Trends in the Utilization of Specific Health Care Services among Older Manitobans: 1985 to 2000

2005 ◽  
Vol 24 (S1) ◽  
pp. 15-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcia Finlayson ◽  
Lisa Lix ◽  
Gregory S. Finlayson ◽  
Terry Fong

ABSTRACTThis paper examines 16-year trends in the utilization of hospital and physician services by Manitobans aged 75 and more, using data from the Manitoba Population Health Research Data Repository. Trends are examined across five measures of hospital services (separations, short-stay days, long-stay days, cataract surgeries, and hip/knee replacements) and two measures of physician care (overall visit rate, and proportion having seven or more visits). Results show changes in the utilization of these services among older adults living in Manitoba over time, with the extent of change varying with the service under consideration, age, and location of residence. Previously large utilization differentials are shown to be shrinking; for example, cataract surgery rates across regions and physician visit rates by age. For other services, such as the rates of hip or knee replacement surgery, the differences across regions are increasing. Findings indicate that global generalizations about the impact of older adults on the health care system are subject to question, as regional differences and differences between age groups (75–84, 85+) can be significant.

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 515-516
Author(s):  
Nekehia Quashie ◽  
Christine Mair ◽  
Radoslaw Antczak ◽  
Bruno Arpino

Abstract Childless older adults may be at risk for poorer health cross-nationally, yet most studies on this topic analyze only a small number of countries and only 1 or 2 health outcomes. To our knowledge, two papers exist that explore associations between childlessness and multiple indicators of health using data from a large number of regionally diverse countries (e.g., 20 countries from North America, Asia, and Europe), but neither study includes an examination of socioeconomic resources. The level of health risk faced by childless older adults is likely to be distinctly shaped by older adults’ socioeconomic resources (e.g., education, income, wealth). Associations between childlessness, socioeconomic resources, and health may also differ by country context. Using harmonized, cross-national data for adults aged 50 and older across 20 high- and middle-income countries (United States (HRS), European Union (SHARE), Mexico (MHAS), and China (CHARLS) from the Gateway to Global Aging data repository), we explore if and how individual-level socioeconomic resources (income, education, wealth) moderate associations between childlessness and five health indicators (self-rated health, ADL limitations, IADL limitations, chronic conditions, and depression). Results suggest that associations between childlessness and health outcomes vary by individual socioeconomic resources in some country contexts, but not in others. We discuss these findings in light of the impact of individual-level socioeconomic resources on older adults’ support options and health outcomes cross-nationally.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 723-723
Author(s):  
Lindsay Wilkinson ◽  
Julie Masters ◽  
Julie Blaskewicz Boron

Abstract Older adults have not only been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, but relatedly, are also more vulnerable to other health problems. Moreover, previous research on epidemics shows that health care services are often disrupted during health crises—leading to less access to and lower utilization of health services unrelated to the health crisis. The primary aim of this research is to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on both routine and urgent health care visits. Using data collected in December 2020 on adults ages 54 to 100 living in one of nine senior living communities (SLCs) in the state of Nebraska (n = 723), logistic regression models were used to investigate correlates of missed health care visits, adjusting for sociodemographic and health characteristics. The results show that 58% of older adults in SLCs skipped or postponed a routine health care visit due to the pandemic, whereas 8% of older adults missed an urgent health care visit. The results further reveal that older adults with better perceived health (p < 0.05), higher life satisfaction (p < 0.01), and higher resilience (p < 0.05) all had lower odds of missing a routine health care visit due to the pandemic. In contrast, those who missed an urgent health care visit were more likely to have higher perceived financial strain (p < 0.05). The findings from this study demonstrate the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on older adults’ health care utilization, which may have serious implications for their long-term health.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Avinash G. Dinmohamed ◽  
Matteo Cellamare ◽  
Otto Visser ◽  
Linda de Munck ◽  
Marloes A. G. Elferink ◽  
...  

