Antonio P Legorreta1, Susan R Schaff, Arthur N Leibowitz, Jeroen van Meijgaard. 1. From the UCLA School of Public Health (Dr Legorreta), Los Angeles; Health Advocate, Inc (Ms Schaff), Westlake Village, Calif; Health Advocate, Inc (Dr Leibowitz), Plymouth Meeting, Pa; and Health Advocate, Inc (Dr van Meijgaard), Westlake Village, Calif.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of workplace screenings on identification, subsequent follow-up, and treatment of patients with undiagnosed hypertension. METHODS: Claims data and screening values for 31,281 individuals from 21 self-insured employer groups were combined with zip code-level information and analyzed using multilevel logit models. RESULTS: Up to 17.6% of individuals without a previous indication of hypertension in the administrative data exhibited high blood pressure (140/90 or greater) at screening. In the month following workplace screening, significant increases were noted, using administrative claims, in the number of new diagnoses for hypertension (odds ratio: 1.81; P < 0.0001) and new prescriptions for antihypertensive drugs (odds ratio: 2.27; P < 0.0001), primarily among individuals with high blood pressure at screening. CONCLUSIONS: Workplace screening programs offer a potential approach to identify undiagnosed hypertension in employees and ensuing therapeutic management.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of workplace screenings on identification, subsequent follow-up, and treatment of patients with undiagnosed hypertension. METHODS: Claims data and screening values for 31,281 individuals from 21 self-insured employer groups were combined with zip code-level information and analyzed using multilevel logit models. RESULTS: Up to 17.6% of individuals without a previous indication of hypertension in the administrative data exhibited high blood pressure (140/90 or greater) at screening. In the month following workplace screening, significant increases were noted, using administrative claims, in the number of new diagnoses for hypertension (odds ratio: 1.81; P < 0.0001) and new prescriptions for antihypertensive drugs (odds ratio: 2.27; P < 0.0001), primarily among individuals with high blood pressure at screening. CONCLUSIONS: Workplace screening programs offer a potential approach to identify undiagnosed hypertension in employees and ensuing therapeutic management.
Authors: Pearl A McElfish; Aaron J Scott; Harish E Chatrathi; Brett Rowland; Christopher R Long; Nirav Nagarsheth; Mikaila Calcagni; Jay Patolia; Lauren K Haggard-Duff; James P Selig Journal: Yale J Biol Med Date: 2021-03-31