scholarly journals Self-Reported Hearing Loss in Older Adults Is Associated With Higher Emergency Department Visits and Medical Costs

2019 ◽  
Vol 56 ◽  
pp. 004695801989690
Author(s):  
Timothy S. Wells ◽  
Lizi Wu ◽  
Gandhi R. Bhattarai ◽  
Lorraine D. Nickels ◽  
Steven R. Rush ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Health Care Utilization ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Medical Costs ◽  
Care Utilization ◽  
Severe Hearing Loss ◽  
Hearing Aid Use

Hearing loss is common among older adults. Thus, it was of interest to explore differences in health care utilization and costs associated with hearing loss and hearing aid use. Hearing loss and hearing aid use were assessed through self-reports and included 5 categories: no hearing loss, aided mild, unaided mild, aided severe, and unaided severe hearing loss. Health care utilization and costs were obtained from medical claims. Those with aided mild or severe hearing loss were significantly more likely to have an emergency department visit. Conversely, those with aided severe hearing loss were about 15% less likely to be hospitalized. Individuals with unaided severe hearing loss had the highest annual medical costs ($14349) compared with those with no hearing loss ($12118, P < .001). In this study, those with unaided severe hearing loss had the highest medical costs. Further studies should attempt to better understand the relationship between hearing loss, hearing aid use, and medical costs.

scholarly journals Alternative Pathways for Hearing Care May Address Disparities in Access

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amber Willink ◽  
Lama Assi ◽  
Carrie Nieman ◽  
Catherine McMahon ◽  
Frank R. Lin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Health Care Utilization ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Care Utilization ◽  
Medicare Beneficiaries ◽  
Hearing Aid Use ◽  
The U.S

Background/Objectives: Low-uptake of hearing aids among older adults has long dogged the hearing care system in the U.S. and other countries. The introduction of over-the-counter hearing aids is set to disrupt the predominantly high-cost, specialty clinic-based delivery model of hearing care with the hope of increasing accessibility and affordability of hearing care. However, the current model of hearing care delivery may not be reaching everyone with hearing loss who have yet to use hearing aids. In this study, we examine the group of people who do not use hearing aids and describe their characteristics and health care utilization patterns. We also consider what other healthcare pathways may be utilized to increase access to hearing treatment.Design: Cross-sectional, the 2017 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey.Setting: Non-institutionalized adults enrolled in Medicare, the U.S. public health insurance program for older adults (65 years and older) and those with qualifying medical conditions and disabilities.Participants: A nationally representative sample of 7,361 Medicare beneficiaries with self-reported trouble hearing and/or hearing aid use.Measurements: Survey-weighted proportions described the population characteristics and health care utilization of those with hearing loss by hearing aid use, and the characteristics of those with untreated hearing loss by health care service type utilized.Results: Women, racial/ethnic minorities, and low-income Medicare beneficiaries with self-reported hearing trouble were less likely to report using hearing aids than their peers. Among those who do not use hearing aids, the most commonly used health care services were obtaining prescription drugs (64%) and seeing a medical provider (50%). Only 20% did not access either service in the past year. These individuals were more likely to be young and to have higher educational attainment and income.Conclusion: Alternative models of care delivered through pharmacies and general medical practices may facilitate access to currently underserved populations as they are particularly high touch-points for Medicare beneficiaries with untreated hearing trouble. As care needs will vary across a spectrum of hearing loss, alternative models of hearing care should look to complement not substitute for existing access pathways to hearing care.

scholarly journals PEER TO PEER SUPPORT AND HEALTH CARE UTILIZATION AMONG COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S857-S857
Author(s):  
Elizabeth A Jacobs ◽  
Rebecca Schwei ◽  
Scott Hetzel ◽  
Jane Mahoney ◽  
KyungMann Kim
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Health Care Utilization ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Peer Group ◽  
Peer To Peer ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Urgent Care ◽  
Care Utilization

Abstract The majority of older adults want to live and age in their communities. Some community-based organizations (CBOs) have initiated peer-to-peer support services to promote aging in place but the effectiveness of these programs is not clear. Our objective was to compare the effectiveness of a community-designed and implemented peer-to-peer support program vs. access to standard community services, in promoting health and wellness in vulnerable older adult populations. We partnered with three CBOs, one each in California, Florida, and New York, to enroll adults 65 &gt; years of age who received peer support and matched control participants (on age, gender, and race/ethnicity) in an observational study. We followed participants over 12 months, collecting data on self-reported urgent care and emergency department visits and hospitalizations. In order to account for the lack of randomization, we used a propensity score method to compare outcomes between the two groups. We enrolled 222 older adults in the peer-to-peer group and 234 in the control group. After adjustment, we found no differences between the groups in the incidence of hospitalization, urgent and emergency department visits, and composite outcome of any health care utilization. The incidence of urgent care visits was statistically significantly greater in the standard community service group than in the peer-to-peer group. Given that the majority of older adults and their families want them to age in place, the question of how to do this is highly relevant. Peer-to-peer services may provide some benefit to older adults in regard to their health care utilization.

