Air pollution and medical care use by older Americans: A cross-area analysis

Victor R. Fuchs, PhD, Department of Economics, Stanford University, 30 Alta Rd., Stanford, CA 94305 and Sarah Rosen Frank, Department of Economics, UC Berkeley, 611 Evans Hall #3880, Berkeley, CA 94720, 510/652-7293, srfrank@econ.berkeley.edu.

The case for reduction of air pollution has been predicated primarily on the frequently observed relationship between pollution and mortality and morbidity. Because pollution control usually involves costs, a rational public policy will weigh the benefits against the costs. This study investigates another potential benefit from pollution reduction: namely, decreased use of medical care. We find a strong relationship between particulate matter and inpatient and outpatient care at ages 65-84 across 183 metropolitan statistical areas. The relationship is statistically significant at a very high level of confidence even after the region and population size of the areas, education, real income, racial composition, use of cigarettes, and obesity are controlled for.

Learning Objectives:

This talk is part of the symposium

A Case Study on Air Pollution and the Broader Applications. Participants will learn about the effect air pollution has on the medical care usage of the elderly. At the conclusion of this session, participants will recognize that air pollution adds a measurable burden to our health care system.

Keywords: Aging, Environmental Health Hazards

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.

Recorded presentation

National Agenda for the Environment and the Aging: A Case Study on Air Pollution and the Broader Applications

The 132nd Annual Meeting (November 6-10, 2004) of APHA