Table 3.
Annual trends in utilisation measures by selected patient characteristics, univariate linear regression model
| PHC visits | Outpatient visits | Inpatient visits | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Gender: | |||
| Male |
Increase
(P = 0.001) |
No change
(P = 0.57) |
Decrease
(P < 0.001) |
| Female |
Increase
(P = 0.001) |
No change
(P = 0.41) |
Decrease
(P < 0.001) |
|
Age: | |||
| 15–44 |
Increase
(P = 0.001) |
No change
(P = 0.48) |
Decrease
(P = 0.004) |
| 45–54 |
Increase
(P = 0.01) |
Decrease
(P = 0.01) |
Decrease
(P < 0.001) |
| 55–64 |
Increase
(P = 0.004) |
No change
(P = 0.56) |
Decrease
(P < 0.001) |
| 65–74 |
Increase
(P = 0.001) |
No change
(P = 0.46) |
Decrease
(P < 0.001) |
| 75+ |
Increase
(P < 0.001) |
Increase
(P = 0.004) |
Decrease
(P = 0.002) |
|
Multimorbidity: | |||
| 1 |
Increase
(P = 0.001) |
Decrease
(P = 0.002) |
Decrease
(P < 0.001) |
| 2 |
Increase
(P < 0.001) |
No change
(P = 0.18) |
Decrease
(P < 0.001) |
| 3 |
Increase
(P < 0.001) |
Increase
(P = 0.03) |
Decrease
(P = 0.002) |
| 4+ |
Increase
(P < 0.001) |
No change
(P = 0.29) |
Decrease
(P < 0.001) |
|
Condition–specific, mean visits per
patient: | |||
| Asthma |
No change
(P = 0.06) |
No change
(P = 0.55) |
Decrease
(P < 0.001) |
| COPD |
Increase
(P = 0.01) |
Increase
(P = 0.05) |
Decrease
(P = 0.02) |
| Depression |
Increase
(P = 0.005) |
No change
(P = 0.74) |
No change
(P = 0.12) |
| Diabetes |
Increase
(P = 0.004) |
Decrease
(P < 0.001) |
Decrease
(P < 0.001) |
| Heart failure |
Increase
(P = 0.001) |
Increase
(P = 0.001) |
Increase
(P < 0.001) |
| Hypertension |
Increase
(P = 0.001) |
Decrease
(P = 0.03) |
Decrease
(P = 0.001) |
| IHD |
Increase
(P = 0.02) |
No change
(P = 0.78) |
No change
(P = 0.41) |
|
Condition–specific, utilisation rates per 100 000
population: | |||
| Asthma |
Increase
(P < 0.001) |
Increase
(P = 0.002) |
Decrease
(P < 0.001) |
| COPD |
No change
(P = 0.29) |
No change
(P = 0.06) |
Decrease
(P = 0.01) |
| Depression |
No change
(P = 0.15) |
No change
(P = 0.20) |
No change
(P = 0.11) |
| Diabetes |
Increase
(P < 0.001) |
No change
(P = 0.07) |
Decrease
(P = 0.01) |
| Heart failure |
Decrease
(P < 0.001) |
Increase
(P = 0.003) |
Increase
(P < 0.001) |
| Hypertension |
Increase
(P < 0.001) |
Increase
(P = 0.02) |
Decrease
(P = 0.04) |
| IHD | Decrease (P < 0.001) | Decrease (P < 0.001) | Decrease (P < 0.001) |
PHC – primary health care; COPD – chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; IHD – ischaemic heart disease