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Top US Hypertension Hot Spots Ranking

A national analysis conducted by Sperling’s BestPlaces identifies the nation’s Hypertension Hot Spots, or cities that face the most challenges due to hypertension risk factors and complications. The study ranks the 50 largest metro areas in the United States, which are home to over 50% of the nation’s population.

The Hypertension Hot Spots were identified as a way to educate Americans about the high prevalence of hypertension and the risk factors associated with it. Criteria used to determine the Hot Spots included prevalence rates of hypertension and hypertension prescriptions per capita, as well as the prevalence of several lifestyle factors that may lead to the development of hypertension.

In the rankings below, Memphis, TN is the city most challenged by hypertension risk factors and complications, and San Francisco’s population is least challenged by hypertension.

1. Memphis, TN-MS-AR
2. Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn, MI
3. Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
4. Birmingham-Hoover, AL
5. Dayton, OH
6. Pittsburgh, PA
7. Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY
8. St. Louis, MO-IL
9. Oklahoma City, OK
10. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
11. Indianapolis-Carmel, IN
12. Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro, TN
13. New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, LA
14. Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, OH
15. Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI
16. Columbus, OH
17. Cincinnati-Middletown, OH-KY-IN
18. Jacksonville, FL
19. Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
20. Columbia, SC
21. Philadelphia, PA
22. Baltimore-Towson, MD
23. Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, NC-SC
24. Providence-New Bedford-Fall River, RI-MA
25. Richmond, VA
26. Las Vegas-Paradise, NV
27. Rochester, NY
28. San Antonio, TX
29. Orlando-Kissimmee, FL
30. Kansas City, MO-KS
31. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA
32. Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX
33. Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
34. Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX
35. Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FL
36. Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, IL
37. Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton, OR-WA
38. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
39. Sacramento--Arden-Arcade--Roseville, CA
40. Austin-Round Rock, TX
41. Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA
42. New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ
43. Boston-Quincy, MA
44. San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA
45. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
46. Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, CA
47. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA
48. Denver-Aurora, CO
49. Salt Lake City, UT
50. San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA

 

About the Hypertension Hot Spots Analysis

The analysis was conducted by Sperling’s BestPlaces during the month of April 2011 for Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc. The goal of the study was to find the metropolitan areas in the United States that face the most challenges due to hypertension risk factors and complications. To find the places in the United States that are most challenged by hypertension, a large-scale analysis, which combined the findings of original research and existing, related research in the field of the study, was performed. The study compiled and analyzed data for the 50 largest U.S. metropolitan areas. To determine these Hypertension Hot Spots, Sperling’s BestPlaces analyzed data about the following factors: self-reported diagnoses of hypertension, self-reported diagnoses of high cholesterol, self-reported diagnoses of cardiovascular disease, doctor diagnoses of hypertension (per capita), prescriptions of hypertension-control medication (per capita), mortality relating to hypertension, average Body Mass Index (BMI), obesity rate, smoking incidence and lack of exercise. The data came from the following sources: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, The CDC Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER) database, The Gallup/Healthways Well-Being poll and ESRI data derived from the Doublebase Consumer Survey performed by Mediamark Research Inc. The analysis weighed the study’s categories by assigning each a magnitude of importance based upon the focus of the study; some categories offered more insight into the prevalence of hypertension. All data was adjusted by the current population to arrive at “per capita” figures to provide an accurate comparison between cities of varying sizes.

About Bert Sperling

For more than twenty years, Bert Sperling has been helping people find their own Best Places to live, work, play and retire. As the foremost creator of these studies, his work appears in the national media nearly every month. Annually, his “Healthiest Cities for Women” study is featured in SELF magazine. Other health-related projects include “Migraine Hot Spots,” “Asthma Hot Spots,” “Best Cities for Sleep,” “America’s Healthiest Cities,” “Best and Worst Cities for Skin Care” and “Most Visually Inspiring Places in America.” Sperling’s information is available on the website, www.bestplaces.net.

 

 

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