Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #102291

Tzuo-Yun Lan, PhD¹, Hsing-Yi Chang, ScD², and Tong-Yuan Tai, MD, PhD¹. (1) Division of Gerontology Research, National Health Research Institutes, Room 4110, 4F, No. 161, Sec. 6, Ming-Chuan East Road, Tapei, 114, Taiwan, 02-26534401 ext 27303, tylan@nhri.org.tw, (2) Division of Health Policy Research, National Health Research Institutes, 35, Keyan Road, Zhunan Town, Miaoli, 350, Taiwan

In the past decade, results from many studies have shown that older people experiencing functional problems or decline are more likely to have higher medical utilization than independent older people. However, these studies are limited to earlier surveys, local people, women, or use of ADLs as the only measure of functional status, and none of them are from non-US countries. We analyzed the NHIS (National Health Interview Survey) data merged with the National Health Insurance claims data for the year at interviews in 2002 in Taiwan, and aimed to re-examine the magnitude of health care services utilized by older adults with different functional status measured by ADLs and questions involving advanced skills. A clear gradient relationship between functional status and expenses was observed in a total of 2,333 aged 60 and over community-dwelling older persons, with a small proportion of people having declined function responsible for a large proportion of expenses. Multiple linear regression analysis, adjusting for age, sex, education, marital status, self-rated health, and number of chronic diseases, further showed that functional status was independently associated with one-year health care expenditures. This suggests that physical function in the elderly has contribution to health care utilization not only in the US but also in other countries in the world. In addition to disease prevention, delaying or preventing the occurrence of functional decline in the elderly is also important to achieve reduction in health care expenditures.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to
• recognize that functional status has independent contribution to health care expenditures in the elderly not only in the US but also in other countries.

Keywords: Elderly, Health Care Utilization

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation