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Socioeconomic status, comorbidity and the use of health services in the Netherlands.
Droomers, M., Westert, G.P. Socioeconomic status, comorbidity and the use of health services in the Netherlands. European Journal of Public Health: 2002, 12(4 suppl.), p. 52-53. Abstract. 10th Annual Eupha Meeting 'Bridging the gap between research and policy in public health: information, promotion and training" in Dresden, Germany 28 - 30 November 2002.
Background: There is a strong association between comorbidity and volume and variety of health care utilisation.
Aim: The study objective is to examine the relation between socioeconomic status and multiple health care utilisation and comorbidity. Methods: Analysis of continuous Netherlands Health Interview Survey data (1990-1998). The study population consisted of adults older than 25 years (n=53,339). Socioeconomic position was indicated by educational level in four categories. Comorbidity was defined as the concurrence of multiple health conditions in the same persons. Multiple health care utilisation was measured by the number of different health care services contacted in the preceding year. Health services included were general practitioner, medical specialist, physiotherapist, home help and/or home nursing, and hospital admission. Statistical methods used are logistic multiple regression, adjusted for age, gender and year of interview. Results: The lower the socioeconomic status, the more often people used three or more different types of health care in the previous year (OR 1.46). Comorbidity - more than one chronic disease in the same person - also occurred more often in lower socioeconomic groups (OR 2.47). This socioeconomic pattern of comorbidity explained one third of the educational differences in volume of health care services. Conclusions: Socioeconomic differences in comorbidity explain part of the association between socioeconomic status and multiple health care use. Nevertheless, even after adjustment for multiple morbidity, socioeconomic differences in the use of multiple health services still persist. (aut. ref.)
Aim: The study objective is to examine the relation between socioeconomic status and multiple health care utilisation and comorbidity. Methods: Analysis of continuous Netherlands Health Interview Survey data (1990-1998). The study population consisted of adults older than 25 years (n=53,339). Socioeconomic position was indicated by educational level in four categories. Comorbidity was defined as the concurrence of multiple health conditions in the same persons. Multiple health care utilisation was measured by the number of different health care services contacted in the preceding year. Health services included were general practitioner, medical specialist, physiotherapist, home help and/or home nursing, and hospital admission. Statistical methods used are logistic multiple regression, adjusted for age, gender and year of interview. Results: The lower the socioeconomic status, the more often people used three or more different types of health care in the previous year (OR 1.46). Comorbidity - more than one chronic disease in the same person - also occurred more often in lower socioeconomic groups (OR 2.47). This socioeconomic pattern of comorbidity explained one third of the educational differences in volume of health care services. Conclusions: Socioeconomic differences in comorbidity explain part of the association between socioeconomic status and multiple health care use. Nevertheless, even after adjustment for multiple morbidity, socioeconomic differences in the use of multiple health services still persist. (aut. ref.)
Background: There is a strong association between comorbidity and volume and variety of health care utilisation.
Aim: The study objective is to examine the relation between socioeconomic status and multiple health care utilisation and comorbidity. Methods: Analysis of continuous Netherlands Health Interview Survey data (1990-1998). The study population consisted of adults older than 25 years (n=53,339). Socioeconomic position was indicated by educational level in four categories. Comorbidity was defined as the concurrence of multiple health conditions in the same persons. Multiple health care utilisation was measured by the number of different health care services contacted in the preceding year. Health services included were general practitioner, medical specialist, physiotherapist, home help and/or home nursing, and hospital admission. Statistical methods used are logistic multiple regression, adjusted for age, gender and year of interview. Results: The lower the socioeconomic status, the more often people used three or more different types of health care in the previous year (OR 1.46). Comorbidity - more than one chronic disease in the same person - also occurred more often in lower socioeconomic groups (OR 2.47). This socioeconomic pattern of comorbidity explained one third of the educational differences in volume of health care services. Conclusions: Socioeconomic differences in comorbidity explain part of the association between socioeconomic status and multiple health care use. Nevertheless, even after adjustment for multiple morbidity, socioeconomic differences in the use of multiple health services still persist. (aut. ref.)
Aim: The study objective is to examine the relation between socioeconomic status and multiple health care utilisation and comorbidity. Methods: Analysis of continuous Netherlands Health Interview Survey data (1990-1998). The study population consisted of adults older than 25 years (n=53,339). Socioeconomic position was indicated by educational level in four categories. Comorbidity was defined as the concurrence of multiple health conditions in the same persons. Multiple health care utilisation was measured by the number of different health care services contacted in the preceding year. Health services included were general practitioner, medical specialist, physiotherapist, home help and/or home nursing, and hospital admission. Statistical methods used are logistic multiple regression, adjusted for age, gender and year of interview. Results: The lower the socioeconomic status, the more often people used three or more different types of health care in the previous year (OR 1.46). Comorbidity - more than one chronic disease in the same person - also occurred more often in lower socioeconomic groups (OR 2.47). This socioeconomic pattern of comorbidity explained one third of the educational differences in volume of health care services. Conclusions: Socioeconomic differences in comorbidity explain part of the association between socioeconomic status and multiple health care use. Nevertheless, even after adjustment for multiple morbidity, socioeconomic differences in the use of multiple health services still persist. (aut. ref.)