This study investigates the prevalence and predictors of elevated blood pressure (BP) among 409 low-income adults in Muscogee County, Columbus, Georgia—a population disproportionately burdened by hypertension. The findings reveal that elevated BP is significantly more prevalent among African Americans (71.4%) compared to non-African Americans (27.1%), highlighting the role of racial disparities influenced by systemic inequities, healthcare access, and chronic stress. Gender differences were modest, with females exhibiting a slightly higher prevalence (77.9%) than males (76.7%), potentially due to age-related hormonal changes post-menopause. Older adults (50+ years) represented most of the sample and showed significantly higher hypertension rates, consistent with established links between aging and vascular health.
Additionally, a strong correlation was found between family history and elevated BP, suggesting a combined effect of genetic and environmental influences. Logistic regression analysis identified a prior hypertension diagnosis as a significant predictor of elevated BP (p < 0.05), while age, gender, and family history were not statistically significant. These findings emphasize the multifaceted nature of hypertension and underscore the need for culturally sensitive, community-based interventions that address social determinants, early detection, and long-term management strategies to mitigate hypertension in vulnerable populations.
","abstract_html":"<p>This study investigates the prevalence and predictors of elevated blood pressure (BP) among 409 low-income adults in Muscogee County, Columbus, Georgia—a population disproportionately burdened by hypertension. The findings reveal that elevated BP is significantly more prevalent among African Americans (71.4%) compared to non-African Americans (27.1%), highlighting the role of racial disparities influenced by systemic inequities, healthcare access, and chronic stress. Gender differences were modest, with females exhibiting a slightly higher prevalence (77.9%) than males (76.7%), potentially due to age-related hormonal changes post-menopause. Older adults (50+ years) represented most of the sample and showed significantly higher hypertension rates, consistent with established links between aging and vascular health.</p> <p>Additionally, a strong correlation was found between family history and elevated BP, suggesting a combined effect of genetic and environmental influences. Logistic regression analysis identified a prior hypertension diagnosis as a significant predictor of elevated BP (p < 0.05), while age, gender, and family history were not statistically significant. These findings emphasize the multifaceted nature of hypertension and underscore the need for culturally sensitive, community-based interventions that address social determinants, early detection, and long-term management strategies to mitigate hypertension in vulnerable populations.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Fallah, Amelia K."],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Health Science","degree_level":"Thesis","degree_discipline":"Kinesiology and Health Sciences","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Dr. Patricia Anafi","Dr. Rebecca Toland"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2025,"date_issued":"2025-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2025-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:45:18Z","subjects":["Elevated Blood Pressure","African Americans","Non-African Americans","Females","Males","Columbus Georgia","Muscogee County","Cardiology","Public Health"],"languages":["English"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://csuepress.columbusstate.edu/theses_dissertations/745","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Dr. Patricia Anafi","Dr. Rebecca Toland"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Fallah, Amelia K."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Kinesiology and Health Sciences"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Health Science"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Elevated Blood Pressure","African Americans","Non-African Americans","Females","Males","Columbus Georgia","Muscogee County","Cardiology","Public Health"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["English"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://csuepress.columbusstate.edu/theses_dissertations/745"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This study investigates the prevalence and predictors of elevated blood pressure (BP) among 409 low-income adults in Muscogee County, Columbus, Georgia—a population disproportionately burdened by hypertension. The findings reveal that elevated BP is significantly more prevalent among African Americans (71.4%) compared to non-African Americans (27.1%), highlighting the role of racial disparities influenced by systemic inequities, healthcare access, and chronic stress. Gender differences were modest, with females exhibiting a slightly higher prevalence (77.9%) than males (76.7%), potentially due to age-related hormonal changes post-menopause. Older adults (50+ years) represented most of the sample and showed significantly higher hypertension rates, consistent with established links between aging and vascular health.
Additionally, a strong correlation was found between family history and elevated BP, suggesting a combined effect of genetic and environmental influences. Logistic regression analysis identified a prior hypertension diagnosis as a significant predictor of elevated BP (p < 0.05), while age, gender, and family history were not statistically significant. These findings emphasize the multifaceted nature of hypertension and underscore the need for culturally sensitive, community-based interventions that address social determinants, early detection, and long-term management strategies to mitigate hypertension in vulnerable populations.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Prevalence of Hypertension Among Low-Income Individuals in Muscogee County Columbus, Georgia"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Dr. Patricia Anafi","Dr. Rebecca Toland"],"dc:creator":["Fallah, Amelia K."],"dc:description.abstract":["This study investigates the prevalence and predictors of elevated blood pressure (BP) among 409 low-income adults in Muscogee County, Columbus, Georgia—a population disproportionately burdened by hypertension. The findings reveal that elevated BP is significantly more prevalent among African Americans (71.4%) compared to non-African Americans (27.1%), highlighting the role of racial disparities influenced by systemic inequities, healthcare access, and chronic stress. Gender differences were modest, with females exhibiting a slightly higher prevalence (77.9%) than males (76.7%), potentially due to age-related hormonal changes post-menopause. Older adults (50+ years) represented most of the sample and showed significantly higher hypertension rates, consistent with established links between aging and vascular health.
Additionally, a strong correlation was found between family history and elevated BP, suggesting a combined effect of genetic and environmental influences. Logistic regression analysis identified a prior hypertension diagnosis as a significant predictor of elevated BP (p < 0.05), while age, gender, and family history were not statistically significant. These findings emphasize the multifaceted nature of hypertension and underscore the need for culturally sensitive, community-based interventions that address social determinants, early detection, and long-term management strategies to mitigate hypertension in vulnerable populations.
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