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Unmet health care needs and mortality among Spanish elderly

Author

Listed:
  • Alonso, J.
  • Orfila, F.
  • Ruigómez, A.
  • Ferrer, M.
  • Antó, J.M.

Abstract

Objectives. This study estimates the prevalence of unmet health care needs among the elderly of Barcelona, Spain, and analyzes the association between unmet needs and mortality. Methods. Home interviews were conducted with 1315 elderly in Barcelona. Individuals were classified as having a 'health services need' if they reported being in fair, poor, or very poor health; suffering from two or more chronic conditions; or being dependent in at least one basic activity of daily living. Need was considered unmet if no visits to or from a physician in the previous 12 months were reported. Mortality was assessed from census data in August 1991. Results. Between 10% and 25% of the elderly in need reported no use of health services. After a median of 60.3 months, those with unmet health care needs presented a higher risk of mortality, adjusted for several confounding factors: relative risk [RR] = 2.55 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.22, 5.32) for unmet activity of daily living dependency; RR = 1.80 (95% CI = 1.20, 2.70) for unmet comorbidity; and odds ratio = 1.10 (95% CI = 0.59, 2.05) for unmet poor self- rated health. Conclusion. Noninstitutionalized elderly individuals with unmet health care needs are at increased risk of dying.

Suggested Citation

  • Alonso, J. & Orfila, F. & Ruigómez, A. & Ferrer, M. & Antó, J.M., 1997. "Unmet health care needs and mortality among Spanish elderly," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 87(3), pages 365-370.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:1997:87:3:365-370_2
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    Cited by:

    1. Tao Zhang & Chaojie Liu & Ziling Ni, 2019. "Association of Access to Healthcare with Self-Assessed Health and Quality of Life among Old Adults with Chronic Disease in China: Urban Versus Rural Populations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-14, July.
    2. Hana Bataineh & Rose Anne Devlin & Vicky Barham, 2018. "Does unmet health care lead to poorer health outcomes?," Working Papers 1803E, University of Ottawa, Department of Economics.
    3. Hye-Young Jang & Young Ko & Song-Yi Han, 2020. "The Effects of Social Networks of the Older Adults with Limited Instrumental Activities of Daily Living on Unmet Medical Needs," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-10, December.
    4. Evelina Pappa & Nick Kontodimopoulos & Angelos Papadopoulos & Yannis Tountas & Dimitris Niakas, 2013. "Investigating Unmet Health Needs in Primary Health Care Services in a Representative Sample of the Greek Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-11, May.
    5. Hector Galindo Silva; Nibene Habib Somé; Guy Tchuente & Nibene Habib Somé & Guy Tchuente, 2019. "Does Obamacare Care? A Fuzzy Difference-in-discontinuities Approach," Vniversitas Económica 17211, Universidad Javeriana - Bogotá.
    6. Sergi Jiménez-Martín & Cristina Vilaplana Prieto, 2015. "Do Spanish Informal Caregivers Come to the Rescue of Dependent People with Formal Care Unmet Needs?," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 37(2), pages 243-259.
    7. Carlota Quintal & Luis Moura Ramos & Micaela Antunes & Óscar Lourenço, 2023. "Unmet healthcare needs among the population aged 50+ and their association with health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 1-14, December.
    8. Hye Yin Park & Yun-Chul Hong & Ichiro Kawachi & Juhwan Oh, 2018. "Gaps in universal health coverage in South Korea: Association with depression onset in a community cohort," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(6), pages 1-11, June.
    9. Yang Wang & Yibo Wu & Hongling Chu & Zhijie Xu & Xinying Sun & Hai Fang, 2023. "Association between Health-Related Quality of Life and Access to Chronic Disease Management by Primary Care Facilities in Mainland China: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-15, February.
    10. Hector Galindo-Silva & Nibene Habib Some & Guy Tchuente, 2018. "Fuzzy Difference-in-Discontinuities: Identification Theory and Application to the Affordable Care Act," Papers 1812.06537, arXiv.org, revised Apr 2021.
    11. Ko, Hansoo, 2016. "Unmet healthcare needs and health status: Panel evidence from Korea," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(6), pages 646-653.
    12. Ju Young Kim & Dae In Kim & Hwa Yeon Park & Yuliya Pak & Phap Ngoc Hoang Tran & Truc Thanh Thai & Mai Thi Thanh Thuy & Do Van Dung, 2020. "Unmet Healthcare Needs and Associated Factors in Rural and Suburban Vietnam: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-12, August.
    13. Park, Sojung & Kim, BoRin & Kim, Soojung, 2016. "Poverty and working status in changes of unmet health care need in old age," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(6), pages 638-645.
    14. Gu, Danan & Zhang, Zhenmei & Zeng, Yi, 2009. "Access to healthcare services makes a difference in healthy longevity among older Chinese adults," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(2), pages 210-219, January.
    15. Cristina Vilaplana & Sergi Jiménez Martín, 2010. "A double sample selection model for unmet needs, formal care and informal caregiving hours of dependent people in Spain," Working Papers 2010-25, FEDEA.

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