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Jianmin Xu - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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national hospital ambulatory medical care survey 2006 Outpatient Department summary
2013Co-Authors: Esther Hing, Margaret J Hall, Jianmin XuAbstract:OBJECTIVES: This report describes ambulatory care visits to hospital Outpatient Departments (OPDs) in the United States. Statistics are presented on selected hospital, patient, and visit characteristics. Selected trends in OPD utilization from 1996 through 2006, as well as items new to the 2006 survey, are also presented. METHODS: The data presented in this report were collected in the 2006 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS), a national probability sample survey of visits to emergency Departments (EDs) and OPDs of nonfederal short-stay and general hospitals in the United States. Sample data were weighted to produce annual national estimates. RESULTS: During 2006, an estimated 102.2 million visits were made to hospital OPDs in the United States, about 34.7 visits per 100 persons. Females had higher OPD visit rates (41.2 per 100 persons) than males (28.0 visits per 100 persons). Black or African-American persons had higher OPD visit rates (63.5 visits per 100 persons) than white persons (31.3 visits per 100 persons). Visit rates to OPD clinics for preventive care were highest for children under 1 year of age (43.2 visits per 100 persons). About one-third of OPD visits (31.1%) were made by patients relying on Medicaid or the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The preventive care visit rate for Medicaid or SCHIP patients (23.3 visits per 100 persons) was almost four or more times higher than for patients using other payment sources (3.5 to 6.0 visits per 100 persons). For the first time since the survey began in 1992, diabetes mellitus was the leading primary diagnosis at OPD visits, ahead of essential hypertension. About one-half of OPD visits (51.4%) were made by patients with one or more comorbid chronic conditions. From 1996-2006, the percentage of visits made by adults aged 18 years and over with chronic diabetes increased by 43%, and visits among adults with hypertension as a chronic condition increased by 51%.
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national hospital ambulatory medical care survey 2007 Outpatient Department summary
National health statistics reports, 2010Co-Authors: Esther Hing, Margaret J Hall, Jill J Ashman, Jianmin XuAbstract:OBJECTIVES: This report describes ambulatory care visits to hospital Outpatient Departments (OPDs) in the United States. Statistics are presented on selected hospital, patient, and visit characteristics. Selected trends in OPD utilization from 1997 through 2007, as well as items new to the 2007 survey, are presented. METHODS: The data presented in this report were collected in the 2007 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, a national probability sample survey of visits to emergency Departments and OPDs of nonfederal short-stay and general hospitals in the United States. Sample data were weighted to produce annual national estimates. RESULTS: During 2007, an estimated 88.9 million visits were made to hospital OPDs in the United States: about 30.0 visits per 100 persons. Females (36.7 per 100 persons) had higher OPD visit rates than males (23.0 visits per 100 persons). Black or African-American persons (58.4 visits per 100 persons) had higher OPD visit rates than white persons (26.5 visits per 100 persons). Visit rates to OPD clinics for preventive care were highest for children under 1 year of age (39.4 per 100 persons). About a third of all OPD visits (33.2%) were made by patients having Medicaid or the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) as an expected source of payment. Medicaid or SCHIP was the source of payment for more than half (56.3%) of OPD visits made by children under age 18. The rate of preventive care visits for patients with Medicaid or SCHIP as an expected source of payment (23.1 per 100 persons) was at least four times higher than for patients having other payment sources (3.3-4.9 per 100 persons). About 82.9% of visits were made by established patients and 17.1% were made by new patients. In 2007, visits to OPDs by new and established patients averaged 5.9 visits during the past 12 months. Essential hypertension was the leading primary diagnosis at OPD visits. Moderate to severe blood pressure elevations were seen more frequently in visits by non-Hispanic or non-Latino patients than Hispanic patients and in visits by black patients compared with white patients.
