Barriers to follow-up of hypertensive patients

Lack of follow-up care for hypertension adversely affects health in urban c ommunities. The authors designed this study to (I) evaluate the effectivene ss of a specialized intervention program for hypertension follow-up and (2) evaluate the associations with loss to follow-up. They evaluated factors r elated to loss to follow-up to either a routine care medical clinic or a sp ecial primary care intervention program (the Competitive initiative Program [CIP]). They also conducted interviews to provide in-depth information on the barriers to this program. They found that patients referred through the CIP were significantly more likely to receive follow-up care through a pri mary care provider. Cost of care, long waiting times, lack of physician con tinuity, and more pressing priorities explained the lack of follow-up care. Despite a program to provide health care at no cost to patients, lack of i nsurance and worries about cost are described as barriers to adequate follo w-up for hypertension treatment.