A new study has revealed alarming disparities in stroke risk among young Black women with high blood pressure. The research, to be presented at the upcoming International Stroke Conference in Phoenix, found that Black women diagnosed with hypertension before age 35 face triple the odds of suffering a stroke compared to their counterparts without hypertension.
Dr. Hugo Aparicio, lead author and professor of neurology at Boston University’s School of Medicine, emphasized the tragedy of early-onset strokes, particularly in midlife. The study analyzed data from over 59,000 participants in the Black Women’s Health Study, tracking their health over 23 years.
The findings underscore a significant health crisis among Black American women, who already have some of the highest rates of high blood pressure globally. According to the American Heart Association, about 58% of Black women have high blood pressure, compared to 43% of white women, 38% of Asian women, and 35% of Hispanic women.
The study also revealed that the elevated stroke risk persists across age groups. Black women diagnosed with hypertension before 45 had more than double the odds of stroke, while those diagnosed between 45 and 64 had a 69% higher risk compared to those without high blood pressure.
Dr. Aparicio stressed the need for increased attention to blood pressure screening and treatment for Black women throughout their lives, especially during childbearing years and before middle age. He called for policy changes to promote and fund primary prevention, warning that by the time a Black woman has a stroke at middle age, it is often too late to intervene effectively.
See “High Blood Pressure in Young Black Women Sends Stroke Risks Soaring” (February 1, 2024)