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national hospital ambulatory medical care survey 2005 Outpatient Department summary
Advance data, 2007Co-Authors: Kimberly R Middleton, Esther Hing, Jianmin XuAbstract:OBJECTIVES: This report describes ambulatory care visits to hospital Outpatient Departments (OPDs) in the United States. Statistics are presented on selected hospital, patient, and visit characteristics. Selected trends in OPD utilization from 1995 to 2005 are also presented. METHODS: The data presented in this report were collected in the 2005 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS), a national probability sample survey of visits to emergency and OPDs of nonfederal, short-stay, and general hospitals in the United States. Sample data are weighted to produce annual national estimates. RESULTS: During 2005, an estimated 90.4 million visits were made to hospital OPDs in the United States, about 31.0 visits per 100 persons. Females (37.2 per 100 persons) had higher OPD visit rates than males (24.7 visits per 100 persons), and black or African-American persons (56.8 visits per 100 persons) had higher OPD visit rates than white persons (28.3 visits per 100 persons). Visit rates to OPD clinics for preventive care were highest for children under 1 year of age (43.1 per 100 persons). Almost one-half of OPD visits (46.1 percent) were made by patients with one or more chronic conditions. Hypertension was the most frequent chronic condition listed (19.7 percent). Visits with asthma declined with increasing age. From 1995 to 2005, the following visit characteristics changed: The visit rate for children under 15 years of age increased by 38%, the percentage of visits made by adults 18 years and over with depression indicated on the medical record increased by 48%; visits by adults with obesity, diabetes, and hypertension increased by 24%, 34%, and 43%, respectively; visits with counseling for tobacco use increased from 2.7 to 3.8 percent; visits with counseling for diet and nutrition increased from 9.4 to 15.7 percent; and visits with 6 or more medications prescribed or provided more than doubled, from 4.9 to 11.2 percent.
Esther Hing - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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national hospital ambulatory medical care survey 2006 Outpatient Department summary
2013Co-Authors: Esther Hing, Margaret J Hall, Jianmin XuAbstract:OBJECTIVES: This report describes ambulatory care visits to hospital Outpatient Departments (OPDs) in the United States. Statistics are presented on selected hospital, patient, and visit characteristics. Selected trends in OPD utilization from 1996 through 2006, as well as items new to the 2006 survey, are also presented. METHODS: The data presented in this report were collected in the 2006 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS), a national probability sample survey of visits to emergency Departments (EDs) and OPDs of nonfederal short-stay and general hospitals in the United States. Sample data were weighted to produce annual national estimates. RESULTS: During 2006, an estimated 102.2 million visits were made to hospital OPDs in the United States, about 34.7 visits per 100 persons. Females had higher OPD visit rates (41.2 per 100 persons) than males (28.0 visits per 100 persons). Black or African-American persons had higher OPD visit rates (63.5 visits per 100 persons) than white persons (31.3 visits per 100 persons). Visit rates to OPD clinics for preventive care were highest for children under 1 year of age (43.2 visits per 100 persons). About one-third of OPD visits (31.1%) were made by patients relying on Medicaid or the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The preventive care visit rate for Medicaid or SCHIP patients (23.3 visits per 100 persons) was almost four or more times higher than for patients using other payment sources (3.5 to 6.0 visits per 100 persons). For the first time since the survey began in 1992, diabetes mellitus was the leading primary diagnosis at OPD visits, ahead of essential hypertension. About one-half of OPD visits (51.4%) were made by patients with one or more comorbid chronic conditions. From 1996-2006, the percentage of visits made by adults aged 18 years and over with chronic diabetes increased by 43%, and visits among adults with hypertension as a chronic condition increased by 51%.
