title: Air pollution and medical care use by older Americans: a cross-area analysis.
abstract: The case for reduction of air pollution has been predicated primarily on the frequently observed relationship between pollution and mortality and morbidity. Because pollution control usually involves costs, a rational public policy will weigh the benefits against the costs. This study investigates another potential benefit from pollution reduction: namely, decreased use of medical care. We find a strong relationship between particulate matter and inpatient and outpatient care at ages 65-84 across 183 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs). The relationship is statistically significant at a very high level of confidence even after the region and population size of the areas, education, real income, racial composition, use of cigarettes, and obesity are controlled for.
authors.affiliation: Stanford University, California, USA.
authors.forename: Victor R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.forename: Sarah Rosen
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Frank
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D006278:Medicare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D017062:Small-Area Analysis; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*