Why the study?
To demonstrate the application of the Target Study conceptual model to measure racial and ethnic disparities in hypertension treatment intensification consistent with the Institute of Medicine definition.
Are there racial disparities in hypertension treatment intensification between Black and White patients after adjusting for allowable covariates?
Population
Adults with hypertension seen at primary care clinics within a Mid-Atlantic healthcare system
Comparison
Black vs White patients
Design
Target study emulation using electronic medical record data
Key result
Black patients had a lower probability of hypertension treatment intensification than White patients after covariate adjustment (2020 adjusted disparity -3 percentage points; 95% CI -4% to -1%).
Authors
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Clinicians should scrutinize hypertension intensification for racial bias; confirms disparities persist despite adjustment for clinical and access factors.
Observational
Yes
Are there racial disparities in hypertension treatment intensification between Black and White patients after adjusting for allowable covariates?
Effect estimate: Adjusted difference -3 percentage points (for 2020) (95% CI -4%, -1%)
Applying the Target Study conceptual model with inverse probability weighting reveals that Black patients with hypertension experience consistently lower rates of treatment intensification compared to White patients after adjusting for clinical needs and access factors.
Meche et al. (2026) conducted an observational in Hypertension. Black patients vs. White patients was evaluated on Probability of treatment intensification (Adjusted difference -3 percentage points (for 2020), 95% CI -4%, -1%). Black patients had a lower probability of hypertension treatment intensification than White patients after covariate adjustment (2020 adjusted disparity -3 percentage points; 95% CI -4% to -1%).