Assessing Health Services Utilizations of Individuals Diagnosed with Coronary Heart Disease and Diabetes

Abstract

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading co-morbid condition among individuals with diabetes. Individuals with diabetes are four times more likely to develop CHD than individuals without diabetes. Our study was designed to assess health services utilization among patients with diabetes who have CHD. Through an analysis of cross sectional data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) from 2008 to 2013 using a population of adults 18 years or older we examined the data for health care utilization and found that individuals with both diabetes and CHD tended to have more office-based physician visits and emergency room visits compared with individuals with diabetes and individuals with CHD. Individuals with CHD tended to have more hospitalizations compared with individuals with both diabetes and CHD as well as individuals with diabetes. Individuals with diabetes tended to have more hospital-based outpatient visits compared with individuals with both diabetes and CHD as well as individuals with CHD