Predictors for high service use in older people

Project Rationale

Identified as a priority for investigation at the 2019 Research Priorities Forum hosted by CPHCE in collaboration with partners SLHD, SESLHD and CESPHN. The service providers were particularly interested in reducing the number of older frequent service users without impacting the quality of care. There were also some concerns that the older frequent service users were inappropriately using health services when welfare services could be used.

Project Aim/s

To investigate characteristics of frequent users of general practice (GP; ≥21 visits in a year), medical specialist (≥10 visits), emergency department (ED; ≥2 presentations) and hospital services (≥2 overnight hospitalisations) and the association with mortality for people aged over 75 years.

Project Design and Method

We conducted a prospective population-based cohort study using the CES-P&CH. The population included participants who resided in CES and were aged over 75 years.

Outcomes/Outputs

Frequent users of services (GPs, medical specialists, EDs and hospitals) were more likely to be associated with ever having had heart disease and less likely to be associated with reporting good quality of life. Characteristics varied by service type. Frequent users of services were 1.5–2.0 times more likely to die within 7 years compared to those who were less frequent service users after controlling for all significant factors.