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national hospital ambulatory medical care survey 2007 Outpatient Department summary
National health statistics reports, 2010Co-Authors: Esther Hing, Margaret J Hall, Jill J Ashman, Jianmin XuAbstract:OBJECTIVES: This report describes ambulatory care visits to hospital Outpatient Departments (OPDs) in the United States. Statistics are presented on selected hospital, patient, and visit characteristics. Selected trends in OPD utilization from 1997 through 2007, as well as items new to the 2007 survey, are presented. METHODS: The data presented in this report were collected in the 2007 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, a national probability sample survey of visits to emergency Departments and OPDs of nonfederal short-stay and general hospitals in the United States. Sample data were weighted to produce annual national estimates. RESULTS: During 2007, an estimated 88.9 million visits were made to hospital OPDs in the United States: about 30.0 visits per 100 persons. Females (36.7 per 100 persons) had higher OPD visit rates than males (23.0 visits per 100 persons). Black or African-American persons (58.4 visits per 100 persons) had higher OPD visit rates than white persons (26.5 visits per 100 persons). Visit rates to OPD clinics for preventive care were highest for children under 1 year of age (39.4 per 100 persons). About a third of all OPD visits (33.2%) were made by patients having Medicaid or the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) as an expected source of payment. Medicaid or SCHIP was the source of payment for more than half (56.3%) of OPD visits made by children under age 18. The rate of preventive care visits for patients with Medicaid or SCHIP as an expected source of payment (23.1 per 100 persons) was at least four times higher than for patients having other payment sources (3.3-4.9 per 100 persons). About 82.9% of visits were made by established patients and 17.1% were made by new patients. In 2007, visits to OPDs by new and established patients averaged 5.9 visits during the past 12 months. Essential hypertension was the leading primary diagnosis at OPD visits. Moderate to severe blood pressure elevations were seen more frequently in visits by non-Hispanic or non-Latino patients than Hispanic patients and in visits by black patients compared with white patients.
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national hospital ambulatory medical care survey 2005 Outpatient Department summary
Advance data, 2007Co-Authors: Kimberly R Middleton, Esther Hing, Jianmin XuAbstract:OBJECTIVES: This report describes ambulatory care visits to hospital Outpatient Departments (OPDs) in the United States. Statistics are presented on selected hospital, patient, and visit characteristics. Selected trends in OPD utilization from 1995 to 2005 are also presented. METHODS: The data presented in this report were collected in the 2005 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS), a national probability sample survey of visits to emergency and OPDs of nonfederal, short-stay, and general hospitals in the United States. Sample data are weighted to produce annual national estimates. RESULTS: During 2005, an estimated 90.4 million visits were made to hospital OPDs in the United States, about 31.0 visits per 100 persons. Females (37.2 per 100 persons) had higher OPD visit rates than males (24.7 visits per 100 persons), and black or African-American persons (56.8 visits per 100 persons) had higher OPD visit rates than white persons (28.3 visits per 100 persons). Visit rates to OPD clinics for preventive care were highest for children under 1 year of age (43.1 per 100 persons). Almost one-half of OPD visits (46.1 percent) were made by patients with one or more chronic conditions. Hypertension was the most frequent chronic condition listed (19.7 percent). Visits with asthma declined with increasing age. From 1995 to 2005, the following visit characteristics changed: The visit rate for children under 15 years of age increased by 38%, the percentage of visits made by adults 18 years and over with depression indicated on the medical record increased by 48%; visits by adults with obesity, diabetes, and hypertension increased by 24%, 34%, and 43%, respectively; visits with counseling for tobacco use increased from 2.7 to 3.8 percent; visits with counseling for diet and nutrition increased from 9.4 to 15.7 percent; and visits with 6 or more medications prescribed or provided more than doubled, from 4.9 to 11.2 percent.
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national hospital ambulatory medical care survey 2004 Outpatient Department summary
Advance data, 2006Co-Authors: Kimberly R Middleton, Esther HingAbstract:OBJECTIVES: This report describes ambulatory care visits to hospital OPDs in the United States. Statistics are presented on selected hospital, patient, and visit characteristics. Selected trends in OPD utilization from 1994 through 2004 are also presented. METHODS: The data presented in this report were collected in the 2004 NHAMCS, a national probability sample survey of visits to emergency and Outpatient Departments of nonfederal, short-stay, and general hospitals in the United States. Selected comparisons are also made with data from the 2004 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS), a national probability sample survey of visits to office-based physicians in the United States. Sample data are weighted to produce annual national estimates. RESULTS: During 2004, an estimated 85.0 million visits were made to hospital OPDs in the United States, about 29.5 visits per 100 persons. Females (35.1 per 100 persons) had higher OPD visit rates than males (23.6 per 100 persons), and black or African American persons (50.3 per 100 persons) had higher OPD visit rates than white persons (27.0 visits per 100 persons). The overwhelming majority of visits to hospital OPDs were made by established patients (85.4 percent). Females made 75.5 percent of preventive care visits. The preventive care visit rate by Hispanic or Latino patients was twice the rate of non-Hispanic patients. Diagnostic and screening services were ordered at 90.3 percent of visits, therapeutic and preventive services were ordered at 50.0 percent of visits, and medications were ordered at 67.4 percent of visits. The proportion of visits involving only midlevel providers increased from 5.9 in 1993-94 to 11.4 percent of visits in 2003-04.
