Mediating Effects of Health-Promotion Behaviors on the Correlation between Self-Perceived Health and Medical Care Utilization among Older Adults

Abstract BackgroundThis study examined the effects of depressive symptoms on medical care utilization among South Korean older adults with chronic diseases.MethodsA national sample of 3,921 elders with chronic diseases participated in the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging. Using multiple logistic regression, odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for the effects of depressive symptoms on medical care utilization.ResultsOlder adults with depressive symptoms had fewer outpatient visits (OR = 0.81, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.67–0.98) and more inpatient hospitalizations (OR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.13–1.97) than those who did not suffer depressive symptoms. Participants with depressive symptoms visited outpatient clinics less often (OR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.48–0.97) and were hospitalized more frequently (OR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.04–3.16) than were men without depressive symptoms. Patients with depressive symptoms with hypertension and diabetes were hospitalized more often (OR = 2.77, 95% CI = 1.45–5.30).ConclusionsDepressive symptoms and chronic diseases are common among elders in South Korea, often resulting in decreased outpatient visits and increased inpatient hospitalization. These findings suggest the necessity for management of chronic disease in elders with depressive symptoms.

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Health Promotion Behavior among Older Korean Family Caregivers of People with Dementia

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18084123 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (8) ◽

pp. 4123

Author(s):

Aram Cho ◽

Chiyoung Cha

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Health Promotion ◽

Univariate Analysis ◽

Family Members ◽

Capital City ◽

Care Plan ◽

Term Care ◽

Health Promotion Behaviors ◽

People With Dementia ◽

Health Promotion Behavior

People adopt health promotion behaviors to promote their health as they interact within the environment. The purpose of this study was to examine factors influencing health promotion behaviors among older adults caring for family members with dementia. For this cross-sectional study, data from 135 older adults who were the main caregivers were collected at an outpatient clinic at a university hospital in the capital city of South Korea between September and October in 2020. Sociodemographic characteristics, caregiver-related characteristics, dementia knowledge, fear of dementia, and health promotion behaviors were measured. Univariate analysis revealed that the level of health promotion behaviors differed by age, sex, educational level, monthly income, relationship with the family member with dementia, and cohabitation with family members with dementia. In the multivariate analysis, a hierarchical multiple regression model explained 33.9% of the variance. Sex, duration of caregiving, use of long-term care service, and fear of dementia predicted health promotion behavior. A strategic tailored care plan for target population is needed to improve the health promotion behavior of older adults caring for family members with dementia.

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Sex Differences in the Medical Utilization for Ischemic Heart Disease Among Newly Diagnosed Hypertensive Korean Patients (P04-170-19)

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzz051.p04-170-19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

Jiae Shin ◽

Dongwoo Ham ◽

Seoeun Ahn ◽

Hee-Young Paik ◽

Hyojee Joung

Keyword(s):

Medical Care ◽

Medical Cost ◽

Medical Utilization ◽

Care Utilization ◽

Newly Diagnosed ◽

Care Providers ◽

Men And Women ◽

Hypertensive Patients ◽

Medical Care Utilization ◽

The Mean

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to investigate sex differences in the medical utilization for ischemic heart disease (IHD) among newly diagnosed hypertensive patients using a cohort data of South Korea. Methods We analyzed the National Sample Cohort version 2.0 of the National Health Insurance Service. Newly diagnosed hypertensive patients aged 40–84 were extracted from the baseline population, who received health examinations during 2003–2006 without pre-existing type 2 diabetes or circulatory diseases. Propensity score was applied to match men to women with the same ratio of body mass index (BMI) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) among the patients. Men and women (each 10, 110) were selected for analyses and followed until the end of 2015. Person-year was defined as the period from the diagnosis of hypertension to the incidence of IHD. Associations between IHD and the medical care utilization such as the mean of medical care visit, the mean medical cost, and the type and the location of medical care providers were investigated using Cox proportional hazard model. Hazard ratios (HR) of IHD according to medical care utilization were adjusted for age, income, BMI, FBG, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Results Incidence rates (per 1000 person-years) of IHD were 43.1 in men and 43.0 in women. The mean follow-up period was 5.2 person-years. The HRs of IHD were significantly higher in the subjects with a high mean medical cost (T3) (men, HR = 1.39, 95% CI 1.25–1.54; women, HR = 1.33, 95% CI 1.20–1.48) than in those with a low mean medical cost (T1). However, the subjects visiting medical care providers more (T3) had lower HRs than those visiting less (T1) (men, HR = 0.80, 95% CI 0.72–0.89; women, HR = 0.79, 95% CI 0.71–0.88). Conclusions Hypertensive patients in Korea showed an increased risk of IHD when they paid medical cost more and visited medical care less per person-year in both men and women. Funding Sources This research was supported by Support Program for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology through the National Research Foundation of Korea funded by the Korea government (MSIT). (No.2016H1C3A1903202). Supporting Tables, Images and/or Graphs

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