Burden of Chronic Conditions among Patients from Free Clinics: A Retrospective Chart Review of 2015

INTRODUCTION: There is limited research about the poor and uninsured patients who visit free clinics. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of uninsured adult patients in four free clinics seen between January and December 2015. Prevalence of chronic conditions and their association with socioeconomic factors were investigated. RESULTS: In 2015, 3,196 adult patients with chronic conditions were managed in four free clinics. Many of these patients were women (60.8%) and Hispanic (44.7%); the group had a mean age of 47.9 years (SD=14.1) and a median income of $14,400. The top five prevalent conditions were hypertension (33.6%), hyperlipidemia (20.7%), diabetes (14%), major depression (11.7%), and arthritis (8.7%). In the multivariable analysis, clinic site, age, marital status, employment status, and household size were significantly associated with the Disease Burden Index. DISCUSSION: Public health prevention programs should focus on uninsured patients of free clinics who are mainly low-income, sicker, and unemployed, and often women and Hispanics.