Abstract Body: Background: Hypertension (HTN) is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease that disproportionately affects adults in low-resource communities. We examined hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control—the HTN control cascade—in low-resource neighborhoods in Chicago, Illinois.

Methods: Using data from Keep Your Heart Healthy, a Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine student-led community health program, we evaluated a convenience sample of adults who completed three blood pressure (BP) measurements at a community screening event between 2013 and 2019. Among adults with HTN (average systolic BP ≥140 mmHg, average diastolic BP ≥90 mmHg, or self-reported BP medication use), HTN awareness (self-reported history of HTN), HTN treatment (self-reported treatment among those who were aware), and HTN control (systolic BP <140 mmHg and diastolic BP <90 mmHg, among those who were aware and treated) rates were calculated.

Results: Among 11,167 adults (mean age 50.9±14.8 years; 58.6% female; 63.9% Hispanic/Latino, 28.0% Black), HTN was prevalent in 45.3%. Of participants with HTN, 66.7% were aware of the diagnosis. Of those who were aware, 65.3% reported taking BP medication, of whom 48.3% achieved BP control. Overall, 21.0% of participants with HTN were aware, treated, and controlled (Figure). Additionally, 37.6% of all participants met criteria for pre-HTN (120-139 or 80-89 mmHg).

Conclusions: In low-resource communities of Chicago, only 21.0% of participants with HTN were aware, treated, and controlled. Less than half of patients on treatment for HTN were controlled, revealing significant opportunity to improve HTN control in low-resource communities.