clinical tool for achieving blood pressure goals in African American patients. The need for specific recommendations for African Americans is highlighted by compelling evidence of a higher prevalence of hypertension and poorer cardiovascular and renal outcomes in this group than in white Americans. African Americans have disturbingly higher rates of cardiovascular mortality, stroke, hypertension-related heart disease, congestive heart failure, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertensive nephropathy, and end-stage renal disease (ESRD).