A cohort study of patients with chronic pathology who frequently consult: the results of corrective health measures
Turabián, J.L.; Casado, P.; Pozo, A.; Orueta, P.; Cordero, B.
Atencion Primaria 6(5): 287-290
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0212-6567 PMID: 2491582 Document Number: 338859
The results from a cohort of frequent consulters with chronic diseases that were followed up for 20 years were evaluated according to morbidity and use of health services; these indicators were compared in two subgroups, not randomly selected, defined on whether any type of health intervention was carried out or not. Although the intervention group consulted more times, this difference disappeared when the comparison was stratified for the number of chronic diseases; in addition, there were no differences in the mean number of prescriptions between both groups. It is concluded that the effects of social factors should receive a greater attention; effort should be focused in approaches not exclusively based on health care, as these only partially explain the morbidity and use of health services by frequent consulters.