Elderly Patients' Use of Medical Care in Germany
Author Information
Author(s): Hendrik van den Bussche, Gerhard Schön, Tina Kolonko, Heike Hansen, Karl Wegscheider, Gerd Glaeske, Daniela Koller
Primary Institution: University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf
Hypothesis
How do chronic diseases and multimorbidity affect ambulatory medical care utilization among elderly patients in Germany?
Conclusion
Elderly patients in Germany with multimorbidity and nursing dependency utilize ambulatory medical care services at a very high rate.
Supporting Evidence
- Multimorbid patients had more than twice as many contacts per year with physicians than those without multimorbidity.
- The number of contacts increased steadily with the number of chronic conditions.
- The most important factor influencing physician contact was the presence of nursing dependency due to disability.
Takeaway
Older people with multiple health problems go to the doctor a lot more than those without. If they also need help with daily activities, they visit even more.
Methodology
The study analyzed claims data from 123,224 patients aged 65 and over, focusing on their contacts with physicians and the number of chronic conditions.
Potential Biases
Potential biases include reliance on claims data without clinical verification and the exclusion of privately insured patients.
Limitations
The study only examined ambulatory physician services and did not include privately insured patients or other important aspects of utilization.
Participant Demographics
The study population consisted of 57.6% male and 42.4% female patients, with a mean age of 72 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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