Levels Of Healthcare Use Research Articles

What Drives the Contemporary Black–White Racial Disparities in Gout in the US? Impact of Social Determinants of Health

Together with the substantial role of genetic factors, serum urate levels and the occurrence of gout are also heavily driven by environmental and clinical factors, including adiposity, dietary patterns, alcohol, kidney function, and diuretic medication use. These are, in turn, greatly influenced by the social determinants of health, which encompass access to health care, availability of healthy foods, and opportunities for physical activity but also education, income, social norms, and racism, among other forces. Gout-related health disparities have been described for Māori and Pacific people in New Zealand, but racial disparities in gout prevalence and outcomes between Black and White Americans have been under-recognised, and particularly, sex-specific data are scarce. In this article we review evidence from prior cohort studies and contemporary national-level data which show the incidence and prevalence of gout and hyperuricemia in Black adults in the US have come to exceed that in White adults and are disproportionately greater in Black women. Importantly, this emerging disparity can be attributed entirely to social determinants of health, including higher levels of adiposity and poverty in Black women compared to White women and lower kidney function and poorer quality diet among Black men compared to White men. Furthermore, Black patients with gout have received poorer quality gout-related care and experienced higher levels of healthcare use, especially Black women. While identifying targets for culturally safe interventions for addressing risk factor disparities is essential, evidence gaps remain about potential disparities in longer-term outcomes of gout, including cardio-metabolic-kidney endpoints and premature mortality. Sociodemographically diverse, population-based longitudinal cohort studies, research on implementation strategies for improved gout care delivery models for underserved groups, and efforts to minimise structural racism and its effects are key to achieving health equity in gout.

Symptom patterns and health service use of women in early adulthood: a latent class analysis from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health

BackgroundSymptoms can be strong drivers for initiating interaction with the health system, especially when they are frequent, severe or impact on daily activities. Research on symptoms often use counts of symptoms as a proxy for symptom burden, however simple counts don’t provide information on whether groups of symptoms are likely to occur together or whether such groups are associated with different types and levels of healthcare use. Women have a higher symptom burden than men; however studies of symptom patterns in young women are lacking. We aimed to characterise subgroups of women in early adulthood who experienced different symptom patterns and to compare women’s use of different types of health care across the different symptom subgroups.MethodsSurvey and linked administrative data from 7 797 women aged 22–27 years in 2017 from the 1989–95 cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health were analysed. A latent class analysis was conducted to identify subgroups of women based on the frequency of 16 symptom variables. To estimate the associations between the latent classes and health service use, we used the “Bolck, Croon and Hagenaars” (BCH) approach that takes account of classification error in the assignment of women to latent classes.ResultsFour latent classes were identified, characterised by 1) low prevalence of most symptoms (36.6%), 2) high prevalence of menstrual symptoms but low prevalence of mood symptoms (21.9%), 3) high prevalence of mood symptoms but low prevalence of menstrual symptoms, (26.2%), and high prevalence of many symptoms (15.3%). Compared to the other three classes, women in the high prevalence of many symptoms class were more likely to visit general practitioners and specialists, use more medications, and more likely to have had a hospital admission.ConclusionsWomen in young adulthood experience substantially different symptom burdens. A sizeable proportion of women experience many co-occurring symptoms across both physical and psychological domains and this high symptom burden is associated with a high level of health service use. Further follow-up of the women in our study as they enter their late 20 s and early 30 s will allow us to examine the stability of the classes of symptoms and their associations with general health and health service use. Similar studies in other populations are needed to assess the generalisability of the findings.

