Study: Comorbid Arthritis Associated with Lower Health-Related Quality of Life in Older Adults
01 August 2017 - 12:30AM
Business Wire
Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) today announced results from a study
that found arthritis is associated with lower health-related
quality of life (HRQoL) in adults aged 65 and older who have one or
more other chronic conditions.
The study, published today in Preventing Chronic Disease and
co-authored by researchers from Humana and the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), suggests that improving HRQoL in
older adults will depend upon managing both underlying chronic
conditions and any accompanying arthritis.
HRQoL was measured in this study using the CDC Healthy Days
four-question survey, which assesses an individual’s perceived
physical and mental health over time. Specifically, the survey asks
individuals how they perceive their recent health, including how
many days over the previous month they felt physically or mentally
unhealthy, and the total number of days where usual activities were
limited.
The study found that, on average, older adults with arthritis
and at least one of four other chronic conditions (congestive heart
failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, or
hypertension) reported significantly more activity-limited days and
physically, mentally, and total unhealthy days than those without
arthritis but with the same chronic conditions. Individuals with
arthritis and coronary artery disease, the fifth chronic condition
studied, reported significantly more physically and total unhealthy
days and days with activity limitation, but not more mentally
unhealthy days.
“It is well established that arthritis is an important
determinant of health-related quality of life,” said Eric Havens,
MA, clinical analytics manager at Humana and lead author of the
study. “Our findings build upon this by showing that, in
individuals with common chronic conditions, comorbid arthritis is
associated with an even greater decrease in self-reported physical
and mental health.”
“Nearly one in three older adults suffer from arthritis, and
many of these individuals have one or more other chronic
conditions,” said Laura Happe, PharmD, MPH, and Chief Pharmacy
Officer at Humana. “Improving the health and well-being of this
population may require a holistic approach to managing chronic
conditions that also emphasizes arthritis, given its association
with further diminished mobility and quality of life.”
The study evaluated a Humana Medicare Advantage population of
58,975 individuals who responded to a Healthy Days survey sent in
November and December 2014. Of the total survey respondents, claims
data revealed that 44 percent had an arthritis diagnosis and 82
percent had least one of the five other chronic conditions.
In addition to Havens, co-authors of the study include:
- S. Lane Slabaugh, PharmD, MBA,
principal researcher, Humana
- Charles G. Helmick, MD, senior medical
epidemiologist, Arthritis Program, CDC
- Tristan Cordier, MPH, clinical
analytics manager, Humana
- Matthew Zack, MD, MPH, medical
epidemiologist, Division of Population Health, CDC
- Vipin Gopal, PhD, enterprise vice
president, clinical analytics, Humana
- Todd Prewitt, MD, director, clinical
best practices, Humana
About Humana
Humana Inc. is committed to helping our millions of medical and
specialty members achieve their best health. Our successful history
in care delivery and health plan administration is helping us
create a new kind of integrated care with the power to improve
health and well-being and lower costs. Our efforts are leading to a
better quality of life for people with Medicare, families,
individuals, military service personnel, and communities at
large.
To accomplish that, we support physicians and other health care
professionals as they work to deliver the right care in the right
place for their patients, our members. Our range of clinical
capabilities, resources and tools – such as in-home care,
behavioral health, pharmacy services, data analytics and wellness
solutions – combine to produce a simplified experience that makes
health care easier to navigate and more effective.
More information regarding Humana is available to investors via
the Investor Relations page of the company’s web site at
www.humana.com, including copies of:
- Annual reports to stockholders
- Securities and Exchange Commission
filings
- Most recent investor conference
presentations
- Quarterly earnings news releases and
conference calls
- Calendar of events
- Corporate Governance information
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170731005681/en/
Humana Corporate CommunicationsAlex Kepnes,
502-580-2990akepnes@humana.com
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