Understanding how neighborhood factors affect high blood pressure in African Americans

Leveraging Spatial Epidemiology to Reduce Hypertension Disparities

NIH-funded research University of Southern California · NIH-10895508

This study looks at how the neighborhoods we live in can affect high blood pressure, especially for African Americans, and aims to find out how things like access to healthy food and healthcare can help improve health in these communities.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Southern California NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-10895508 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the impact of neighborhood characteristics on hypertension, particularly among African Americans, who experience higher rates of this condition. By analyzing detailed spatial data, the study aims to uncover how socioeconomic factors and access to resources like healthy food and healthcare contribute to disparities in hypertension diagnosis and treatment. The research will utilize spatial social polarization indices to measure the distribution of privilege and deprivation in various neighborhoods, providing insights into how these factors influence health outcomes. Ultimately, the goal is to identify specific area-level factors that can be targeted to reduce hypertension disparities.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are African American adults living in areas with varying levels of socioeconomic resources and health access.

Not a fit: Patients outside the African American demographic or those living in areas with uniform access to healthcare and resources may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to targeted interventions that improve hypertension management and outcomes for African American communities.

How similar studies have performed: While research on hypertension disparities exists, this approach using spatial social polarization indices is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.

Where this research is happening

Los Angeles, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.