Defining clinical subtypes of adult asthma using electronic health records: Analysis of a large UK primary care database with external validation

IntroductionAsthma is one of the commonest chronic conditions in the world. Subtypes of asthma have been defined, typically from clinical datasets on small, well-characterised subpopulations of asthma patients. We sought to define asthma subtypes from large longitudinal primary care electronic health records (EHRs) using cluster analysis. MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study, we extracted asthma subpopulations from the Optimum Patient Care Research Database (OPCRD) to robustly train and test algorithms, and externally validated findings in the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) Databank. In both databases, we identified adults with an asthma diagnosis code recorded in the three years prior to an index date. Train and test datasets were selected from OPCRD using an index date of Jan 1, 2016. Two internal validation datasets were selected from OPCRD using index dates of Jan 1, 2017 and 2018. Three external validation datasets were selected from SAIL using index dates of Jan 1, 2016, 2017 and 2018. Each dataset comprised 50,000 randomly selected non-overlapping patients. Subtypes were defined by applying multiple correspondence analysis and k-means cluster analysis to the train dataset, and were validated in the internal and external validation datasets. ResultsWe defined six asthma subtypes with clear clinical interpretability: low inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) use and low healthcare utilisation (30% of patients); low-to-medium ICS use (36%); low-to-medium ICS use and comorbidities (12%); varied ICS use and comorbid chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (4%); high (10%) and very high ICS use (7%). The subtypes were replicated with high accuracy in internal (91–92%) and external (84–86%) datasets. ConclusionAsthma subtypes derived and validated in large independent EHR databases were primarily defined by level of ICS use, level of healthcare use, and presence of comorbidities. This has important clinical implications towards defining asthma subtypes, facilitating patient stratification, and developing more personalised monitoring and treatment strategies.

A population-level study into health vulnerabilities of mothers and fathers involved in public law care proceedings in Wales, UK.

ObjectivesUnder section 31 (s.31) of the UK Children Act 1989, public law care proceedings can be issued if there is concern a child is subject to, or at risk of significant harm. We examined health vulnerabilities of parents involved in public law care proceedings in the two-year period prior to involvement. ApproachOur study created an anonymised individual-level population-based cohort, with a matched comparison group of parents in Wales who were not subject to care proceedings, matched on age, sex and deprivation. Family court data provided by Cafcass Cymru were linked to population-level healthcare records held within the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) Databank. Demographic characteristics, overall health service use and health profiles of parents of children subject to s.31 care proceedings between 2011 and 2019 were examined. ResultsData were available for 8,821 parents involved in care proceedings between 2011 and 2019, with a comparison group of 32,006 parents. Nearly half (47.6%) of cohort parents resided in the most deprived quintile. Higher levels of healthcare use were found for cohort mothers and fathers compared to the comparison group across multiple healthcare settings, with the most pronounced differences for emergency department attendances (59.3% vs 37.0%). Health conditions with the largest variation between groups were related to mental health (43.6% vs 16.0%), substance use (19.4% vs 1.6%) and injuries (41.5% vs 23.6%). ConclusionThis study highlights the heightened socioeconomic and health vulnerabilities of parents who experience care proceedings concerning a child. Better understanding of the needs and vulnerabilities of this population may provide opportunities to improve a range of support and preventative interventions that respond to crises in the community.

A population level study into health vulnerabilities of mothers and fathers involved in public law care proceedings in Wales, UK between 2011 and 2019

IntroductionUnder section 31 of the Children Act 1989, public law care proceedings can be issued if there is concern a child is subject to, or at risk of significant harm, which can lead to removal of a child from parents. Appropriate and effective health and social support are required to potentially prevent some of the need for these proceedings. More comprehensive evidence of the health needs and vulnerabilities of parents will enable enhanced response from family courts and integrated other services. ObjectiveTo examine health vulnerabilities of parents involved in care proceedings in the two-year period prior to involvement. MethodsFamily court data provided by Cafcass Cymru were linked to population-based health records held within the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage Databank. Linked data were available for 8,821 parents of children involved in care proceedings between 2011 and 2019. Findings were benchmarked with reference to a comparison group of parents matched on sex, age, and deprivation (n = 32,006), not subject to care proceedings. Demographic characteristics, overall health service use, and health profiles of parents were examined. Descriptive and statistical tests of independence were used. ResultsNearly half of cohort parents (47.6%) resided in the most deprived quintile. They had higher levels of healthcare use compared to the comparison group across multiple healthcare settings, with the most pronounced differences for emergency department attendances (59.3% vs 37.0%). Health conditions with the largest variation between groups were related to mental health (43.6% vs 16.0%), substance use (19.4% vs 1.6%) and injuries (41.5% vs 23.6%). ConclusionThis study highlights the heightened socioeconomic and health vulnerabilities of parents who experience care proceedings concerning a child. Better understanding of the needs and vulnerabilities of this population may provide opportunities to improve a range of support and preventative interventions that respond to crises in the community.

Geroprotectors and Skeletal Health: Beyond the Headlines.

Osteoporosis and osteoarthritis are the most common age-related diseases of the musculoskeletal system. They are responsible for high level of healthcare use and are often associated with comorbidities. Mechanisms of ageing such as senescence, inflammation and autophagy are common drivers for both diseases and molecules targeting those mechanisms (geroprotectors) have potential to prevent both diseases and their co-morbidities. However, studies to test the efficacy of geroprotectors on bone and joints are scant. The limited studies available show promising results to prevent and reverse Osteoporosis-like disease. In contrast, the effects on the development of Osteoarthritis-like disease in ageing mice has been disappointing thus far. Here we review the literature and report novel data on the effect of geroprotectors for Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis, we challenge the notion that extension of lifespan correlates with extension of healthspan in all tissues and we highlight the need for more thorough studies to test the effects of geroprotectors on skeletal health in ageing organisms.

Health anxiety is an important driver of healthcare use

BackgroundHealthcare use is increasing, and health anxiety (HA) is recognized as an important associated factor. Previous research on the association between HA and healthcare use has mostly explored HA as a dichotomous construct, which contrasts the understanding of HA as a continuous construct, and compared healthcare use to non-use. There is a need for studies that examine the association between healthcare use and the continuum of HA in a general population.AimTo explore the association between HA and primary, somatic specialist and mental specialist healthcare use and any differences in the association by level of healthcare use.MethodsThis study used cross-sectional data from the seventh Tromsø study. Eighteen thousand nine hundred sixty-seven participants aged 40 years or older self-reported their primary, somatic specialist and mental specialist healthcare use over the past 12 months. Each health service was categorized into 5 groups according to the level of use. The Whiteley Index-6 (WI-6) was used to measure HA on a 5-point Likert scale, with a total score range of 0–24. Analyses were conducted using unconstrained continuation-ratio logistic regression, in which each level of healthcare use was compared with all lower levels. Morbidity, demographics and social variables were included as confounders.ResultsHA was positively associated with increased utilization of primary, somatic specialist and mental specialist healthcare. Adjusting for confounders, including physical and mental morbidity, did not alter the significant association. For primary and somatic specialist healthcare, each one-point increase in WI-6 score yielded a progressively increased odds ratio (OR) of a higher level of use compared to all lower levels. The ORs ranged from 1.06 to 1.15 and 1.05 to 1.14 for primary and somatic specialist healthcare, respectively. For mental specialist healthcare use, the OR was more constant across levels of use, ranging between 1.06 and 1.08.ConclusionsIn an adult general population, HA, as a continuous construct, was significantly and positively associated with primary, somatic specialist and mental healthcare use. A small increase in HA was associated with progressively increased healthcare use across the three health services, indicating that the impact of HA is more prominent with higher healthcare use.

Outpatient healthcare use before and during a long-term sickness absence spell: a register-based follow-up study comparing healthcare use by the length of sickness absence and transition to disability pension in Finland

ObjectivesThe objective of the study was to examine outpatient healthcare use before and during a long-term sickness absence (LTSA), and to compare the development of healthcare use between groups defined...

Assessing Health Care Use Trajectories After the Onset of Functional Disability: Application of a Group-Based Trajectory Model.

While older adults with activity limitations have high levels of health care use, we do not know how this varies over time. We aimed to assess trajectories of Emergency Department (ED) use and hospitalization after the onset of receipt of help with self-care or mobility. We used the 2011-2017 National Health Aging Trends Study (NHATS) linked to Medicare claims to identify a cohort of older adults who began to receive help with self-care or mobility in the past year. Primary outcome was the quarterly rates of ED use and/or hospitalization over the 24 months following the onset of receiving help. We fit a Group-Based Trajectory Model to identify the trajectories of ED use or hospitalization and assessed the association of characteristics preceding and concurrent to the onset of help with trajectory group membership. Among 1,687 NHATS respondents newly receiving help with self-care/mobility, health care use escalated and then immediately fell. We found distinct trajectories of ED use and hospitalization: delayed rise (13.5%), falling (26.2%), and persistent (60.4%). Trajectory group membership was predicted by clinical, economic, and regional characteristics; and the individuals in each group differed in terms of concurrent new illnesses and degree of disability. While activity limitations are a strong predictor of health care use among older adults, trajectories of health care use are heterogeneous. Along with clinical characteristics, potentially modifiable household and regional factors shaped health care trajectories, indicating that addressing these factors could potentially shift health care use patterns.

A population level study into health vulnerabilities of mothers and fathers involved in public law care proceedings in Wales, UK between 2011 and 2019

IntroductionUnder section 31 of the Children Act 1989, public law care proceedings can be issued if there is concern a child is subject to, or at risk of significant harm, which can lead to removal of a child from parents. Appropriate and effective health and social support are required to potentially prevent some of the need for these proceedings. More comprehensive evidence of the health needs and vulnerabilities of parents will enable enhanced response from family courts and integrated other services.ObjectiveTo examine health vulnerabilities of parents involved in care proceedings in the two-year period prior to involvement.MethodsFamily court data provided by Cafcass Cymru were linked to population-based health records held within the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage Databank. Linked data were available for 8,821 parents of children involved in care proceedings between 2011 and 2019. Findings were benchmarked with reference to a comparison group of parents matched on sex, age, and deprivation (n = 32,006), not subject to care proceedings. Demographic characteristics, overall health service use, and health profiles of parents were examined. Descriptive and statistical tests of independence were used.ResultsNearly half of cohort parents (47.6%) resided in the most deprived quintile. They had higher levels of healthcare use compared to the comparison group across multiple healthcare settings, with the most pronounced differences for emergency department attendances (59.3% vs 37.0%). Health conditions with the largest variation between groups were related to mental health (43.6% vs 16.0%), substance use (19.4% vs 1.6%) and injuries (41.5% vs 23.6%).ConclusionThis study highlights the heightened socioeconomic and health vulnerabilities of parents who experience care proceedings concerning a child. Better understanding of the needs and vulnerabilities of this population may provide opportunities to improve a range of support and preventative interventions that respond to crises in the community.

Delivery of Home and Community Based Services During a Pandemic: Unexpected Consequences

The COVID-19 pandemic required AAAs to pause essential services, serving as a catalyst for innovation. We examined such innovations as part of an explanatory mixed-methods, positive deviance study of AAA partnerships with health and social service organizations. We identified 8 AAAs with many partners serving areas with lower levels of health care use, and 3 AAAs with few partners serving areas with higher levels of health care use. We interviewed AAA and partners, (total = 123). Using the constant comparative method, we identified recurrent themes: 1) AAAs adapted to increased demand for services by developing new ways to deliver services, 2) the pandemic raised awareness of unmet needs such as social connection, 3) changes in delivery of services included embracing technology, and 4) AAAs and their partners identified resources to rapidly pivot services. AAAs and partners demonstrated resiliency to not only to sustain programs, but to innovate throughout the pandemic.

Impact of an automatic palliative care consultation trigger on healthcare use in patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia.

