Date
4-17-2024
Department
School of Health Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy
Chair
Cynthia Lee Williams
Keywords
Alzheimer’s Disease, dementia, healthcare utilization, healthcare expenditures, healthcare costs, ADRD, prevalence
Disciplines
Biology
Recommended Citation
Myers, Michael E. II, "Exploring Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias: Prevalence, Healthcare Utilization, and Costs" (2024). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 5339.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/5339
Abstract
Objective: This study aims to investigate the disparities in prevalence rates, healthcare utilization patterns, and healthcare costs associated with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) among various racial and ethnic groups over time. Methods: Utilizing data from the medical expenditure panel survey over a five-year period, this study employs factorial logistic regression to analyze ADRD prevalence rates and multivariate analysis of variance to examine healthcare utilization and costs. The analysis focuses on weighted populations to account for the representation of racial and ethnic groups, ensuring the generalizability of the findings. Results: The study identifies statistically significant disparities in ADRD prevalence, healthcare utilization, and associated costs across different racial and ethnic groups after controlling for demographic factors such as gender, income, and education. While some disparities were consistent over the years, others varied, indicating complex interactions between demographic characteristics and ADRD outcomes. Notably, the findings suggest lower healthcare utilization and higher costs among certain minority groups, highlighting systemic disparities within the healthcare system. Conclusions: The disparities in ADRD prevalence, healthcare utilization, and costs underscore the need for comprehensive policy interventions tailored to address the unique challenges faced by different racial and ethnic groups. This study advocates for enhancing insurance coverage, improving access to financial assistance, and focusing on preventive care to mitigate the identified disparities. Future research should incorporate additional variables and utilize datasets that include institutionalized patients to provide a more complete picture of ADRD disparities.
