Hypertension Research

The Caribbean region has high rates of hypertension, or high blood pressure. Our researchers are developing new approaches to preventing, detecting, and treating hypertension.

Finding Hidden Hypertension

Phenotypes of Hypertensive Ambulatory Blood Pressure Patterns

Masked hypertension occurs when a person has high blood pressure that goes undetected because their blood pressure rates appear normal during the clinic visit. People with masked hypertension can have elevated blood pressure while they exercise, work, or even sleep. Masked hypertension is more common in Black and Hispanic populations and is associated with serious cardiovascular events. Dr. Erica Spatz is leading a study to detect masked hypertension through 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure management. Study participants complete detailed ecological assessments, wear ambulatory blood pressure monitors for 24 hours and actigraphy watches for 72 hours. All study participants are recruited through the ECHORN cohort study. Findings from this study will help identify risk factors that can guide screening and detection for hypertension, particularly in high-risk populations.

Genetic Differences in Hormone Systems

RAAS and Hypertension in African Descent populations

Hypertension places people at much higher risk of developing heart and kidney diseases. Dr. Damian Cohall and Dr. Nkemcho Ojeh are investigating genetic differences in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, or RAAS, that may predispose people of African descent to hypertension. RAAS is a hormone system that regulates the balance of fluids and electrolytes. The study team is using radioimmunoassay, a technique to determine antibody levels, to analyze RAAS markers in clinical samples. All study participants are recruited from polyclinics in Barbados. The findings will help researchers understand the neuro-hormonal factors that may account for increased cardiovascular illness and death in the African diaspora.

This study was funded through the Yale-TCC pilot project program, which facilitates the translation of precision medicine approaches to real-world settings. Precision medicine is an approach for disease treatment and prevention that takes into account individual variability in genes, environment, and lifestyle for groups of individuals. ECHORN and Yale-TCC support research that utilizes precision medicine to inform the early detection and primary prevention of hypertension and type 2 diabetes in African-descent and Caribbean-descent populations. These projects have clear implications for changes in clinical and public health practice.