Self-reported health status predictors of healthcare services utilization and charges in elderly asthmatic patients

This study examined the associations between self-reported health status pr edictors and healthcare service utilization in a cohort of elderly asthmati c patients. The results of the study showed a strong association among self -reported prior healthcare utilization, comorbidities, patient's perception of health status, and self-reported quality of life with healthcare servic e utilization and charges. A large amount of variance in healthcare service utilization and charges in this population was explained by these factors. Patient's self-reported health status could be important in earlier detect ion of high-risk older adults with asthma, and targeting them for disease m anagement interventions.