Ninth International Conference on Health, Wellness & Society

Abstract

Providers at Walltown Clinic in Durham NC noticed they had a disproportionate number of patients with severe hypertension. This study identified predictors of follow-up and blood pressure control in patients with hypertension at Walltown. Using a retrospective chart review, descriptive statistics, multiple and ordinal logistic regression, we determined associations between independent variables with follow-up and blood pressure control. We found that older patients were less likely to display poor follow-up (OR=0.96;95%CI=0.94-0.98). Older patients (OR=0.97;95%CI=0.95-0.99) and female patients (OR=0.61;95%CI=0.40-0.94) were less likely to have uncontrolled blood pressure, while Black patients (OR=2.05;95%CI=1.17-3.60) with poor follow-up (OR=1.56;95%CI=1.03-2.37) were more likely to have uncontrolled blood pressure. In conclusion, one key finding was the correlation between follow-up and blood pressure control, suggesting that targeting appointment adherence could help manage hypertension. Similar to other studies, younger patients were more likely to miss appointments, and younger, male, and Black patients had higher rates of uncontrolled blood pressure, which may call for monitoring of and interventions for these patient groups.