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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Romina Kee, MD, MPH, Collaborative Research Unit/Department of Medicine, John Stroger Hospital, 1900 West Polk Street, Room 1610, Chicago, IL 60612, 312-864-3630, rkee@cchil.org, Laura Sadowski, MD, MPH, Collaborative Research Unit/Department of Medicine, John Stroger Hospital/Rush Medical College, 1900 West Polk Street, Room 1610, Chicago, IL 60612, and David Buchanan, MD, Division of General Medicine/Section of Social Medicine, John Stroger Hospital/Rush Medical College, 1900 West Polk Street, Room 1458, Chicago, IL 60612.

BACKGROUND: Women comprise a growing segment of the homeless population. This study describes the baseline physical and mental health characteristics of homeless women hospitalized with chronic medical illnesses participating in longituidinal randomized controlled trial of stable housing.

METHODS: Homeless adult inpatients at 3 hospitals were referred. Baseline interviews assessed demographic characteristics and quality of life as well as current symptoms of depression, anxiety and the degree of alcohol abuse as measured by the PRIME-MD PHQ.

RESULTS: Women comprised 24% of the sample (88 of 373). 84% were self-described as African-American with a mean age of 43.8 years (S.D. 9.7) , 53% had a high school edcuation or greater. Qualifying chronic medical illnesses included hypertension (42%), HIV (35%), pulmonary disease (26%) and CHF (8%). 78% described their quality of life as fair to poor and 92% were bothered by somatic complaints. 44% were found to have symptoms consistent with Major Depression while 21% reported thoughts of hurting themselves on more than half the days in the previous 2 weeks. 43% reported having had a recent anxiety attack and the rate of alcohol abuse was 40%.

CONCLUSIONS: Homeless women hospitalized with chronic medical illnesses reported high rates of physical and mental health symptoms. In addition alcohol abuse was common. This has implications for care during hospitalization and for care upon discharge.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify an important subpopulation of the homeless
• Describe the predominant baseline medical and psychosocial characteristics of homeless women hospitalized for chronic medical illness 3.Recognize potential service needs for homeless women hospitalized for chronic medical illness

Keywords: Homeless, Women

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation