One in three African-Americans has hypertension. The greater rates of severe hypertension among black people mean an 80 percent greater stroke mortality rate, a 50 percent higher heart disease mortality rate, and a 320 percent greater rate of hypertension-related end-stage renal disease than in the general population.

Medical researchers, scientists and physicians attending the 13th Annual International Interdisciplinary Conference on Hypertension in Blacks gather this week to examine strategies to address these alarming statistics. The conference program explores metabolic risk factors and hypertensive cardiovascular Disease and provides scientists and clinicians an opportunity to exchange information on important aspects of epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of metabolic risk factors associated with the syndrome of hypertensive cardiovascular disease.

According to Eddie L. Greene, M.D., scientific co-chair of the meeting and assistant professor of medicine at MUSC, this year’s sessions will propel scientists to increase their efforts to find appropriate solutions for optimal patient health. “We expect that information from this year’s program will set us on the road to immediate action and continued dedication to finding the best therapeutic strategies or approaches to lifestyle modification for all of our patients and especially for those at greater risk of cardiovascular disease.”

During the opening ceremony, Martha N. Hill, Ph.D., immediate past president of the American Heart Association will deliver the keynote address, “Behavior and Biology: The Basic Sciences for Risk Factor Management and Cardiovascular Disease.” U.S. Congressman James Clyburn will deliver greetings and congressional news. Other scientific sessions will be led by internationally recognized medical experts, chosen on the basis of their expertise in hypertension cardiovascular biology, renal diseases, diabetes, obesity and genetics.

In a special press briefing, scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on July 13, the International Society on Hypertension in Blacks will send a call to action to all health care professionals and community lay people to work together to end the higher prevalence of disease among ethnic minority populations. The briefing will also include information on a new study that will, for the first time, determine the effectiveness of two classes of antihypertensive medications—ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers—in hypertensive African-Americans who consume usual amounts of salt and higher amounts of salt and higher amounts of salt in their diets.

The conference is co-sponsored by the not-for-profit international Society on Hypertension in Blacks (ISHIB) and MUSC.

MUSC participants include:

Jan Basile, M.D.; Thaddeus J. Bell, M.D.; Blase Carabello, M.D.; DeAnna E. Cheek, M.D.; Johnnie L.. Early, Ph.D.; James B. Edwards, DMD; Brent M. Egan, M.D.; Timothy W. Garvey, M.D.; Eddie L.. Greene, M.D.; Ian L.. Taylor, Ph.D.