Abstract Oncological care was largely derailed due to the reprioritisation of health care services to handle the initial surge of COVID-19 patients adequately. Cancer screening programmes were no exception in this reprioritisation. They were temporarily halted in the Netherlands (1) to alleviate the pressure on health care services overwhelmed by the upsurge of COVID-19 patients, (2) to reallocate staff and personal protective equipment to support critical COVID-19 care, and (3) to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Utilising data from the Netherlands Cancer Registry on provisional cancer diagnoses between 6 January 2020 and 4 October 2020, we assessed the impact of the temporary halt of national population screening programmes on the diagnosis of breast and colorectal cancer in the Netherlands. A dynamic harmonic regression model with ARIMA error components was applied to assess the observed versus expected number of cancer diagnoses per calendar week. Fewer diagnoses of breast and colorectal cancer were objectified amid the early stages of the initial COVID-19 outbreak in the Netherlands. This effect was most pronounced among the age groups eligible for cancer screening programmes, especially in breast cancer (age group 50–74 years). Encouragingly enough, the observed number of diagnoses ultimately reached and virtually remained at the level of the expected values. This finding, which emerged earlier in age groups not invited for cancer screening programmes, comes on account of the decreased demand for critical COVID-19 care since early April 2020, which, in turn, paved the way forward to resume screening programmes and a broad range of non-critical health care services, albeit with limited operating and workforce capacity. Collectively, transient changes in health-seeking behaviour, referral practices, and cancer screening programmes amid the early stages of the initial COVID-19 epidemic in the Netherlands conjointly acted as an accelerant for fewer breast and colorectal cancer diagnoses in age groups eligible for cancer screening programmes. Forthcoming research is warranted to assess whether the decreased diagnostic scrutiny of cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in stage migration and altered clinical management, as well as poorer outcomes.


2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-69
Author(s):  
Cynthia Sterling-Fox

Globally, the number of homebound older adults is rising exponentially as the aging population increases. Homebound older adults have complex medical and psychological issues for which many receive home-based primary care services. The purpose of this integrative review was to identify, analyze, and synthesize the existing literature regarding homebound older adults’ need for, use of, and access to five nonprimary health care services. They are dental, nutritional, optical, pharmacy, and psychological services. The integrative review was conducted using a database search of CINAHL, Health Source: Nursing Education, PubMed, Medline, PsycINFO, and Cochrane, that was supplemented by a hand search. Little research was found addressing the five nonprimary health care services. Five themes emerged from the 10 studies. They were (1) complex and interrelated health problems require more health care services; (2) perceived unimportance of nonprimary health care services; (3) barriers to use of and access to nonprimary health care services; (4) the impact of socioeconomic and demographical factors on access to services; and (5) the impact of psychological factors (depression and social isolation) on the use and access to health care services. These findings suggest further inequity and barriers to health care services by homebound older adults. Future research is needed with nonprimary health care providers to examine the clinical outcomes and costs of providing the services to homebound older adults.


2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Turkan Ahmet

The past few decades of ongoing war in Iraq has had a dramatic impact on the health of Iraq’s population. Wars are known to have negative effects on the social and physical environments of individuals, as well as limit their access to the available health care services. This paper explores the personal experiences of my family members, who were exposed to war, as well as includes information that has been reviewed form many academic sources. The data aided in providing recommendations and developing strategies, on both local and international levels, to improve the health status of the populations exposed to war.


Author(s):  
Vijay K. Yalanchmanchili ◽  
N. Partha Sarathy ◽  
U. Vijaya Kumar ◽  
M. Ravi Kiran ◽  
Kalapala Abhilash

Author(s):  
Carolina Alday-Mondaca ◽  
Siu Lay-Lisboa

Research on LGBTIQ+ families has focused on the effects of being in a diverse family on the development of children. We seek to show the experience of parenthood from the perspective of LGBTIQ+ people, considering its particularities and the role that health care services play as a potential support network. We used the biographical method through open-ended interviews, participants were LGBT people, and key informants from Chile, Colombia, and Mexico were selected based on a sociostructural sampling. We found that internalized stigma impacts LGBTIQ+ parenting in five ways: the impossibility of thinking of oneself as a parent, fear of violating children’s rights, fear of passing on the stigma, fear of introducing their LGBTIQ+ partner, and the greater discrimination that trans and intersex people suffer. We identified gaps in health care perceptions: the need to guarantee universal access to health care, the need to include a gender perspective and inclusive treatment by health personnel, mental health programs with a community approach, access to assisted fertilization programs, and the generation of collaborative alliances between health services, civil society organizations, and the LGBTIQ+ community. We conclude that the health system is a crucial space from which to enable guarantees for the exercise of rights and overcome internalized stigma.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine Thumé ◽  
Marciane Kessler ◽  
Karla P. Machado ◽  
Bruno P. Nunes ◽  
Pamela M. Volz ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The Bagé Cohort Study of Ageing is a population-based cohort study that has recently completed the first follow-up of a representative sample of older adults from Bagé, a city with more than 100,000 inhabitants located in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. This is one of the first longitudinal studies to assess the impact of primary health care coverage on health conditions and inequalities. Our aim is to investigate the prevalence, incidence and trends of risk factors, health behaviours, social relationships, non-communicable diseases, geriatric diseases and disorders, hospitalisation, self-perceived health, and all-cause and specific-cause mortality. In addition, we aim to evaluate socioeconomic and health inequalities and the impact of primary health care on the outcomes under study. Methods/design The study covers participants aged 60 or over, selected by probabilistic (representative) sampling of the urban area of the city of Bagé, which is covered by Primary Health Care Services. The baseline examination included 1593 older adults and was conducted from July 2008 to November 2008. After eight to nine years (2016/2017), the first follow-up was conducted from September 2016 to August 2017. All participants underwent an extensive core assessment programme including structured interviews, questionnaires, cognitive testing (baseline and follow-up), physical examinations and anthropometric measurements (follow-up). Results Of the original participants, 1395 (87.6%) were located for follow-up: 757 elderly individuals (47.5%) were re-interviewed, but losses in data transfer occurred for 22. The remaining 638 (40.1%) had died. In addition, we had 81 (5.1%) refusals and 117 (7.3%) losses. Among the 1373 older adults who were followed down, there was a higher proportion of female interviewees (p=0.042) and a higher proportion of male deaths (p=0.001) in 2016/2017. There were no differences in losses and refusals according to gender (p=0.102). There was a difference in average age between the interviewees (68.8 years; SD ±6.5) and non-interviewees (73.2 years; SD ±9.0) (p<0.001). Data are available at the Department of Social Medicine in Federal University of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, for any collaboration.


