Healthcare and aging: do European Union countries differ?

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Healthcare access and utilization among older adults are critical public health concerns.
• Socio-economic status can influence health outcomes and service engagement in elderly populations.
• Understanding these disparities is essential for equitable healthcare system planning in Europe.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate socio-economic inequalities in the use, accessibility, and satisfaction with health services.
• To examine these inequalities among individuals aged 60-84 years.
• To compare findings across seven diverse European urban communities.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study conducted in 2009 involving 4,467 respondents aged 60-84 years.
• Data collected from urban communities in Germany, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden.
• Logistic regression analysis used to identify factors associated with refraining from seeking care.

Main Results:

• The majority of older adults had recent contact with healthcare providers, with highest utilization in Spain and Portugal.
• 13.0% of respondents reported refraining from seeking care, notably higher in Lithuania (24.0%), Germany (16.2%), and Portugal (15.4%).
• Higher education levels (OR=1.21) and financial strain (OR=1.26) were significantly associated with refraining from care, indicating socio-economic disparities.

Conclusions:

• Significant variations exist in healthcare use, accessibility, and satisfaction among older adults across European countries.
• Socio-economic factors, including education and financial strain, play a crucial role in healthcare access for seniors.
• Findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to address inequalities in healthcare delivery for the elderly.