For Providers
Health Insurance Affects Diagnosis and Control of Hypercholesterolemia and Hypertension
Lack of health insurance coverage is associated with poorer rates of diagnosis and control of hypercholesterolemia and hypertension among US adults ages 20-64 with those conditions. Uninsured individuals with these conditions were almost twice as likely to be undiagnosed as those who had private or public health coverage.
Hypercholesterolemia and hypertension were uncontrolled in more than one-half of adults with each condition, regardless of health coverage, even though therapies are available to control the conditions. The higher percentage of adults with uncontrolled conditions among the uninsured are explained in large part by the higher percentages of undiagnosed conditions among the uninsured.
This association of health insurance coverage with diagnosis and control of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia highlights the importance of encouraging eligible, but unenrolled individuals to apply for publicly funded health coverage.
Source: CDC databrief January 2011, NHANES data from 2005-2008