Hypertension control and access to medical care in the inner city.

Abstract

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.