Younger stroke survivors have reduced access to physician care and medications: National Health Interview Survey from years 1998 to 2002

BACKGROUND: More than 5 million US stroke survivors require comprehensive care for risk factor modification and secondary prevention. Younger stroke survivors may have reduced access to physician care and medications because they are more frequently uninsured. OBJECTIVE: To assess age-related differences in access to physician care and medications among stroke survivors (aged 45-64 years vs > or = 65 years). DESIGN: National Health Interview Survey from years 1998 to 2002. SETTING: A US population-based survey. PARTICIPANTS: Stroke survivors (n = 3681) aged 45 years and older among 159 985 survey respondents. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: General doctor visit, medical specialist visit, and inability to afford medications within the last 12 months. RESULTS: Compared with older stroke survivors, younger stroke survivors more frequently reported no general doctor visit (10% vs 14%, respectively; P = .002), no general doctor or medical specialist visit (5% vs 8%, respectively; P = .003), and the inability to afford medications (6% vs 15%, respectively; P