poster abstractThis study seeks to understand the relationship between the physical and social neighborhood
environment and self-reported hypertension status in order to improve the health of Baltimore City
residents. However, the mechanism through which neighborhood disorder is associated with
hypertension is unclear. Self-reported hypertension status and demographic information from 711
Baltimore City heads of households from the Windows to Health survey was combined with
corresponding neighborhood block order/disorder ratings on the presence of violence, alcohol and other
drugs using the Neighborhood Inventory for Environmental Typology (NIfTEy). Regression models were
used to test the relationship between (1) neighborhood disorder and hypertension status, (2)
neighborhood disorder and stress symptoms (tiredness, headache, and trouble concentrating), and (3)
stress symptoms and hypertension status. Results showed a statistically significant association between
neighborhood disorder (violence) and stress symptoms (tiredness) after adjusting for age, sex, race,
employment status, and highest level of education completed (OR 1.35, CI 1.03-1.77). However, there
was no association between neighborhood disorder and hypertension status or stress symptoms and
hypertension status. It is possible stress symptoms could be related to other health outcomes. Given the
shown relationship between neighborhood disorder and stress symptoms, public health practitioners
should design and implement neighborhood level interventions in communities with high levels of disorder
in order to improve the health and well-being of residents