224 Background: Patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have poor outcomes and high levels of healthcare use at end of life. Palliative care remains underused in hematology and questions remain on how best to integrate palliative care for high-risk patients. We conducted a prospective cohort study evaluating palliative care consultation triggers for patients admitted to a tertiary academic center with advanced AML. Methods: Criteria were developed for all hospitalized patients with hematologic malignancy on the inpatient hematology floors and included: 1) persistent disease after ≥ 2 lines of therapy, 2) length of stay (LOS) > 7 days for symptom management, 3) ECOG performance status > 2, and 4) refractory GVHD ≥ 3 lines of therapy. Patients with relapsed/refractory AML were included if they met criteria 1. A nurse coordinator performed chart review of admitted patients 1-2 times/week from June to December 2020 on the inpatient hematology floor at Smilow Cancer Hospital and contacted the primary team when patients met eligibility. Patient characteristics and healthcare outcomes were compared with patients with AML meeting criteria 1 admitted pre-intervention (June to December 2019) using Fisher t-tests. Results: A total 110 admitted patients were eligible (64 pre-intervention and 46 post-intervention). Baseline patient and disease characteristics were similar, including mean age at admission (60.4 vs 60.9 years, p = 0.848), gender (64% vs 59% male, p = 0.691), prior transplant (56% vs 52%, p = 0.702), and AML risk stratification (67% vs 78% adverse risk, p = 0.283). In the post-intervention group, 61% of eligible patients were screened. Of the screened patients, 54% received a palliative care consult, 18% were declined by the primary team, 14% were marked as not eligible, and 14% did not have consult with reason unspecified. Overall, palliative care consults increased in the post-intervention group (22% vs 43%, p = 0.021). There was a significant increase in advance care planning and/or advanced directive documentation post-intervention (13% vs 28%, p = 0.049). There was no differences in pre- and post-intervention groups in LOS (12.13 vs 12.33 days, p = 0.941), 30-day readmissions (52% vs 39%, p = 0.557), critical/intermediate care escalation (22% vs 13%, p = 0.318) and non-palliative chemotherapy post-discharge (48% vs 39%, p = 0.246). Conclusions: A triggered palliative care referral intervention is feasible and doubled palliative care use in patients with relapsed/refractory AML, a group with high mortality and high healthcare utilization. Our intervention improved documentation of advance care planning. Although there were directional reductions in other healthcare use measures, the differences were not statistically significant, likely from the small sample sizes leading to the study being underpowered.

Development of healthcare use across contemporary retirement pathways: results from a register based cohort study.

Aim:We aimed to understand the interplay between retirement pathways and healthcare use in the postponed and structurally changing context of retirement.Methods:Based on Swedish register data on income and healthcare use, we applied combined sequence and cluster analysis to identify typical pathways into retirement and analysed their relation to healthcare use developments.Results:We detected five distinct pathways into retirement. Level of healthcare use was significantly higher for the pathway via disability pensions. We saw an overall increase in healthcare use across the retirement process that was related to age rather than to the different pathways.Conclusions:Level of healthcare use at the beginning of the retirement process may be related to selection into different pathways of retirement. We did not find clear evidence across several healthcare measures that different pathways lead to different developments in healthcare use.

Assessment of Emergency Department and Inpatient Use and Costs in Adult and Pediatric Functional Neurological Disorders

