Abstract 11719: “I Have to Live Like I’m Old” - Young Adults’ Perspectives on Managing Hypertension: A Multi-Center Qualitative Study

Introduction: In the U.S., young adults (18-39 year-olds) have the lowest hypertension control rates among hypertensive adults. The objectives of this multi-center study were to explore young adults’: 1) experiences receiving a hypertension diagnosis, 2) attitudes and beliefs about self-management and antihypertensive medication, and 3) opinions about their healthcare system’s hypertension education materials. Methods: Young adults (18-39 year-olds) with a known diagnosis of hypertension were recruited by the Wisconsin Research and Education Network. Two focus groups (one per age range: 18-29 years, 30-39 years) were conducted in three Midwestern practices (academic, rural, and urban clinics). Content analysis was performed. Results: In total, 35 young adults (mean: 30 [5.2] years old, 65% female, 47% Black, 45% with at least 1 year of college) identified barriers to managing hypertension. Emergent themes overlapped across ages and geographic regions. A majority of respondents were surprised and angry abo...