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Associations Between Social Risk Factors and Acute-Care Use Among Patients With Rheumatic Conditions
Haelynn Gim1, Leah Santacroce2, Rebecca Summit2
1Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Arthritis Care & Research
|June 29, 2026
Summary
Patients with rheumatic conditions facing social risks experience more emergency department visits and hospitalizations. Addressing these social determinants of health may be key to reducing acute care use in this population.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Public Health
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Social risk factors are linked to poorer health outcomes.
- Patients with rheumatic conditions may be disproportionately affected by social risks.
- Understanding the impact of social risks on acute care utilization is crucial for effective patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between social risk factors and acute care utilization (emergency department visits and hospitalizations) in patients with rheumatic conditions.
- To identify specific social risks associated with increased acute care use.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of 9,590 patients with rheumatic conditions receiving rheumatology care.
- Utilized negative binomial models to assess the relationship between social risk factors and rates of emergency department visits and hospitalizations.
- Adjusted for sociodemographic factors and comorbidities.
Main Results:
- 17% of patients reported at least one social risk factor.
- Social risk factors were associated with significantly higher rates of emergency department visits (IRR 1.74) and hospitalizations (IRR 1.96).
- Specific risks like food insecurity, housing insecurity, and medication costs were linked to increased acute care use, but preventable emergency department visits were not associated with social risk factors.
Conclusions:
- Social risk factors are associated with increased acute care utilization among patients with rheumatic conditions.
- The study did not find a link between social risk factors and preventable emergency department visits.
- Further research is needed to explore interventions targeting social risk factors to potentially reduce acute care use.
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