The Effect of Anthropometric Status on Utilization of Health Care Services among the Elderly in Taiwan

[[abstract]]Background: The prevalence of overweight and obesity are growing progressively among the elderly (over 65 years). Underweight, even though it occurs in only a tiny fraction of the population, is actually associated with more excess deaths. Overweight, obesity, or underweight are not healthy body weight, which are both important risk factors for severe diseases and disability in the elderly. Objectives: To analyze the effect of anthropometric status on utilization of health care services by elderly, and understand its related risk factors. Methods: Data were drawn from the 2001 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), overing a 1,290 sample representative of the non-institutionalised Taiwanese population aged 65 years and over. Analyses were performed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, Cramer?s V coefficient, contingency correlation, and logistic regression. Results: The results showed individuals aged older than 75, not possessing personal monthly income, had at least one difficulty in activities of daily living (ADL), and with none of comorbidities were significantly more likely to be underweight (BMI ? 18.5 kg/m2). In individuals aged 65 to 74 years, illiterate, and with one, two, or above three of comorbidities were significantly more likely to be overweight (24 ? BMI ? 27 kg/m2). In individuals aged 65 to 74 years, women, and with two or above three of comorbidities were significantly more likely to be obesity (BMI ? 27 kg/m2). Compared with normal weight (18.5 ? BMI ? 24 kg/m2), the elderly with underweight (p ? .01), overweight (p ? .01), and obesity (p ? .05) were more likely to use emergency department services in the past one year. The elderly with overweight (p? .05) were more likely to visit hospital outpatient services than normal weight in the past one month. Conclusion: The effect of underweight on utilization of health care services could stand comparison with overweight and obesity among elderly. Thus, this study recommended that government to set one of anthropometric measurement indicator for elderly, to promote them recognized which was healthy body weight, and to connect abnormal weight status into health insurance. Finally, the prevention of policies chould reduce some related health care utilization, and successfully reach the goal of protecting elderly from abnormal weight status