Comparison of Health Care Utilization in Different Usual Sources of Care Among Older People With Cardiovascular Disease in China: Evidence From the Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health

Abstract

Objectives: To compare the health care utilization in different usual sources of care (USCs) among the elderly population with cardiovascular disease in China.Methods: Cross-sectional data for 3,340 participants aged ≥50 years with cardiovascular disease from Global AGEing and Adult Health (2010)-China were used. Using the inverse probability of treatment weighting on the propensity score with survey weighting, combined with negative binomial regression and logistic regression models, the correlation between USCs and health care utilization was assessed.Results: Patients using primary care facilities as their USC had fewer hospital admissions (IRR = 0.507, 95% CI = 0.413, 0.623) but more unmet health needs (OR = 1.657, 95% CI = 1.108, 2.478) than those using public hospitals. Patients using public clinics as their USC had higher outpatient visits (IRR = 2.188, 95% CI = 1.630, 2.939) than the private clinics’ group.Conclusion: The difference in inpatient care utilization and unmet health care needs between public hospitals and primary care facilities, and the difference in outpatient care utilization between public and private clinics were significant. Using primary care facilities as USCs, particularly public ones, appeared to increase care accessibility, but it still should be strengthened to better address patients’ health care needs.