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national hospital ambulatory medical care survey 2003 Outpatient Department summary
Advance data, 2005Co-Authors: Kimberly R Middleton, Esther HingAbstract:OBJECTIVES: This report describes ambulatory care visits to hospital Outpatient Departments (OPDs) in the United States. Statistics are shown on selected hospital, clinic, patient, and visit characteristics, as well as selected trends in OPD visits since 1993. The report highlights variation in use across the major types of OPD clinics surveyed. METHODS: The data shown in this report were collected from the 2003 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS). NHAMCS is a national probability sample survey of visits to emergency and Outpatient Departments of non-Federal, short stay, and general hospitals in the United States. Sample data are weighted to produce annual national estimates. RESULTS: During 2003, an estimated 94.6 million visits were made to hospital OPDs in the United States, about 33.1 visits per 100 persons. This rate represents a 35-percent increase since 1993, although rates have been stable since 1999. Infants under 12 months of age had a visit rate of 88.7 visits per 100 persons, a rate that increased by 23 percent since 1993. Increasing trends in OPD visit rates were found for persons 50-64 years of age (up by 30 percent), 13-21 years of age (up by 32 percent), 22-49 years of age (up by 34 percent), and 1-12 years of age (up by 71 percent). Females had higher OPD visit rates than males (39.6 compared with 26.4 visits per 100 persons), and black or African American persons had higher OPD visit rates than white persons (59.7 compared with 29.9 visits per 100 persons). Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program patients used OPDs for preventive care services more frequently than private pay patients. The preventive care visit rate by Hispanic and Latino patients was twice the rate by non-Hispanic patients. Diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DTaP) was the most frequently provided vaccine to children under age 18 years. Between 1993-94 and 2003, the proportion of visits involving only mid-level providers increased from 5.9 to 12.6 percent of visits.
Beth S Sutton - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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statin prescribing patterns an analysis of data from patients with diabetes in the national hospital ambulatory medical care survey Outpatient Department and national ambulatory medical care survey databases 2005 2010
Clinical Therapeutics, 2015Co-Authors: Brandy R Pauff, Michael R Jiroutek, Melissa A Holland, Beth S SuttonAbstract:Abstract Purpose In 2008, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommended that patients aged >40 years with diabetes and cardiovascular disease or with ≥1 cardiovascular disease risk factor be prescribed a statin. This study assessed statin prescribing patterns in patients with diabetes, per the ADA guideline, using data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey–Outpatient Department for the years 2005 to 2010. This study also examined patients' demographic characteristics associated with statin prescribing, including sex, age, ethnicity, race, insurance type, body mass index, region, primary care provider, hypertension and hyperlipidemia. Methods This retrospective, cross-sectional, observational study included data dated between 2005 and 2010 from patients aged ≥18 years with diabetes and without contraindications to statin use. Associations between statin prescribing and variables of interest were analyzed using χ 2 tests. A multivariate logistic regression model included 2 groups stratified by 3-year observation period (2005–2007 and 2008–2010) plus all variables with an overall χ 2 test result of P P values, odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs are reported. Findings The majority of patients were aged ≥40 years (93.1%), had a body mass index of ≥30 (58.7%), had hypertension (65.6%), and did not have hyperlipidemia (54.0%). A low percentage of patients were prescribed a statin (35.1%), but it appears that this percentage is on the rise. During 2005–2007, 31.9% of patients received a statin, whereas 37.7% of patients received a statin during 2008–2010. After adjustment for covariates included in the multivariate logistic regression model, those with hypertension (vs none [reference]: OR=1.31; 95% CI, 1.12–1.53) and/or hyperlipidemia (vs none [reference]: OR=4.44; 95% CI, 3.70–5.33) were significantly more likely to have been prescribed a statin, whereas those in age group 18– Implications Despite the call in the latest ADA recommendations for prescribing statins in many diabetic patients, an unexpectedly low percentage of patients were receiving them. Health disparities in age and ethnicity were also evident. The findings from this study highlight the need for further research into low statin prescribing rates.
