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Chronic condition mortality in the Medicare population.
Kenneth J Krause1, Tobias Bloom
1Swiss Re Life and Health America, 175 King St, Armonk, NY 10504, USA. kenneth_krause@swissre.com
Journal of Insurance Medicine (New York, N.Y.)
|March 5, 2013
Summary
The growing elderly population in the US benefits from Medicare data analysis. This study reveals that while some chronic conditions increase mortality risk, others like depression and diabetes are manageable, with frequent physician visits improving survival.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology and Public Health
- Health Services Research
- Epidemiology
Background:
- The U.S. population aged 65 and older is at an unprecedented high.
- Medicare data offers a rich resource for studying the health and care of older adults.
- Analyzing chronic conditions is crucial for understanding mortality in this demographic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the mortality risk associated with 15 chronic conditions in the Medicare population.
- To identify chronic conditions that are associated with increased mortality versus those that individuals may live with.
- To examine the impact of healthcare utilization on survival among Medicare beneficiaries.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a 5% sample of Medicare Beneficiary Annual Summary (BASF) files (1999-2009) and Vital Status file (2011).
- Included over 3 million beneficiaries in the analysis.
- Employed Cox regression models to evaluate mortality risk linked to chronic conditions and severity factors.
Main Results:
- Confirmed high mortality risk for lung cancer, congestive heart failure, and Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
- Identified depression, diabetes, prostate, and breast cancer as conditions associated with lower mortality risk.
- Inpatient confinement and skilled nursing facility use indicated increased risk, while frequent physician visits (>10/year) correlated with better survival.
Conclusions:
- Certain chronic conditions significantly elevate mortality risk in older adults, while others are more manageable.
- Close medical supervision, indicated by frequent physician visits, appears to improve survival outcomes.
- Medicare data provides valuable insights into managing chronic diseases and improving longevity in the elderly population.
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