Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study Evaluating Follow-Up Care Visits and Pharmacological Therapy of Individuals with Type II Diabetes and Hypertension in an Urban Community Health Center

Phyllis Haugabook Pennock, Western Michigan University

Abstract

Type II diabetes (T2DM) is a chronic illness that affects more than 23.2 million people in the United States, including 750,000 residents in Michigan. Hypertension is a co-morbidity of T2DM. Those with both T2DM and hypertension have increased health risks. African-Americans face health disparities compared to whites and are more likely to have life-threatening illnesses from both diseases. This study used a retrospective analysis of medical records to assess follow-up care visits, including the pharmacological therapy of T2DM and hypertension, in an urban health care center of both white and African-American patients using the American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines as a template. The majority of patients did not exhibit glycemic and hypertensive control at the end of the study period (A1c = 8.13% and 77.1% ≥130/≥80, 54.3% ≥140/≥90). Inconsistent with national norms, 58% of African-Americans had A1c levels <7.0% compared to 40% of whites. Forty and 60 percent of whites achieved blood pressure control at the 130/80 and 140/90 cut-off values compared to 13% and 40% of African-Americans, respectively, which was comparable to other studies. Overall, African-Americans attended follow-up visits in a similar frequency to whites according to ADA guidelines. (54% vs. 50%, p=.643). Providers followed the ADA treatment algorithm for T2DM in 55% of visits with A1c measured. Anti-hypertensive medications prescribed fell in line with other studies.