Impact of Racial and Ethnic Disparities on Health-Related Quality of Life in Older Adults With Arthritis in the United States
Author(s)
Samuel Chijioke Ofili, BPharm, Paroma Arefin, MPharm, Sujit Sansgiry, MS, PhD.
Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
Presentation Documents
OBJECTIVES: Arthritis, a common chronic disease is a leading cause of disability in the United States. We examined racial/ethnic disparities associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among older adults with arthritis and identified factors influencing their associated HRQoL.
METHODS: This retrospective cohort study extracted 2018-2022 MEPS data to examine HRQoL among adults ≥65 years with arthritis. In MEPS, HRQoL was measured using a single item scale that asked regarding their respective physical and mental health status, each on a 5-point scale, (1=excellent, 2=very good, 3=good, 4=fair, and 5=poor). Score reverse coded to represent higher meant better HRQoL were compared across non-Hispanic whites (NHWs), non-Hispanic Blacks (NHBs), and Hispanics using weighted descriptive analyses. Linear regression, adjusted for covariates, evaluated racial/ethnic disparities with HRQoL using SAS V9.4.
RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 15,345 (weighted frequency 149,575,992) participants with predominantly NHW (74.91%), followed by NHB (14.68%) and Hispanic (10.41%). After adjusting for covariates, Hispanics reported lower HRQoL scores for physical and mental health status (physical:-0.31, p<0.0001, mental:-0.27, p<0.0001) compared to NHWs. NHBs reported lower HRQoL scores for physical health status (0.197, p<0.0001) compared to NHWs. NHBs reported higher HRQoL scores for mental health status than Hispanics (0.220, P=0.005). Chronic conditions impacted HRQoL, with the steepest decline observed among individuals with ≥five conditions compared to those with one chronic condition (physical:-0.561, P<0.0001, mental:-0.259, P<0.0001). Individuals with private insurance coverage had higher HRQoL compared to those with public insurance (physical:0.079, P=0.0036, mental:0.098, p=0.0059). Employed individuals had better HRQoL compared to unemployed individuals (physical:0.139, P=0.0002, mental:0.156, p=0.0003).
CONCLUSIONS: NHWs elderly with arthritis have better HRQoL (physical and mental health status), than Hispanics and NHBs, respectively. Hispanics had the poorest mental health status compared to NHBs and NHWs. Understanding disparities and other factors identified may help implement strategies to improve HRQoL for all.
METHODS: This retrospective cohort study extracted 2018-2022 MEPS data to examine HRQoL among adults ≥65 years with arthritis. In MEPS, HRQoL was measured using a single item scale that asked regarding their respective physical and mental health status, each on a 5-point scale, (1=excellent, 2=very good, 3=good, 4=fair, and 5=poor). Score reverse coded to represent higher meant better HRQoL were compared across non-Hispanic whites (NHWs), non-Hispanic Blacks (NHBs), and Hispanics using weighted descriptive analyses. Linear regression, adjusted for covariates, evaluated racial/ethnic disparities with HRQoL using SAS V9.4.
RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 15,345 (weighted frequency 149,575,992) participants with predominantly NHW (74.91%), followed by NHB (14.68%) and Hispanic (10.41%). After adjusting for covariates, Hispanics reported lower HRQoL scores for physical and mental health status (physical:-0.31, p<0.0001, mental:-0.27, p<0.0001) compared to NHWs. NHBs reported lower HRQoL scores for physical health status (0.197, p<0.0001) compared to NHWs. NHBs reported higher HRQoL scores for mental health status than Hispanics (0.220, P=0.005). Chronic conditions impacted HRQoL, with the steepest decline observed among individuals with ≥five conditions compared to those with one chronic condition (physical:-0.561, P<0.0001, mental:-0.259, P<0.0001). Individuals with private insurance coverage had higher HRQoL compared to those with public insurance (physical:0.079, P=0.0036, mental:0.098, p=0.0059). Employed individuals had better HRQoL compared to unemployed individuals (physical:0.139, P=0.0002, mental:0.156, p=0.0003).
CONCLUSIONS: NHWs elderly with arthritis have better HRQoL (physical and mental health status), than Hispanics and NHBs, respectively. Hispanics had the poorest mental health status compared to NHBs and NHWs. Understanding disparities and other factors identified may help implement strategies to improve HRQoL for all.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-05, ISPOR 2025, Montréal, Quebec, CA
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S1
Code
HSD41
Topic
Health Service Delivery & Process of Care
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, SDC: Geriatrics, SDC: Musculoskeletal Disorders (Arthritis, Bone Disorders, Osteoporosis, Other Musculoskeletal)