Health service utilisation associated with chronic breathlessness: random population sample

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Health service utilization studies often focus on specific diagnoses, neglecting chronic symptoms.
• Chronic breathlessness is a prevalent symptom impacting quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if population-level health service utilization increases in individuals with chronic breathlessness.
• To investigate the association between chronic breathlessness and healthcare seeking behaviors.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional analysis of the 2017 South Australian Health Omnibus Survey.
• Face-to-face interviews with 2898 adults assessing health service use in the prior 3 months.
• Utilized self-reported data on chronic breathlessness (modified Medical Research Council scale) and healthcare utilization.

Main Results:

• 8.8% of respondents reported chronic breathlessness (mMRC ≥1).
• Greater healthcare contact was associated with older age and more severe chronic breathlessness.
• Chronic breathlessness and older age independently predicted increased outpatient and inpatient care; those with chronic breathlessness had longer hospitalizations (IRR 2.5).

Conclusions:

• A significant association exists between worse chronic breathlessness and increased health service utilization.
• Further research is needed to understand the factors driving healthcare contact for chronic breathlessness.