Demographic differences in health status of homeless adults

To determine how the physical health of homeless adults varies by the demographic characteristics of age, gender, ethnicity, lifetime length of homelessness, and work status.

A community-based sample of 529 homeless adults.

In multivariate analyses, the authors studied the independent contributions of five demographic groups to variations in 12 physical health measures (based on self-reports from face-to-face interviews, screening physical examinations, and venous blood samples).

Older persons were more likely to have a functional disability (p < 0.001), chronic disease (p < 0.001), and greater risk of dying (p < 0.001), but less likely to abuse substances (p < 0.001). Men were more likely than women to be substance users (p < 0.001) and to have a greater risk of dying (p < 0.001). Whites and blacks were less likely than respondents in other ethnic groups to have an abnormal blood test (p < 0.001). Persons homeless longer were more likely to be substance users (p < 0.001) and to have experienced trauma (p < 0.001). Working for pay was not related to any of our health measures.

Age and gender contributed most to the understanding of differences in health status among homeless adults. Since the homeless have a wide variety of physical, mental, social, and substance-abuse problems, primary care providers are in the best position to provide the broad-based care needed by such persons.