257738 Disparities in disability and comorbid medical conditions among adults with mental health needs in California

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

D. Imelda Padilla-Frausto, MPH , UCLA Fielding School of Public Health & UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, Los Angeles, CA
David Grant, PhD , California Health Interview Survey, UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, Los Angeles, CA
May Aydin, PhD , Center for Health Policy Research, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola, MD, PhD , Center for Reducing Health Disparities, University of California Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA
  
Background: The World Health Organization documents the high rates of mortality and disease burden in the U.S. for chronic mental, physical, and behavioral health conditions. Disability and poor health are exacerbated among those who suffer from co-occuring conditions. Methods: With a focus on adults with mental health needs, this study examines the disparities in disability status and co-morbid health conditions using data from the 2007 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS). Results: Adjusting for age, gender, education and income, preliminary findings show the proportion of adults with a disability was twice as high among those with mental health needs compared to those without mental health needs (33.2% vs. 14.9%). Adults with mental health needs have higher rates of comorbid medical conditions such as high blood pressure (34.9%), asthma (20.3%), and heart disease (11.7%) than all adults in California (25.9%, 13.0%, and 6.2%, respectively). Adults with a mental health needs are also more likely than all adults in California to have two or more chronic conditions (18.8% vs. 11.2%), and report having a fair or poor health status (39.2% vs.19%). Discussion: Identifying the disparities in disability and comorbid medical conditions among adults with mental health needs will aid in the development of appropriate strategies to improve mental and physical well-being in California.

Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention
Provision of health care to the public
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
1) Describe the disparities in disability and chronic medical conditions found among adults with mental health needs in California 2) Discuss possible policy solutions to improve mental and physical health among high-risk populations.

Keywords: Chronic Diseases, Mental Disorders

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the senior lead researcher on the state funded mental health needs research project conducted by the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS). My academic and research interests have included health and disability outcomes and access to care for those with a serious mental illness.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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