Body Mass Index and Rural Status on Self-Reported Health in Older Adults: 2004-2013 Medicare Expenditure Panel Survey.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

To ascertain whether rural status impacts self-reported health and whether the effect of rural status on self-reported health differs by obesity status.

Methods

We identified 22,307 subjects aged ≥60 from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey 2004-2013. Body mass index (BMI) was categorized as underweight, normal, overweight, or obese. Physical and mental component scores of the Short Form-12 assessed self-reported health status. Rural/urban status was defined using metropolitan statistical area. Weighted regression models ascertained the relative contribution of predictors (including rural and BMI) on each subscale.

Findings

Mean age was 70.7 years. Rural settings had higher proportions classified as obese (30.7 vs 27.6%; P < .001), and rural residents had low

SUBMITTER: Batsis JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6454924 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature