Background: The rate of hypertension hospitalizations is increasing among US adults. Individuals with low socioeconomic position are more likely to have high blood pressure (BP), which may increase their risk of hypertension hospitalization and adverse post-discharge outcomes.

Methods: We analyzed data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) cohort study, which enrolled 5,115 adults aged 18 to 30 years from 4 urban US communities in 1985-1986. Hospitalizations were identified by self-report during study exams and annual interviews, with hypertension hospitalizations determined through medical record review, through August 2020. Socioeconomic position included education, family income, having private health insurance, and neighborhood deprivation assessed at the last study visit prior to the hypertension hospitalization. Uncontrolled BP (≥140/90 mmHg) was determined at the first CARDIA study visit after hypertension hospitalization.

Results: Overall, 67 CARDIA participants were hospitalized for hypertension. The hazard ratio of hypertension hospitalization among participants who had less than high school versus high school or more education was 3.12 [95%CI: 1.78, 5.48], whose family income was <$25,000 versus ≥$25,000 was 2.43 [95%CI: 1.44, 4.11], who had no private versus private insurance was 2.58 [95%CI: 1.56, 4.28] and those in tertile 3 versus tertile 1 of neighborhood deprivation index (most versus least deprived) was 3.06 [95%CI: 1.23, 7.58]. Among 46 participants who attended a CARDIA study visit following hospital discharge, 23 (50%) had uncontrolled BP.

Conclusion: Adults with low socioeconomic position were more likely to be hospitalized for hypertension. Uncontrolled BP was common following hypertension hospitalization.