Impact of insurance and supply of health professionals on coverage of treatment for hypertension in Mexico: population based study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the independent and combined contributions of insurance status and supply of health professionals on coverage of antihypertensive treatment among adults in Mexico.


METHODS
Population based study.


METHODS
Mexico.


METHODS
4032 hypertensive adults (2967 uninsured and 1065 insured): 1065 uninsured adults matched with 1065 adults insured through Seguro Popular, a programme to expand health insurance coverage to uninsured people in Mexico.


METHODS
Coverage of antihypertensive treatment and coverage of antihypertensive treatment with control of blood pressure.


RESULTS
Rates of treatment for hypertension varied by insurance status and supply of health professionals. Hypertensive adults insured through Seguro Popular had a significantly higher probability of receiving antihypertensive treatment (odds ratio 1.50, 95% confidence interval 1.27 to 1.78) and receiving antihypertensive treatment with control of blood pressure (1.35, 1.00 to 1.82). Greater supply of health professionals in areas with coverage through Seguro Popular was a significant predictor of antihypertensive treatment after adjusting for covariates (1.49, 1.00 to 2.20).


CONCLUSIONS
Expansion of healthcare coverage to uninsured people in Mexico was associated with greater use of antihypertensive treatment and blood pressure control, particularly in areas with a greater supply of health professionals.
Bleich
Sara N
SN
Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. sbleich@jhsph.edu
Cutler
David M
DM
Adams
Alyce S
AS
Lozano
Rafael
R
Murray
Christopher J L
CJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006280:Health Workforce; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000628:therapy*; D007348:Insurance, Health; D008297:Male; D017057:Medically Uninsured; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents