Probability of Stroke in Blacks and Non-Hispanic Whites Treated with ACE-I, ARBs, and Other Antihypertensives.

BACKGROUND

Stroke remains a leading cause of disability and death worldwide, with significant disparities between racial groups. Blacks have a higher incidence of first-time stroke compared to non-Hispanic whites, potentially influenced by differences in hypertension management.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the likelihood of stroke among Blacks as compared to whites in the USA, focusing on the impact of different antihypertensive medications.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from 43,700 patients. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression assessed the relationship between antihypertensives as monotherapy and the likelihood of being diagnosed with a stroke on index admission. Race was analyzed as an effect modifier.

RESULTS

Blacks were 1.40 times more likely to be diagnosed with a stroke compared to whites (95% CI [1.20, 1.64], p < 0.0001). The type of antihypertensive medication significantly impacted stroke incidence. Patients taking ACE-I or ARBs prior to admission were 1.63 times more likely to be diagnosed with a stroke compared to those taking diuretics (p = 0.0002, 95% CI [1.23, 2.15]), and those taking calcium channel blockers (CCBs) were 1.80 times more likely (p < 0.0001, 95% CI [1.32, 2.46]). Although race was analyzed as an effect modifier, no significant interaction between race and antihypertensive use was observed (p = 0.2998), suggesting that medication choice affects stroke risk similarly across racial groups.

CONCLUSION

The study confirms that Blacks have higher odds of stroke compared to whites. The choice of antihypertensive significantly influences stroke risk, with diuretics showing superiority over ACE-I, ARBs, and CCBs in reducing incidence. These findings suggest that optimizing antihypertensive therapy, particularly the use of diuretics, may be crucial in mitigating stroke risk across different racial groups. While this study focuses on antihypertensive choice, additional social determinants of health, such as socioeconomic status and healthcare access, warrant further investigation in future studies.