Socioeconomic and Lifestyle Factors Related to Cost and Frequency of Hospitalization in European Older Adults

Abstract

Individuals’ lifestyles play an important role in healthcare costs. A large part of these costs is derived from hospitalizations. With the aim of determine the relationship between lifestyle and the likelihood of hospitalization and associate costs in older adults, this study used the Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe. Generalized regression models for panel data were developed and adjusted hospitalization costs derived from the length of hospital stay were also estimated. The average adjusted cost of hospitalization was I$ 9901.50 and the analyses showed that performing weekly physical activity significantly reduces the probability of hospitalization (OR: 0.624) and its costs (I$ 2594.5 less per person per year than subjects who never performed physical activity). Muscle strength plays an important role in this relationship and eating habits are not of great significance. Furthermore, we found interesting differences in the frequency and costs of hospitalization between subjects by country.

Structural and intermediary socioeconomic determinants of health associated with hospitalizations and doctor visits in older adults in Europe.

“…Our study shows that engaging in both vigorous and moderate physical activity and having greater muscle strength are associated with a reduced risk of hospitalization. These findings are consistent with those of a previous study in European countries [10], which found that both individuals with good muscle strength and those engaging in vigorous or moderate physical activity more than once a week significantly reduced the likelihood of hospitalization. Various studies over the years have reported similar results.…”

“…A previous work used cross-country time series data in a generalized linear model for panel data to analyze the importance of a set of determinants of access to the healthcare system [10]. However, as explained in the introduction section, a common element missing from this previous research is the ability to take into account cross-country variations in access to the health system (using doctor visits or hospitalizations).…”

“…A series of factors determine an individual's hospitalization rate: genetic and congenital factors [6]- [8]; individual socioeconomic and lifestyle factors [9], [10]; and the country or region of residence [11], [12]. This last factor is important in the sense that the social determinants of health, such as income, education, and access to health services in a given country, can be even greater determinants of individual health than health care itself [13].…”

“…A previous study examined the socioeconomic and lifestyle factors related to both the cost and frequency of hospitalization of older adults in Europe [10]. However, there exist differences that cannot be explained exclusively by social gradient or lifestyle.…”

Impact of Socioeconomic Environment on Home Social Care Service Demand and Dependent Users

“…This study explored which sociodemographic features may influence this phenomenon. Previous research has pointed out features that have an impact on the demand for social services [ 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ]. Therefore, we analyzed demographic and economic data divided geographically by CSS coverage area.…”