The determinants of hypertension awareness, treatment, and control in an insured population.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to identify the determinants of awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in a population with full access to medical care.


METHODS
Unionized New York City health care workers (n = 1394) with comprehensive medical insurance were screened for hypertension. Union records documenting all physician visits and prescription medications for the year before screening provided the opportunity to relate patterns of treatment to blood pressure outcomes.


RESULTS
Of the 409 employees found to have hypertension, 289 (71%) were aware of their condition and 201 (49%) had been treated, but only 51 (12%) had their blood pressure controlled at the recommended level (< 140/90 mm Hg). In a logistic regression model, the only variable of treatment associated with control was days of antihypertensive medication. The total number of physician visits was not associated with control.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings demonstrate that in conventional community settings, even in the absence of financial barriers, treatment for hypertension continues to be characterized by poor outcomes. Improving access to primary care, without changes in the nature of that care, may not substantially improve blood pressure control.
Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461.
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Stockwell
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Madhavan
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Cohen
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Gibson
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Alderman
D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D007348:Insurance, Health; D007750:Labor Unions; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents