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Enlisting Rural Dental Practices to Address Undiagnosed Hypertension

Dorothy Nuckols

Summary

Undiagnosed hypertension is among the most prevalent and preventable risk factors in chronic disease mortality. Almost 40% of U.S. adults have high blood pressure, and 1/3 of those are unaware. Hypertension is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, both leading causes of death. The risk is even greater for rural populations where incidence reaches 50%. Dental practitioners generally have the expertise and willingness to perform hypertension screening, often called chairside screening. However, most individuals are unaware of this. Additionally, access to such care due to time, geography, and money, is a concern.

Three states participated in a study to examine healthcare usage frequency, the purchase of health-related insurance, and access to health, dental, and other forms of care of those living in rural communities. Results found that rural residents had dental exams with the same frequency as primary health care visits, demonstrating the opportunity for chairside hypertension screening. However, consumers often lack the knowledge and confidence to request screening during dental visits, and also don’t know what to do with the results. This session will discuss the results of the Extension access to healthcare study and its implications for addressing undiagnosed hypertension in rural communities through health insurance and dental insurance literacy. Rural residents need access to information and tools to better understand health risks, self-advocacy, and insurance products that promote better health and wellbeing. Extension Health Insurance Literacy Programming is ideal for awareness and education about chairside screening so rural residents can stay healthier.

Details

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