Measuring the Effects of Screening Programs in Asymptomatic Employees: Detection of Hypertension Through Worksite Screenings

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.