There is limited information about health care use and costs in patients with functional neurological disorders (FNDs). To assess US emergency department (ED) and inpatient use and charges for FNDs. This economic evaluation used Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project data to assess all-payer (1) adult (age, ≥18 years) hospitalizations (2008-2017), (2) pediatric (age, 5-17 years) hospitalizations (2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, and 2016), and (3) adult and pediatric ED evaluations (2008-2017). International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification code 300.11 (conversion disorder) or 306.0 (musculoskeletal malfunction arising from mental factors) and International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification codes for conversion disorder/functional neurological symptom disorder (F44.4 to F44.7) were used to conservatively define FNDs and to compare them with other neurological disorders that are associated with high levels of health care use. Analysis was performed between January 2019 and July 2020. Admission traits (eg, demographic characteristics of patients, length of stay, and discharge disposition) and hospital charges. Compared with other neurological disorders in 2017, emergency FND evaluations of 36 359 adults (25 807 women [71.0%] and 3800 children (2733 girls [71.9%]) more frequently resulted in inpatient admissions (22 895 adult admissions [69.2% female] and 1264 pediatric admissions [73.4% ]). These FND admissions had a shorter mean (SEM) hospital length of stay (5.21 [0.15] days vs 6.03 [0.03] days, P < .001) but higher workup rates than admissions for comparable neurological diagnoses. Admissions for FNDs had low rates of inpatient physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language pathology, and psychiatric consultation. The total annual costs (a proxy for total costs in 2017 US dollars) were $1066 million (95% CI, $971-$1160 million) for adult FND inpatient charges in 2017 compared with $1241 million (95% CI, $1132-$1351 million) for anterior horn cell disease; $75 million (95% CI, $57-$92 million) for pediatric FND inpatient charges in 2012 compared with $86 million (95% CI, $63-$108 million) for demyelinating diseases; and $163 million (95% CI, $144-$182 million) for adult and pediatric ED visits in 2017 compared with $135 million (95% CI $111-$159 million) for refractory epilepsy. Total charges per admission for ED care of FNDs were higher than the other comparison groups in adults. Total costs and costs per admission for FNDs increased from 2008 to 2017 at a higher rate than that of other neurological disorders. This economic evaluation found that the more than $1.2 billion and increasing annual costs for ED and inpatient care of FNDs were similar to other investigation-intensive and pharmacologically demanding neurological disorders. Unnecessary investigations and iatrogenic harm inflate costs at the expense of necessary but neglected psychiatric and rehabilitative treatments.

A Bourdieusian approach to class-related inequalities: the role of capitals and capital structure in the utilisation of healthcare services in later life.

This paper draws on Bourdieu's theory of economic, social and cultural capital to understand the relative effect of the volume and the composition of these capitals on healthcare service use in later life. Based on data from the fifth wave of the Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe (n = 64,840), we first look at the contribution of each capital in the use of three healthcare services (general practitioner, dentist and hospital). Using cluster analysis, we then mobilise Bourdieu's concept of habitus to explain how the unequal distribution of material and non‐material capitals acquired in childhood lead to different levels of health and hospital care utilisation in later life. After controlling for demographic and health insurance variables, our results show that economic capital has the strongest individual association among the three capitals. However, the results of a cluster analysis used to distinguish between capital structures show that those with high non‐material capital and low material capital have higher levels of primary healthcare utilisation, and in turn lower levels of hospital use. Bourdieu's approach sheds light on the importance of capitals in all forms and structures to understand the class‐related mechanisms that contribute to different levels of healthcare use.

Prevalence of common mental health disorders in adults who are high or costly users of healthcare services: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

IntroductionIn all healthcare settings, a small proportion of patients account for a large level of healthcare use and associated high healthcare costs. Depression and anxiety are common co-morbidities in patients...

Healthcare Use Patterns and Economic Burden of Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain in Children before Diagnosis

