Racial Disparities in Hypertension Prevalence within US Gentrifying Neighborhoods

Abstract

Racial disparities in hypertension remain a persistent public health concern in the US. While several studies report Black–White differences in the health impacts of gentrification, little is known concerning the impact of living in a gentrifying neighborhood on hypertension disparities. Data from the American Community Survey were used to identify gentrifying neighborhoods across the US from 2006 to 2017. Health and demographic data were obtained for non-Hispanic Black and White respondents of the 2014 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) residing in gentrifying neighborhoods. Modified Poisson models were used to determine whether there is a difference in the prevalence of hypertension of individuals by their race/ethnicity for those that live in gentrifying neighborhoods across the US. When compared to Whites living within gentrifying neighborhoods, Blacks living within gentrifying neighborhoods had a similar prevalence of hypertension. The non-existence of Black–White hypertension disparities within US gentrifying neighborhoods underscores the impact of neighborhood environment on race differences in hypertension.