Article2020

Social Isolation Associated with Future Health Care Utilization

David M. Mosen · Matthew P. Banegas · Reginald D. Tucker‐Seeley · Erin M. Keast · Weiming Hu · Briar L. Ertz-Berger +1 more

42 citations0/0 files storedPopulation Health Management

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Health disparities and outcomes Emergency and Acute Care Studies Aging, Health, and Disability

Abstract

Social isolation among individuals ages 65 years and older is associated with poor health outcomes. However, little is known about health care utilization patterns of socially isolated individuals. This retrospective, observational study evaluated associations between social isolation and hospital and emergency department (ED) utilization among Medicare patients ages 65 years and older. In a cohort of 18,557 Medicare members age 65 years and older at Kaiser Permanente Northwest, the authors compared rates of hospitalization and ED visits in the 12 months following a baseline survey between respondents who reported feeling lonely or socially isolated and those who did not, controlling for demographic and health variables and utilization in the 12 months prior to the survey. Statistical analysis was conducted in February 2020. In adjusted models, those who reported “sometimes” experiencing social isolation were more likely to have at least 1 hospital admission (odds ratio [OR sometimes ]: 1.17, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01–1.35, P = 0.04), than those who “rarely” or “never” experienced social isolation. Those who experienced social isolation “sometimes” or “often/always” were more likely to have at least 1 ED visit (OR sometimes : 1.28, 95% CI: 1.15–1.41, P < 0.0001, and OR often/always : 1.51, 95% CI: 1.25–1.84, P < 0.0001, respectively) than those who “rarely” or “never” experienced social isolation. These findings suggest that self-reported social isolation may be predictive of future hospital admissions and ED utilization. Research is needed to determine how addressing social isolation needs within the health care system affects health care utilization and health outcomes.

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References

2010Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: A Meta-analytic Review 2015Loneliness and Social Isolation as Risk Factors for Mortality 2010The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) developed and tested its first wave of adult self-reported health outcome item banks: 2005–2008 2009Social Disconnectedness, Perceived Isolation, and Health among Older Adults 2003Social Isolation and Health, with an Emphasis on Underlying Mechanisms 2012Social Isolation, Loneliness and Health Among Older Adults 2018The Epidemiology of Social Isolation: National Health and Aging Trends Study 2014New English and Spanish social health measures will facilitate evaluating health determinants.

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2021Health service underutilization and its associated factors for chronic diseases patients in poverty-stricken areas in China: a multilevel analysis 2021The Association of Loneliness With Health and Social Care Utilization in Older Adults in the General Population: A Systematic Review 2021Reaching people with disabilities to learn about their experiences of social connection and loneliness 2024The impact of retirement on loneliness in Europe

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