Relation of Self-Reported Race and Genetic Ancestry to Hypertension Prevalence Among Hispanics/Latinos: The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

BackgroundThe imprecision of current metrics to capture the complex genetic admixture and racial identity among Hispanic/Latino individuals in the United States (US) is a concern. We examined the relationship of self-reported race and genetic ancestry with hypertension (HTN) among Hispanics/Latinos. MethodsCross-sectional study of the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), including 10,586 Hispanic/Latino unrelated adults. Genetic ancestry: West African (AA), Amerindian (AI), and European (EA). Self-reported race: White, Black, Native American, or Multiple/Missing (More than one race or Unknown/Not reported/Refused). HTN: systolic (SBP) [≥]130 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) [≥]80 mmHg, and/or use of HTN medications. Age- and sex adjusted models were used. ResultsSelf-reported race was White (38{middle dot}6%), Black (3{middle dot}6%), Native American (4{middle dot}1%), and Multiple/Missing (53{middle dot}7%), with Unknown/Not reported/Refused representing 32{middle dot}7%. Black and White Hispanics/Latinos had the greatest AA (55{middle dot}7%) and EA (69{middle dot}3%) ancestries, respectively. Each 10% AA increase was associated with OR 1{middle dot}15, SBP beta +0.9 mmHg, and DBP beta +0.7 mmHg. Conversely, each 10% AI increase was associated with OR 0{middle dot}83, SBP beta -0{middle dot}4 mmHg, and DBP beta -0{middle dot}6 mmHg. HTN prevalence was highest among those with Black race or in the highest AA quantile (45{middle dot}6% and 48{middle dot}0%, respectively), and lowest among those with Native American race or in the highest AI quantile (37{middle dot}6% and 26{middle dot}7%, respectively). ConclusionOne-third of Hispanics/Latinos did not self-report race. Black or White self-reporting race did somewhat relate to AA or EA ancestry, respectively. HTN profiles were related to self-reported race and genetic ancestry in this admixed population.