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  • Title: Relationship of BMI, waist circumference, and weight change with use of health services by older adults.
    Author: León-Muñoz LM, Guallar-Castillón P, López García E, Banegas JR, Gutiérrez-Fisac JL, Rodríguez-Artalejo F.
    Journal: Obes Res; 2005 Aug; 13(8):1398-404. PubMed ID: 16129722.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship of BMI, waist circumference (WC), and weight change with use of health care services by older adults. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: This was a prospective cohort study conducted from 2001 to 2003 among 2919 persons representative of the non-institutionalized Spanish population > or =60 years of age. Analyses were performed using logistic regression, with adjustment for age, educational level, size of place of residence, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and presence of chronic disease. RESULTS: Obesity (BMI > or = 30 kg/m(2)) and abdominal obesity (WC >102 cm in men and >88 cm in women) in 2001 were associated with greater use of certain health care services among men and women in the period 2001-2003. Compared with women with WC < or = 88 cm, women with abdominal obesity were more likely to visit primary care physicians [odds ratio (OR): 1.36; 95% confidence limit (CL): 1.06-1.73] and receive influenza vaccination (OR: 1.30; 95% CL: 1.03-1.63). Weight gain was not associated with greater health service use by either sex, regardless of baseline BMI. Weight loss was associated with greater health service use by obese and non-obese subjects of both sexes. In comparison with those who reported no important weight change, non-obese women who lost weight were more likely to visit hospital specialists (OR: 1.45; 95% CL: 1.02-2.06), receive home medical visits (OR: 1.61; 95% CL: 1.06-2.45), be hospitalized (OR: 1.88; 95% CL: 1.29-2.74), and have more than one hospital admission (OR: 2.31; 95% CL: 1.19-4.47). DISCUSSION: Obesity and weight loss are associated with greater health service use among the elderly.
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