Linda F Mccaig - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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national hospital ambulatory medical care survey 2000 Outpatient Department summary
Advance data, 2002Co-Authors: Nghi Ly, Linda F MccaigAbstract:OBJECTIVES: This report describes ambulatory care visits to hospital Outpatient Departments (OPDs) in the United States. Statistics are presented on selected hospital, clinic, patient, and visit characteristics. Highlights of trends in OPD utilization from 1997 through 2000 are also presented. METHODS: The data presented in this report were collected from the 2000 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS). NHAMCS is part of the ambulatory care component of the National Health Care Survey that measures health care utilization across various types of providers. NHAMCS is a national probability sample survey of visits to emergency and Outpatient Departments of non-Federal, short-stay, and general hospitals in the United States. Sample data are weighted to produce annual national estimates. Trends are based on NHAMCS data from 1997 through 2000. RESULTS: During 2000, an estimated 83.3 million visits were made to hospital OPDs in the United States, about 30.4 visits per 100 persons. Females had higher OPD visit rates than males (35.3 versus 25.2 visits per 100 persons). The OPD utilization rate for black persons was higher than for white persons (48.3 versus 28.0 visits per 100 persons). Of all visits made to hospital OPDs in 2000, private insurance (38.5 percent), Medicaid (22.1 percent), and Medicare (16.9 percent) were listed as the leading primary expected source of payment. Approximately 21 percent of OPD visits reported that patients belonged to an HMO. There were an estimated 9.5 million injury-related OPD visits in 2000. Since 1997, the percent of OPD visits that were for injuries increased by 24% (from 9.2 percent to 1.4 percent). Most of these visits were for unintentional injuries (57.6 percent), including those caused by falls (12.9 percent). Medications were prescribed at 64.0 percent of visits. On average, 1.6 medications were ordered at each OPD visit. In 2000, patients saw one or more physicians (i.e., staff physician, resident/intern, or other physician) at approximately 79 percent of visits. Most patients were given an appointment to return to the clinic (57.2 percent).
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national hospital ambulatory medical care survey 2000 Outpatient Department summary
Advance data, 2002Co-Authors: Linda F MccaigAbstract:OBJECTIVES This report describes ambulatory care visits to hospital Outpatient Departments (OPDs) in the United States. Statistics are presented on selected hospital, clinic, patient, and visit characteristics. Highlights of trends in OPD utilization from 1997 through 2000 are also presented. METHODS The data presented in this report were collected from the 2000 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS). NHAMCS is part of the ambulatory care component of the National Health Care Survey that measures health care utilization across various types of providers. NHAMCS is a national probability sample survey of visits to emergency and Outpatient Departments of non-Federal, short-stay, and general hospitals in the United States. Sample data are weighted to produce annual national estimates. Trends are based on NHAMCS data from 1997 through 2000. RESULTS During 2000, an estimated 83.3 million visits were made to hospital OPDs in the United States, about 30.4 visits per 100 persons. Females had higher OPD visit rates than males (35.3 versus 25.2 visits per 100 persons). The OPD utilization rate for black persons was higher than for white persons (48.3 versus 28.0 visits per 100 persons). Of all visits made to hospital OPDs in 2000, private insurance (38.5 percent), Medicaid (22.1 percent), and Medicare (16.9 percent) were listed as the leading primary expected source of payment. Approximately 21 percent of OPD visits reported that patients belonged to an HMO. There were an estimated 9.5 million injury-related OPD visits in 2000. Since 1997, the percent of OPD visits that were for injuries increased by 24% (from 9.2 percent to 1.4 percent). Most of these visits were for unintentional injuries (57.6 percent), including those caused by falls (12.9 percent). Medications were prescribed at 64.0 percent of visits. On average, 1.6 medications were ordered at each OPD visit. In 2000, patients saw one or more physicians (i.e., staff physician, resident/intern, or other physician) at approximately 79 percent of visits. Most patients were given an appointment to return to the clinic (57.2 percent).
