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Hypertension Disparities in Immigrant and Refugee Populations: Screening, Treatment Access, and Cultural Barriers

delete2026-03-04
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PRE
AI
O
Oluwabunmi Ogungbe
O
Oluwalonimi Adebowale
R
Ruth‐Alma Turkson‐Ocran
T
Thomas Hinneh
F
Faith Metlock
T
Tiwaloluwa A. Ajibewa
A
Abeer Alharthi
J
Janice Dugbartey
A
Asma Rayani
E
Elohor Oborevwori
B
Biruk Teshome
B
Binu Koirala
D
Diana Baptiste
T
Tala Al‐Rousan
Y
Yvonne Commodore‐Mensah *
DOI:10.1007/s11906-025-01344-5delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Hypertension affects over 120 million Americans, yet immigrant and refugee populations face disproportionate barriers to effective hypertension care. With nearly 48 million immigrants and growing refugee populations in the US, understanding these disparities has become a crucial public health issue. This review synthesizes current evidence on hypertension disparities among immigrant and refugee populations, examining barriers across the hypertension care cascade from screening through control, and discusses promising interventions. Hypertension prevalence varies across immigrant populations. These populations face multiple barriers throughout care: limited screening access, delayed treatment initiation, and poor long-term control. The intersectionality of structural barriers, cultural factors, economic limitations, and healthcare system limitations creates a cumulative cycle of disadvantages. The political threats and “othering” process, discrimination and cultural marginalization, further worsen these challenges, affecting trust, care-seeking behavior, and treatment adherence. Evidence-based interventions show that culturally responsive, community-centered approaches can meaningfully reduce disparities. Community health worker programs achieved remarkable improvements in blood pressure control among immigrant populations. Technology-enhanced interventions, partnerships with faith-based organizations, culturally adapted educational resources, and Clinician cultural humility training often show promising results. However, addressing these disparities requires approaches at the individual, community, healthcare system, and policy levels to be implemented simultaneously. There need to be a sustained commitment to health equity, recognizing that the health of immigrants affects community well-being and the stability of the national and global healthcare system.
Keywords:
Hypertension
Immigrants
Refugees
Health disparities
Cultural competency
Community health workers
Cardiovascular health equity

Journal

Current Hypertension Reports cover
Current Hypertension Reports
IF:
5.1
Papers:
1.9K
Citations:
5.0K

Organization

N
northwestern university
Scholars:
4.5K
Papers: 1.8K
Citations: 1
B
beth israel deaconess medical center
Scholars:
739
Papers: 384
Citations: 0
U
University of California, San Diego
Scholars:
37
Papers: 22
Citations: 0
C
college of nursing
Scholars:
309
Papers: 152
Citations: 0
J
johns hopkins
Scholars:
379
Papers: 161
Citations: 0
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