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Hypertension control and access to medical care in the inner city
J M Kotchen1, B Shakoor-Abdullah, W E Walker
1Division of Epidemiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226, USA. jkotchen@post.its.mcw.edu
Insights
Hypertension control is poor in high-risk African Americans, with 74% of those with high blood pressure not achieving control despite frequent physician visits. Efforts must improve healthcare delivery effectiveness for better hypertension management.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Cardiovascular Health
- Health Disparities
Background:
- Hypertension is a major public health concern, particularly in African American communities.
- Effective hypertension management is crucial for preventing cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the level of hypertension control among high-risk African Americans.
- To identify factors associated with hypertension control in this population.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 583 African Americans aged 18+.
- Participants were recruited from 438 randomly selected inner-city households.
Main Results:
- 42% of respondents had hypertension.
- 74% of hypertensive individuals had uncontrolled blood pressure.
- Hypertension control was linked to female gender and higher socioeconomic status, not healthcare source.
Conclusions:
- Hypertension control is inadequate in this high-risk African American population.
- Frequent healthcare utilization does not guarantee adequate hypertension control.
- Improving the effectiveness of healthcare delivery is essential for better hypertension management.
Objectives:
This study assessed hypertension control among high-risk African Americans.
Methods:
We interviewed 583 African Americans aged 18 years and older residing in 438 randomly selected inner-city households.
Results:
Forty-two percent of the respondents were hypertensive. Blood pressure was uncontrolled in 74% of hypertensive persons, although 64% of hypertensive persons reported having seen a physician within the previous 3 months. Hypertension control was associated with female gender and higher socioeconomic strata but not with public versus private sources of medical care.
Conclusions:
Hypertension control is inadequate in this population, although health care services are used frequently. Hypertension control efforts should focus on the effectiveness of health care delivery.