Age and sex interaction in reported help seeking in response to chest pain

Abstract

There is a growing literature suggesting that access to cardiology services is affected by age. However, there is a dearth of studies that have considered age and sex in conjunction. AimThis study aims to examine the impact of age, and its interaction with sex, on reported healthcare seeking, based on responses to symptom vignettes, in an attempt to standardise symptomatology across all responders. Design of studyA cross-sectional survey design was utilised. SettingPrimary care. MethodA random sample of 911 individuals, stratified by sex, was selected from one practice in the UK. Participants were invited to state how they would react in response to the chest pain symptoms presented. Patterns of response were examined, by age and sex, using χ 2 and logistic regression models. ResultsThis study identified differences by age and sex in a general practice population in the propensity to seek health care. In particular, men aged 60-69 years and women aged 70 years and over were more likely to report healthcare seeking than younger responders. For example, women aged 70 years and over had over three times greater odds of reporting contact with the GP compared to the reference category. Evidence for an interaction effect between age and sex was observed. ConclusionThe results suggest that the inequity that has been demonstrated in access to cardiology services by age is not likely to be due to the patient's illness behaviour as, overall, older people are more likely than younger people to be willing to consult their doctors. Keywordsaged; gender identity; heart; patient acceptance of health care.

Does the previous diagnosis of arterial hypertension affect one´s daily life? Pró-Saúde Study

“…However, Adamson et al observed that the tendency to look for health care because of thoracic pain, especially among women, increased with age 40 , which can be interpreted as a similar attitude to that approached in our investigation.…”

Chest pain in general practice: Frequency, management, and results of encounter

“…This can be explained by a rising prevalence of chronic problems (e.g., musculoskeletal or cardiovascular ones) and by the increased rate of healthcare seeking in patients aged 60 years and over and by the ascending frequency of cardiovascular check-ups in these patients. [ 16 17 ] Other studies reported chest pain frequencies of about 1.5% (Sweden), 0.7% (Iceland), and 15.5/1000 patient-years (Great Britain) but similar findings especially the nearly doubling of the chest pain frequency from younger adults to the elderly, as seen in the Dutch Transition Project but also a first peak in the age group of 21–40 years. [ 6 7 18 ] The variation in the reported consultation frequencies [ Table 4 ] may be explained by the different geographic backgrounds and different sampling methods of the mentioned studies.…”

Inequity in cardiovascular care in the English National Health Service (NHS): a scoping review of the literature

“…With respect to age, youth also appears to be a factor lowering rates of presentation and uptake of health checks (Adamson et al . , Dalton et al . , Cook et al .…”

“…Some studies (Donyai & Van den Berg 2009, Labeit et al 2013) agree that people from less advantaged communities are more likely to access CHD risk screening programmes, while others disagree (Horgan et al 2010, Gidlow et al 2015, Chang et al 2015, Cook et al 2016. With respect to age, youth also appears to be a factor lowering rates of presentation and uptake of health checks (Adamson et al 2008, Dalton et al 2011, Cook et al 2016, Robson et al 2016. Given the significant prevalence of overweight, obesity and associated cardiovascular risk among 45-to 64-year olds in England, the reviewed evidence suggests that preventive action could be more positively targeted at this age group.…”