Heart disease, health outcomes, and healthcare utilisation among middle-aged and older Australians: a longitudinal study using HILDA survey data

Abstract

STUDY 1 ABSTRACT Background Heart disease is a major public health concern globally, with substantial impacts on health outcomes among middle-aged and older adults. Understanding its influence on general health, mental health, self-assessed health, and health satisfaction is crucial for developing effective interventions tailored to this demographic in Australia. The study aims to investigate the longitudinal burden of heart disease on self-reported health outcomes among middle-aged and older Australians, focusing on general health, mental health, self-assessed health, and health satisfaction. Methods This study utilised longitudinal data from the Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey, focusing on individuals aged 40 years and older across four survey waves: 2009, 2013, 2017, and 2021. The study included 12,751 participants aged 40 and older, with 32,931 observations. Fixed-effects Generalised Least Squares (GLS) and fixed-effects ordered logistic regression models were applied to assess the association between heart disease and four health outcomes. Robustness checks were conducted using Generalised Estimating Equations (GEE) and random-effect GLS models. The analysis adjusted for sociodemographic, behavioural, and healthrelated variables. Results The results suggest that heart disease was negatively associated with general health, mental health, self-assessed health, and health satisfaction among middle-aged and older Australians. Specifically, participants with heart disease scored lower on general health (β = -4.67, 95% CI: -5.56 to -3.77, p < 0.001), mental health (β = -0.98, 95% CI: -1.84 to -0.12, p = 0.025), self-assessed health (β = -0.76, 95% CI: -0.94 to -0.58, p < 0.001), and health satisfaction (β = -0.50, 95% CI: -0.65 to - 0.35, p < 0.001) compared to those without heart disease. The heterogeneous analysis further revealed that gender differences influenced health outcomes, with females experiencing more pronounced declines across all health measures than males. Additionally, the marginal effects analysis indicated that heart disease reduced the likelihood of achieving the highest levels of self-assessed health and health satisfaction. Conclusion This study found that heart disease is linked to poorer health outcomes, including general health, mental health, self-assessed health, and health satisfaction among middle-aged and older Australians. To enhance the overall well-being of this population, communities, government and nongovernment organisations, and other stakeholders should prioritise routine healthcare prevention, targeted interventions, and treatment strategies, particularly for individuals affected by heart disease..

Keywords: Heart disease; general health; mental health; self-assessed health; health satisfaction

STUDY 2 ABSTRACT Background Heart disease poses a significant burden on healthcare systems, particularly among middle-aged and older adults in Australia. Despite existing research on healthcare utilisation patterns, longitudinal studies focusing on how heart disease affects healthcare use over time among older Australians remain limited. The study aims to examine the longitudinal burden of heart disease on healthcare utilisation among middle-aged and older Australians, focusing on the number of doctor visits, hospital admissions, and nights spent in the hospital. Methods This longitudinal observational study utilised data from the Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey, covering the years 2009, 2013, 2017, and 2021. The study included 12,857 participants aged 40 and older, with 33,822 observations. The primary outcomes were the number of doctor visits, hospital admissions, and nights spent in the hospital. Heart disease status was the main exposure variable, and random-effects negative binomial regression models were used to examine associations, adjusting for socio-demographic, behavioural, and healthcare access factors. Results Participants with heart disease had significantly higher healthcare utilisation across all measures. The rate of doctor visits increased by 24% (IRR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.20–1.28, p < 0.001), while hospital admissions nearly doubled (IRR: 1.91, 95% CI: 1.76–2.07, p < 0.001), and nights spent in the hospital were significantly longer (IRR: 1.89, 95% CI: 1.75–2.04, p < 0.001) compared to those without heart disease. Older age (≥ 70 years), female sex, multiple chronic conditions, and not being in the labour force were significant predictors of increased healthcare utilisation, indicating a compounded healthcare burden in these subgroups. Conclusion Heart This study shows that middle-aged and older Australians with heart disease have higher healthcare utilisation compared to those without the condition. Heart disease is a significant public health concern that necessitates comprehensive, long-term management strategies focused on prevention. Inadequate management of heart disease could lead to worsening health outcomes and place further strain on the healthcare system.

Keywords: Heart disease, healthcare utilisation, longitudinal study, older adults, HILDA survey, doctor visits, hospital admissions, Australia.