ABSTRACT
Hypertension in African Americans, at the group level, is clearly different than hypertension in the general population. Hypertension prevalence is greater, it occurs earlier in life, is more often severe, and is linked to a greater burden of target-organ damage such as left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), chronic kidney disease (CKD), heart failure, and stroke. Nevertheless, should the treatment of African American individuals with hypertension fundamentally differ as it relates to drug selection and overall therapeutic approach from that applied to whites or, for that matter, any other racial/ethnic group? We interpret the totality of available clinical evidence to support the thesis that the optimal approach to hypertension treatment and drug selection is minimally, if at all, affected by race or ethnicity. Clearly, this recommendation lies in the face of the long-standing paradigm that has highlighted race as an important consideration when choosing drug therapy.