scholarly journals Association Between Hearing Aid Use and Health Care Use and Cost Among Older Adults With Hearing Loss

2018 ◽  
Vol 144 (6) ◽  
pp. 498 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elham Mahmoudi ◽  
Philip Zazove ◽  
Michelle Meade ◽  
Michael M. McKee
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Health Care Use ◽  
Hearing Aid Use

scholarly journals Does Gerofit Exercise Reduce Veterans’ Use of Emergency Department and Inpatient Care?

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 771-771
Author(s):  
Lauren Abbate ◽  
Jiejin Li ◽  
Peter Veazie ◽  
Orna Intrator ◽  
Cathy Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Health Care Utilization ◽  
Inpatient Care ◽  
Nearest Neighbor ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Care Utilization ◽  
Ed Visits ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Little is known about the relationship between exercise and health care utilization in older adults. This study examined hospitalizations/emergency Department (ED) visits in the 12 months prior to and during 12 months of active Gerofit participation (across 5 sites). Data were compared for each outcome to a propensity matched nearest neighbor sample from the same site [Mean, 95% CI]. Of the 226 Veterans who were active in the program for ≥12 months and enrolled in VA and Traditional Medicare for 12 months prior to Gerofit participation, hospitalizations/ED visits were greater prior to (15.3%/42.0%) than during (6.8%/37.1%) Gerofit participation. Gerofit participants were 8% less likely to have a hospitalization in the 12 months following enrollment than controls [-0.08 (-0.14, -0.02)] but no between-group differences in ED use [-0.00 (-0.11, 0.10)] were observed. Participation in Gerofit may reduce hospitalizations, but its impact on ED use is inconclusive.

End-of-life Health-Care Utilization Patterns Among Chronically Ill Older Adults

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 507-512 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meredith MacKenzie Greenle ◽  
Karen B. Hirschman ◽  
Ken Coburn ◽  
Sherry Marcantonio ◽  
Alexandra L. Hanlon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Health Care Utilization ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Emergency Department Visit ◽  
Chronically Ill ◽  
Care Utilization ◽  
Utilization Patterns ◽  
Over Time

Patients with chronic illness are associated with high health-care utilization and this is exacerbated in the end of life, when health-care utilization and costs are highest. Complex Care Management (CCM) is a model of care developed to reduce health-care utilization, while improving patient outcomes. We aimed to examine the relationship between health-care utilization patterns and patient characteristics over time in a sample of older adults enrolled in CCM over the last 2 years of life. Generalized estimating equation models were used. The sample (n = 126) was 52% female with an average age of 85 years. Health-care utilization rose sharply in the last 3 months of life with at least one hospitalization for 67% of participants and an emergency department visit for 23% of participants. In the last 6 months of life, there was an average of 2.17 care transitions per participant. The odds of hospitalization increased by 27% with each time interval ( P < .001). Participants demonstrated 11% greater odds of having a hospitalization for each additional comorbidity ( P = .05). A primary diagnosis of heart failure or coronary artery disease was associated with 21% greater odds of hospitalization over time compared to other primary diagnoses ( P = .017). Females had 70% greater odds of an emergency department visit compared to males ( P = .046). For each additional year of life, the odds of an emergency department visit increased by about 7% ( P < .001). Findings suggest the need for further interventions targeting chronically ill older adults nearing end of life within CCM models.

scholarly journals Emergency department and inpatient health care utilization among patients who require interpreter services

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane W. Njeru ◽  
Jennifer L. St. Sauver ◽  
Debra J. Jacobson ◽  
Jon O. Ebbert ◽  
Paul Y. Takahashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Health Care Utilization ◽  
Care Utilization ◽  
Interpreter Services

Hearing Loss, Control, and Demographic Factors Influencing Hearing Aid Use Among Older Adults

1998 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 527-537 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dean C. Garstecki ◽  
Susan F. Erler
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Psychological Control ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Demographic Factors ◽  
Ego Strength ◽  
Hearing Sensitivity ◽  
Hearing Aid Use ◽  
Hearing Handicap

