Ethnic-based differences in the association of self-perceived health status and doctor’s office utilization: longitudinal study on aging

Abstract

Background

The purpose of this study was to determine whether self-perceived health status is predictive of a doctor’s office visit in the Longitudinal Study on Aging (LSOA).

Methods

This was a population-based longitudinal study of persons aged ≥70 years who participated in the Study on Aging in 1984 and a follow-up survey of the LSOA in 1986. The cohort for the study consisted of 560 blacks and 6880 whites who were 70 years or older in 1984. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed separately for blacks and for whites.

Results

The study sample was predominantly Caucasian (91.2%) with a mean age 76.8 ± 5.5 years and mean education grade 10 ± 3.7. The majority (82%) lived above the poverty level. Self-reported poor health status predicted the use of doctor’s office services among whites (odds ratio [OR] 5.15; 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.34–7.95), but not in blacks (OR 1.6; 95% CI 0.54–4.76).

Conclusion

Self-perceived health status predicted the use of doctor’s office services among older whites but not in older blacks in the LSOA.

Keywords:

• self-perceived health status
• physician office visits
• health services utilization
• LSOA
• elderly

Acknowledgment

TO Obisesan was supported by grant 20-C-90721/3 from CMS, career development award AG00980 and research award RO1-AG031517 from the National Institute on Aging, and research award 1UL1RR031975-01 from the National Center for Research Resources.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work. The authors’ conclusions do not represent the views of the National Center for Health Statistics or that of the National Institute on Aging.