A hypertension treatment program at the workplace to complement community care.

A worksite hypertension control program was established for employees of the state of Maryland. Employees were screened for hypertension, and individuals identified as hypertensive were encouraged to seek care from community physicians. For those choosing not to seek such community care, a treatment program was initiated at the worksite. Of the 417 hypertensives identified, 54 (13%) elected to have their blood pressure treated at the worksite. Comparisons between the group choosing worksite care and the group choosing community care revealed that the worksite group was generally a higher risk group by virtue of having less awareness of their hypertension, being less likely to be on antihypertensive treatment, and being less likely to have their hypertension controlled by medication. This group made relatively little use of community physicians. Increases in hypertension treatment and control were greater in the worksite group after a 2-year follow-up examination. The project suggests an important role for worksite treatment programs for hypertension as a complement to existing community care.