Preference for non-use of hearing aids among older adults who are candidates for amplification remains to be explained. Clinical studies have examined the contribution of consumer attitudes, behaviors, and life circumstances to this phenomenon. The present study extends the interests of earlier investigators in that it examines psychological control tendencies in combination with hearing loss and demographic variables among older adults who elected to accept (adherents) or ignore (nonadherents) advice from hearing professionals to acquire and use hearing aids. One hundred thirty-one individuals participated by completing measures of hearing, hearing handicap, psychological control, depression, and ego strength. Participants were asked to provide demographic information and personal opinions regarding hearing aid use. Adherence group and gender differences were noted on measures of hearing sensitivity, psychological control, and demographic factors. Female adherents demonstrated greater hearing loss and poorer word recognition ability but less hearing handicap, higher internal locus of control, higher ego strength, and fewer depressive tendencies than female nonadherents. They reported demographic advantages. Female adherents assumed responsibility for effective communication. Although male adherents and nonadherents did not differ significantly demographically, male adherents were more accepting of their hearing loss, took responsibility for communication problems, and found hearing aids less stigmatizing. Implications for clinical practice and future clinical investigations are identified and discussed. Results are expected to be of interest to clinicians, clinical investigators, and health care policymakers.

scholarly journals Chronic Physical Effects and Health Care Utilization in Long-Term Ovarian Germ Cell Tumor Survivors: A Gynecologic Oncology Group Study

2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (25) ◽  
pp. 4142-4149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Matei ◽  
Anna M. Miller ◽  
Patrick Monahan ◽  
David Gershenson ◽  
Qianqian Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
Health Care Utilization ◽  
Germ Cell ◽  
Germ Cell Tumor ◽  
Cell Tumor ◽  
Care Utilization ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Gynecologic Oncology Group

Purpose This study compares late effects of treatment on physical well-being and utilization of health care resources between ovarian germ cell tumor (OGCT) survivors and age/race/education-matched controls. Patients and Methods Eligible patients had OGCT treated with surgery and chemotherapy and were disease-free for at least 2 years at time of enrollment. The matched control group was selected from acquaintances recommended by survivors. Symptoms and function were measured using previously validated scales. Health care utilization was assessed by questions regarding health insurance coverage and health services utilization. Results One hundred thirty-two survivors and 137 controls completed the study. Survivors were significantly more likely to report a diagnosis of hypertension (17% v 8%, P = .02), and marginally hypercholesterolemia (9.8% v 4.4%, P = .09), and hearing loss (5.3% v 1.5%, P = .09) compared with controls. There were no significant differences in the rates of self-reported arthritis, heart, pulmonary or kidney disease, diabetes, non-OGCT malignancies, anxiety, hearing loss, or eating disorders between groups. Among chronic functional problems, numbness, tinnitus, nausea elicited by reminders of chemotherapy (v general nausea triggers for controls), and Raynaud's symptoms were reported more frequently by survivors. Patients who received vincristine, dactinomycin, and cyclophosphamide in addition to cisplatin therapy had increased functional complaints, particularly numbness and nausea. Health care utilization was similar, but 15.9% of survivors reported being denied health insurance versus 4.4% of controls (P < .001). Conclusion Although a few sequelae of treatment persist, in general, OGCT survivors enjoy a healthy life comparable to that of controls.

scholarly journals Emergency department revisits and rehospitalizations among infants and toddlers for acute allergic reactions

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 247-256
Author(s):  
Lacey B. Robinson ◽  
Anna Chen Arroyo ◽  
Rebecca E. Cash ◽  
Susan A. Rudders ◽  
Carlos A. Camargo
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
New York ◽  
Health Care Utilization ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Care Utilization ◽  
Allergic Reactions ◽  
Infants And Toddlers ◽  
Ed Visits ◽  
Total Charges

Background and Objective: Allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, are rising among children. Little is known about health care utilization among infants and toddlers. Our objective was to characterize health care utilization and charges for acute allergic reactions (AAR). Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of trends in emergency department (ED) visits and revisits, hospitalizations and rehospitalizations, and charges among infants and toddlers (ages < 3 years), with an index ED visit or hospitalization for AAR (including anaphylaxis). We used data from population-based multipayer data: State Emergency Department Databases and State Inpatient Databases from New York and Nebraska. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with ED revisits and rehospitalizations. Results: Between 2006 and 2015, infant and toddler ED visits for AAR increased from 27.8 per 10,000 population to 35.2 (Ptrend < 0.001), whereas hospitalizations for AAR remained stable (Ptrend = 0.11). In the one year after an index AAR visit, 5.1% of these patients had at least one AAR ED revisit and 5.9% had at least one AAR rehospitalization. Factors most strongly associated with AAR ED revisits included an index visit hospitalization and receipt of epinephrine. Total charges for AAR ED visits (2009‐2015) and hospitalizations (2011‐2015) were more than $29 million and $11 million, respectively. Total charges increased more than fourfold for both AAR ED revisits for AAR rehospitalizations during the study period. Conclusion: Infants and toddlers who presented with an AAR were at risk for ED revisits and rehospitalizations for AAR within the following year. The charges associated with these revisits were substantial and seemed to be increasing.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document