Evolution in the use of health services by older people in Spain (2009-2017)

As people age, they tend to increase their use of health services. For this, the aims of this study were to analyse the frequency and variability in the use of different health services by people over 65 years, their evolution from 2009 to 2017 and the factors associated it. We carried out a cross-sectional study with 25,465 people over 65 years who participated in the National Health Survey in Spain in 2011/2012 and 2017 and the European Health Survey in Spain in 2009 and 2014. A descriptive analysis was performed using the attendance records of family/general physicians, nurse consultations, or both over the last 12 months as well as these data over the following years of study. Our findings show that approximately 93.2% of the participants had consulted with a family/general physician over the last year, and women were almost twice as likely to do so compared with men (61.2% vs. 38.8%). The use of health services gradually increased from 2009 to 2017, being the visits to nursing that more increased their frequency. Being a woman and a widower as well as having no higher education, a low social class, a serious or long-term illness, obesity and bed restraint were associated with a greater use of health services. Findings suggested that the increased health services due to ageing and comorbidities associated with it present new challenges. It is necessary to determine realistic plans that can meet future healthcare demands and not lead to a collapse of the health system. For this it is very important the primary prevention of chronic diseases, functional limitations, obesity and disability.