Margaret J Hall - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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national hospital ambulatory medical care survey 2006 Outpatient Department summary
2013Co-Authors: Esther Hing, Margaret J Hall, Jianmin XuAbstract:OBJECTIVES: This report describes ambulatory care visits to hospital Outpatient Departments (OPDs) in the United States. Statistics are presented on selected hospital, patient, and visit characteristics. Selected trends in OPD utilization from 1996 through 2006, as well as items new to the 2006 survey, are also presented. METHODS: The data presented in this report were collected in the 2006 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS), a national probability sample survey of visits to emergency Departments (EDs) and OPDs of nonfederal short-stay and general hospitals in the United States. Sample data were weighted to produce annual national estimates. RESULTS: During 2006, an estimated 102.2 million visits were made to hospital OPDs in the United States, about 34.7 visits per 100 persons. Females had higher OPD visit rates (41.2 per 100 persons) than males (28.0 visits per 100 persons). Black or African-American persons had higher OPD visit rates (63.5 visits per 100 persons) than white persons (31.3 visits per 100 persons). Visit rates to OPD clinics for preventive care were highest for children under 1 year of age (43.2 visits per 100 persons). About one-third of OPD visits (31.1%) were made by patients relying on Medicaid or the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The preventive care visit rate for Medicaid or SCHIP patients (23.3 visits per 100 persons) was almost four or more times higher than for patients using other payment sources (3.5 to 6.0 visits per 100 persons). For the first time since the survey began in 1992, diabetes mellitus was the leading primary diagnosis at OPD visits, ahead of essential hypertension. About one-half of OPD visits (51.4%) were made by patients with one or more comorbid chronic conditions. From 1996-2006, the percentage of visits made by adults aged 18 years and over with chronic diabetes increased by 43%, and visits among adults with hypertension as a chronic condition increased by 51%.
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national hospital ambulatory medical care survey 2007 Outpatient Department summary
National health statistics reports, 2010Co-Authors: Esther Hing, Margaret J Hall, Jill J Ashman, Jianmin XuAbstract:OBJECTIVES: This report describes ambulatory care visits to hospital Outpatient Departments (OPDs) in the United States. Statistics are presented on selected hospital, patient, and visit characteristics. Selected trends in OPD utilization from 1997 through 2007, as well as items new to the 2007 survey, are presented. METHODS: The data presented in this report were collected in the 2007 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, a national probability sample survey of visits to emergency Departments and OPDs of nonfederal short-stay and general hospitals in the United States. Sample data were weighted to produce annual national estimates. RESULTS: During 2007, an estimated 88.9 million visits were made to hospital OPDs in the United States: about 30.0 visits per 100 persons. Females (36.7 per 100 persons) had higher OPD visit rates than males (23.0 visits per 100 persons). Black or African-American persons (58.4 visits per 100 persons) had higher OPD visit rates than white persons (26.5 visits per 100 persons). Visit rates to OPD clinics for preventive care were highest for children under 1 year of age (39.4 per 100 persons). About a third of all OPD visits (33.2%) were made by patients having Medicaid or the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) as an expected source of payment. Medicaid or SCHIP was the source of payment for more than half (56.3%) of OPD visits made by children under age 18. The rate of preventive care visits for patients with Medicaid or SCHIP as an expected source of payment (23.1 per 100 persons) was at least four times higher than for patients having other payment sources (3.3-4.9 per 100 persons). About 82.9% of visits were made by established patients and 17.1% were made by new patients. In 2007, visits to OPDs by new and established patients averaged 5.9 visits during the past 12 months. Essential hypertension was the leading primary diagnosis at OPD visits. Moderate to severe blood pressure elevations were seen more frequently in visits by non-Hispanic or non-Latino patients than Hispanic patients and in visits by black patients compared with white patients.
