Differences in control of cardiovascular disease and diabetes by race, ethnicity, and education: U.S. trends from 1999 to 2006 and effects of Medicare coverage.

BACKGROUND: Efforts to improve the care of cardiovascular disease and diabetes or expand insurance coverage for adults with these conditions may reduce differences in clinical outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To assess recent national trends in disease control, trends in sociodemographic differences in control, and changes in sociodemographic differences after age 65 years associated with near-universal Medicare coverage. DESIGN: Observational and quasi-experimental analyses of repeated cross-sectional data. SETTING: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999 to 2006. PARTICIPANTS: Adults age 40 to 85 years with relevant clinical conditions. MEASUREMENTS: Blood pressure control (