National Healthcare Utilization Patterns Among People with Disabilities

People with disabilities are being recognized as a minority population which experiences greater healthcare utilization and disparities.  The 2011 National Health Interview Survey was used to assess healthcare utilization among the people with disabilities; 40,508,592 people or 17.76% of respondents reported having a disability. However, this subpopulation is responsible for high rates of health service utilization compared to people without disabilities. 46.7% of people who received care from healthcare professions 10 times or more and 40.7% of people who spent a night in a hospital in the past year had a disability. Overall, in the past year people with disabilities were significantly more likely to have seen a healthcare professional 10 or more times, (OR=5.58, 95%CI:4.94-6.30); been in a hospital overnight, (OR=3.76, 95%CI:3.30-4.29); been in a hospital for two or more separate overnight visits, (OR=3.01, 95%CI:2.37-3.84) than people without disabilities. Men (OR=6.57, 95%CI:5.46-7.90) and women (OR=4.96, 95%CI:4.28-5.75) with disabilities are more likely to report having seen a healthcare professional 10 or more times in the past year than people without disabilities. Health disparities are compounded by the combination of disability in racial and ethnic minorities. Whites (OR=5.38, 95%CI:4.70-6.17), Blacks (OR=6.72, 95%CI:5.11-8.85), Asians (OR=5.81 95%CI:3.15-10.72), and other races (OR=8.44 95%CI:3.37-21.16) with disabilities are more likely to report having seen a healthcare professional 10 or more times in the past year than their racial counterparts without disabilities. Results suggest significantly greater healthcare utilization among people with disabilities; further research is needed to understand the drivers and efficacy of this care.