Does Socioeconomic Status or Acculturation Modify the Association Between Ethnicity and Hypertension Treatment Before Stroke?

Background and Purpose— Socioeconomic status and acculturation may modify the association between ethnicity and hypertension treatment before stroke. We assessed prestroke treatment of hypertension by ethnicity, education (proxy for socioeconomic status), and English proficiency (EP; proxy for acculturation) in a population-based stroke surveillance project. Methods— Among 763 patients with first-ever stroke aged ≥45 years in the Brain Attack Surveillance in Corpus Christi project from 2000 to 2006, we examined self-reported hypertension treatment at the time of the stroke by ethnicity (Mexican American [MA] versus non–Hispanic white [NHW]) in the overall sample, within education strata (high school), and after dichotomizing MAs by self-reported EP (limited versus proficient). Logistic regression adjusted associations for age, sex, education, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, hypercholesterolemia, and health insurance. Results— NHWs and MAs reported similar hypertension treatment (84% versus 86%; P =0.53). Hypertension treatment was 84% for NHWs and 90% for MAs ( P =0.18) in high school stratum (ethnicity-by-education interaction, P =0.09). Hypertension treatment was 83% for NHWs, 87% for MAs with EP ( P vsNHWs =0.35), and 90% for MAs with limited EP ( P vsNHWs =0.13; ethnicity-by-EP interaction, P =0.22). Hypertension treatment was lower in uninsured patients (adjusted odds ratio, 0.13; 95% confidence interval, 0.03-0.60) or those with no physician visit ≤6 months (adjusted odds ratio, 0.09; 95% confidence interval, 0.03-0.24). Conclusions— We found no evidence that socioeconomic status or acculturation modifies the association between ethnicity and hypertension treatment before stroke.