Author(s):  
Laura Nedzinskienė ◽  
Elena Jurevičienė ◽  
Žydrūnė Visockienė ◽  
Agnė Ulytė ◽  
Roma Puronaitė ◽  
...  

Background. Patients with multimorbidity account for ever-increasing healthcare resource usage and are often summarised as big spenders. Comprehensive analysis of health care resource usage in different age groups in patients with at least two non-communicable diseases is still scarce, limiting the quality of health care management decisions, which are often backed by limited, small-scale database analysis. The health care system in Lithuania is based on mandatory social health insurance and is covered by the National Health Insurance Fund. Based on a national Health Insurance database. The study aimed to explore the distribution, change, and interrelationships of health care costs across the age groups of patients with multimorbidity, suggesting different priorities at different age groups. Method. The study identified all adults with at least one chronic disease when any health care services were used over a three-year period between 2012 and 2014. Further data analysis excluded patients with single chronic conditions and further analysed patients with multimorbidity, accounting for increasing resource usage. The costs of primary, outpatient health care services; hospitalizations; reimbursed and paid out-of-pocket medications were analysed in eight age groups starting at 18 and up to 85 years and over. Results. The study identified a total of 428,430 adults in Lithuania with at least two different chronic diseases from the 32 chronic disease list. Out of the total expenditure within the group, 51.54% of the expenses were consumed for inpatient treatment, 30.90% for reimbursed medications. Across different age groups of patients with multimorbidity in Lithuania, 60% of the total cost is attributed to the age group of 65–84 years. The share in the total spending was the highest in the 75–84 years age group amounting to 29.53% of the overall expenditure, with an increase in hospitalization and a decrease in outpatient services. A decrease in health care expenses per capita in patients with multimorbidity after 85 years of age was observed. Conclusions. The highest proportion of health care expenses in patients with multimorbidity relates to hospitalization and reimbursed medications, increasing with age, but varies through different services. The study identifies the need to personalise the care of patients with multimorbidity in the primary-outpatient setting, aiming to reduce hospitalizations with proactive disease management.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 804-805
Author(s):  
Nicole Armstrong ◽  
Jennifer Deal ◽  
Hang Wang ◽  
Jennifer Schrack ◽  
Qu Tian ◽  
...  

Abstract Individual sensory deficits have been associated with adverse outcomes, including dementia, in older adults. Using data from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) (N=259) and Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC) (N=962), we examined the prevalence of one, two, or three sensory deficits (hearing, vision, and olfaction) among older adults ≥70 years. Any hearing loss was the most prevalent sensory deficit (70-79 year-olds: 41.3% [BLSA] and 51.2% [ARIC]; ≥80 year-olds: 82.6% [BLSA] and 74.2% [ARIC]), followed by vision loss and olfactory loss. Hearing and vision impairments were more prevalent than hearing and olfactory losses as well as vision and olfactory losses in both age groups and studies There were few people with deficits in all three senses (70-79 year-olds: 3.3% [BLSA] and 2.0% [ARIC]; ≥80 year-olds: 5.8% [BLSA] and 7.4% [ARIC]). Further research should investigate the potential impact of multisensory impairments on older adults.


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