Background: Health care utilisation HCU can be a useful outcome for estimating costs and patient needs. It can also be used as a surrogate parameter for healthy ageing. The aim of this study was to analyse the associations of formerly described and potentially new parameters influencing health care utilisation in older adults in Germany. Patients and methods: The ActiFE Ulm Activity and Function in the Elderly in Ulm study is a population-based study in 1, community dwelling older adults aged years in Ulm and surrounding areas in southwestern Germany.
Between March and April a full geriatric assessment was performed including accelerometer-based average daily walking duration, comorbidity, medication, physical and psychological functioning, health care utilisation, sociodemographic factors etc. The association between above named measures and health care utilisation, represented by the number of drugs, the days in hospital and the number of physician contacts over one year was calculated in multiple regression models.
Results: The average number of drugs was 4. The number of drugs was most strongly associated with coronary heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Walking activity could be regarded as the most promising modifiable predictor of HCU in older adults.
Abstract Background: Health care utilisation HCU can be a useful outcome for estimating costs and patient needs. Publication types Research Support, Non-U.
