AUTHOR=Lee Woo-Ri , Koo Jun Hyuk , Jeong Ji Yun , Kim Min Su , Yoo Ki-Bong 

TITLE=Regional Health Disparities in Hypertension-Related Hospitalization of Hypertensive Patients: A Nationwide Population-Based Nested Case-Control Study

JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 68 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2023.1605495

DOI=10.3389/ijph.2023.1605495

ISSN=1661-8564

ABSTRACT=Objective: To confirm the regional disparities in hypertension-related hospitalization of hypertensive patients according to degree of continuity of care (COC)
Methods: We used the National Health Insurance Service National Sample Cohort data from 2002 to 2019. The dependent variable, hypertension-related hospitalization, included hospitalization for hypertensive diseases (I10–I13, I15), ischemic heart disease (I20–I25), and cerebrovascular disease (I60–I69). Nested case-control matching was performed according to age, sex, and income level. We compared hypertension-related hospitalization rates in urban and rural areas by classifying them according to the degree of COC and analyzed them using conditional logistic regression suitable for matched data.
Results: The odds of hypertension-related hospitalization of hypertensive patients were higher in the rural areas than in the urban areas; however, as the COC increased, the difference decreased. There was no change in the results according to the COC observation period.
Conclusion: Concerted efforts are needed to address regional health disparities through COC at the individual level, policy and institutional efforts at the national level, and active patient management and improved quality of care at the healthcare provider level.