To evaluate the healthcare use and costs of amplified musculoskeletal pain syndrome (AMPS) in children before diagnosis. We performed a retrospective study in children with AMPS at a pediatric rheumatology clinic between 2010 and 2014. Data were abstracted on 80 patients after primary rheumatic diseases were excluded. Healthcare visits, medications and diagnostic testing that occurred in the years before diagnosis were collected. The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey was used to estimate visit costs. Patients were adolescent females (89%) and white (86%). The median time to diagnosis was 10.2 months. The median pain score was 6.5 and the median Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire score was 1.1. In this cohort, 29% had at least 1 ED visit and 5% were hospitalized. All patients saw a rheumatologist and 41% had visited another specialist, typically orthopedics and sports medicine. More than one-half had at least 1 radiographic study and 21% had at least 1 magnetic resonance imaging. The total cost for office, emergency department, and hospital visits for AMPS in all 80 patients was $152 853. The mean cost per patient over the entire study period (2008-2014) was $1911 ± $3808, and 43% of costs were outpatient visits. Children with AMPS have high levels of disability and take a long time to be diagnosed. As a result, even before diagnosis, they have high levels of healthcare use, diagnostic testing, and medical costs. Early recognition of disability and quicker referral to trained subspecialists may improve the prognosis, reduce unnecessary testing, and reduce the overall costs of healthcare.

Healthcare Utilization by Older Age Groups in Northern States of Peninsular Malaysia: The Role of Predisposing, Enabling and Need Factors.

Determining factors that affect healthcare utilization by the elderly is vital for the health system to be more responsive in providing care to this vulnerable group. The main objective of this paper is to identify the effect of the predisposing, enabling, and need factors on doctor visits and in-patient care for the elderly residing in the northern region of Malaysia. A multistage cluster sampling was used in selecting the sample for the study. A total of 1414 respondents aged 60 and over were interviewed face-to-face using a structured questionnaire. A probit model was used in estimating the utilization equations. At a significance level of 0.05, except for age, all predisposing and enabling factors were not statistically significant in affecting the doctor visits. On the other hand, being a male, smoker, medical insurance holder or had not actively involved in social interaction within the reference period increases the likelihood of being in-patient. Health-related variables remain the most significant factors that determine healthcare utilization, including both doctor visits and in-patient stays, in the area of study, which suggests that government policies to improve population health may influence the level of healthcare use in the future.

Individual predictors of frequent emergency department use: a scoping review.

BackgroundA small proportion of patients use an excessively large amount of emergency care resources which often results in emergency department (ED) overcrowding, decreased quality of care and efficiency. There is a need to better identify these patients in order to target those who will benefit most from interventions adapted to their specific needs. We aimed to identify the predictive factors of short-term frequent use of ED (over a 1-year period) and chronic frequent use of ED (over a multiple-year period) and to highlight recurring characteristics in patients.MethodsA scoping review was performed of all relevant articles found in Medline published between 1979 and 2015 (Ovid). This scoping review included a total of 20 studies, of these, 16 articles focussed on frequent ED users and four others on chronic frequent ED users.ResultsA majority of articles confirm that patients who frequently visit the ED are persons of low socioeconomic status. Both frequent and chronic frequent ED users show high levels of health care use (other than the ED) and suffer from multiple physical and mental conditions.ConclusionsThis research highlights which individual factors predict frequent emergency department use. Further research is needed to better characterize and understand chronic frequent users as well as the health issues and unmet medical needs that lead to chronic frequent ED use.

The economic costs of mental health-related discrimination.

ObjectiveTo estimate and compare the economic costs of mental health‐related discrimination in the domains of health care, relationships and participation in leisure activities in England between 2011 and 2014.MethodA subsample of the Viewpoint survey was interviewed using the Costs of Discrimination Assessment Questionnaire in 2011 and 2014. Information on the impact of discrimination on healthcare use, help seeking from family and friends and participation in leisure activities was recorded. Pattern of contacts, costs and predictor of costs were examined.ResultsOur findings showed higher costs of health service use for individuals who reported experiences of discrimination in healthcare settings in 2011 compared with those who did not (mean difference £625, P‐value 0.019). Individuals who reported experiences of discrimination in relationships in 2014 had higher healthcare costs than those who did not (mean difference £418, P ‐value 0.034). There was some evidence of a reduction in overall levels of healthcare use, leisure activities and support from families over time. Discrimination did not significantly affect help seeking from family/friends or leisure activities.ConclusionThere is some evidence that discrimination is related to increased healthcare costs. A prospective study is needed to better understand the consequences of these effects.