INTRODUCTION: To determine the relationship between housing instability, economic standing, and access to health care and use of acute care services. METHODS: We performed a meta-regression using four nationally representative surveys. The independent variable was an ordered measure of economic and housing instability: 1) the general population, 2) low-income population, 3) never homeless users-of-subsistence-services, 4) unstably housed, 5) formerly homeless, and 6) the actively homeless. Dependent variables were four measures of health care access and three measures of acute health care utilization. RESULTS: Worsening housing instability and economic standing was associated with poorer access: being uninsured (5.4% per unit increase, 95% CI 1.7-9.2%, p=.011), postponing needed care (3.3%, 95% CI 1.9-4.7%, p=.001), postponing medications (6.1%, 95% CI 1.5-10.6%, p=.035), and with one measure of acute health care utilization: higher hospitalization rates (2.9%, 95% CI 1.2-4.6%, p=.008). DISCUSSION: Economic and housing instability should be considered a graded risk factor for poor access to health care.
INTRODUCTION: To determine the relationship between housing instability, economic standing, and access to health care and use of acute care services. METHODS: We performed a meta-regression using four nationally representative surveys. The independent variable was an ordered measure of economic and housing instability: 1) the general population, 2) low-income population, 3) never homeless users-of-subsistence-services, 4) unstably housed, 5) formerly homeless, and 6) the actively homeless. Dependent variables were four measures of health care access and three measures of acute health care utilization. RESULTS: Worsening housing instability and economic standing was associated with poorer access: being uninsured (5.4% per unit increase, 95% CI 1.7-9.2%, p=.011), postponing needed care (3.3%, 95% CI 1.9-4.7%, p=.001), postponing medications (6.1%, 95% CI 1.5-10.6%, p=.035), and with one measure of acute health care utilization: higher hospitalization rates (2.9%, 95% CI 1.2-4.6%, p=.008). DISCUSSION: Economic and housing instability should be considered a graded risk factor for poor access to health care.
Authors: Karen Bouye; Benedict I Truman; Sonja Hutchins; Roland Richard; Clive Brown; Joyce A Guillory; Jamila Rashid Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2009-10 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Ramiro Manzano-Nunez; Cheryl K Zogg; Nizar Bhulani; Justin C McCarty; Juan P Herrera-Escobar; Kaye Lu; Tomas Andriotti; Tarsicio Uribe-Leitz; Elzerie de Jager; Molly P Jarman; Adil H Haider; Gezzer Ortega Journal: World J Surg Date: 2019-06 Impact factor: 3.352
Authors: Sheri D Weiser; Abigail Hatcher; Edward A Frongillo; David Guzman; Elise D Riley; David R Bangsberg; Margot B Kushel Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2012-08-18 Impact factor: 5.128