The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #61574

Helena Temkin-Greener, PhD¹, Dana B. Mukamel, PhD¹, Alina Bajorska¹, Derick Peterson, PhD², Stephen Kunitz, MD, PhD³, Diane Gross, PhD³, and T. Franklin Williams, MD⁴. (1) Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 644, Rochester, NY 14642, 585 275 7813, helena_greener@urmc.rochester.edu, (2) Department of Biostatistics, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 630, Rochester, NY 14642, (3) Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 644, Rochester, NY 14642, (4) Monroe Community Hospital, 435 East Henrietta Road, Rochester, NY 14620

Purpose: To test the hypothesis that social support is an important predictor of mortality, even in a frail older population receiving extensive formal long-term care services. Design and Methods: The analysis is based on 3,138 individuals enrolled in 28 PACE programs. Information about each enrollee is obtained from dataPACE. Semi-parametric Cox proportional hazards models are estimated to assess the importance of individual risk factors, program effect, and social support. Results: Several social support variables are statistically significant predictors of mortality. Presence of a caregiver who is a spouse lowers the risk of mortality by 40% (HR=0.60; p=0.0097). Caregivers’ assistance with meals confers a statistically significantly lower risk of morality compared to no assistance (HR=0.63; p=0.0082). Implications: Social support is an important predictor of lower mortality in this older, frail population. Of the major mortality risks, several are associated with mutable characteristics suggesting a number of interventions that may be targeted to increase the probability of survival.

Learning Objectives:

• Assess the relationship between social support and mortality
• Identify targets for potential interventions

Keywords: Caregivers, Mortality

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.