Screening for undiagnosed hypertension in the developmentally disabled

The purpose of this study was to measure blood pressure in a group of adults with a developmental disability (DD) who live in Southeastern Ontario. The purpose of this screen was twofold: (1) to estimate the rate of hypertension among persons with DD; and (2) to determine if a difference exists in the rate of undiagnosed hypertension between the DD group and a comparison group consisting of staff from agencies serving the DD group screened.;Blood pressure screening was completed on 220 adults with DD and 80 non-DD adults employed by the agencies serving the DD. Demographic and health information was collected on the adults with DD in an effort to explain hypertension in this group of adults.;Defining hypertension as diastolic blood pressure greater than 90 mmHg and/or the use of anti-hypertensive medication revealed a rate of hypertension in the DD of 13.6% and of 15% in the comparison group. This difference was not statistically significant.;When stratified by gender, however, there was a statistically significant difference in the rate of hypertension. The rate in the DD males (12.9%) was significantly lower than that of the non-DD males (30.4%). There was no significant difference in the rate of hypertension in the DD females (14.8%) and in females without DD (8.8%).;Older age was significantly associated with hypertension in this group of adults with DD When stratified by gender, use of anti-convulsant and anti-Parkinson's medication was significantly associated with hypertension in males. In females, use of anti-depressant and hormonal medication was also significantly associated with hypertension.;The rate of undiagnosed hypertension in this group of adults with DD (43.3%) is significantly different from the rate in the non-DD adults (8.3%). Male gender is significantly associated with undiagnosed hypertension in this group of adults with DD.;The results of this study suggest that screening for hypertension is beneficial for adults with a developmental disability.