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The Importance of Preventive Medical Care for Managing Chronic Disease

Author

Listed:
  • Claire Boone
  • Pablo A. Celhay
  • Paul Gertler
  • Tadeja Gracner

Abstract

We study how preventive medical care use affects health behaviors and outcomes for patients with chronic diseases. Leveraging variation induced by a national appointment reminder program, rolled out across 315 public primary care clinics in Chile, we use an instrumental variables approach with patient-level administrative data from over 300,000 patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension. We find that increased preventive visits lead to more screening tests and large increases in medication adherence. Preventive care also leads to earlier detection and treatment of cardiovascular complications: we document an increase in cardiovascular hospitalizations but a reduction in in-hospital mortality.

Suggested Citation

  • Claire Boone & Pablo A. Celhay & Paul Gertler & Tadeja Gracner, 2025. "The Importance of Preventive Medical Care for Managing Chronic Disease," NBER Working Papers 33738, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:33738
    Note: AG DEV EH PE
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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