[The epidemiology of chronic diseases and long-term care: results of a claims data-based study].

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

It is generally assumed that chronic diseases and multimorbidity increase the risk of long-term care. Nevertheless, a systematic study on the nature and the prevalence of those diseases associated with long-term care has not been yet undertaken in Germany.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

The study was perfomed using claims data of one nationwide operating statutory health insurance company in 2006. Inclusion criteria were age ≥ 65 years, minimum of 1 out of 46 diagnoses in a minimum of three quarters of the year (n = 8,678). A comparison group was formed with n = 114,962. We calculated prevalences and relative risks -using nominal regression- to determine influential factors on long-term care.

RESULTS:

A small number of diseases (e.g. dementia, urinary incontinence, chronic stroke and cardiac insufficiency) show high prevalences (> 20%) among long-term care users and at the same time great prevalence differences between users and non-users

CONCLUSION:

These data are important for improving medical and nursing care of long-term care users. Further research is needed with regard to the question by which mechanisms those diseases produce disability and frailty, thus leading to long-term care requirements.

• Authors: H van den Bussche, I Heinen, D Koller, B Wiese, H Hansen, I Schäfer, M Scherer, G Glaeske, G Schön
• Journal: Zeitschrift fur Gerontologie und Geriatrie (Z Gerontol Geriatr) Vol. 47 Issue 5 Pg. 403-9 (Jul 2014) ISSN: 1435-1269 [Electronic] Germany
• Vernacular Title: Die Epidemiologie von chronischen Krankheiten und Pflegebedürftigkeit : Eine Untersuchung auf der Basis von Abrechnungsdaten der gesetzlichen Krankenversicherung.
• PMID: 23912127 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article, Multicenter Study)

Topics

• Age Distribution
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Chronic Disease (epidemiology)
• Comorbidity
• Dementia (epidemiology)
• Female
• Germany (epidemiology)
• Heart Failure (epidemiology)
• Humans
• Insurance Claim Review (statistics & numerical data)
• Long-Term Care (statistics & numerical data)
• Male
• National Health Programs (statistics & numerical data)
• Prevalence
• Risk Factors
• Sex Distribution
• Stroke (epidemiology)
• Urinary Incontinence (epidemiology)