Objectives: Past research involving functional problems and medical utilization has been limited to earlier surveys, local people, women, or use of Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) as the only measure of functional status, and is rarely investigated in non-US countries. We sought to re-examine the effect of functional status on health care utilization in the elderly, using a recent health survey conducted in Taiwan. Methods: 2,243 community-dwelling residents 60 years of age and older in the 2001 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) in Taiwan were analyzed. Physical function was assessed using six ADLs questions and nine questions involving mobility tasks. The NHIS data were merged with the National Health Insurance claim data. Multiple linear regression was used to model the relationship between functional status and health care costs. Results: A clear gradient relationship between functional status and expenses was observed, with a small proportion of people with declining function responsible for a large proportion of the expenses. Functional status was independently associated with health care expenditures in the multiple regression model. Conclusions: Results from this more recent, non-US, nationwide research support the notion that functional status has an independent contribution to total health care expenditures in the elderly across countries.
Date:
2007-12
Relation:
Taiwan Journal of Public Health. 2007 Dec;26(6):482-490.
