Food Insecurity and Cost-Related Medication Underuse Among Nonelderly Adults in a Nationally Representative Sample.

• Autores: Dena R Herman, Patience Afulani, Alisha Coleman-Jensen, Gail G Harrison
• Localización: American journal of public health, ISSN 0090-0036, Vol. 105, Nº. 10, 2015, págs. 48-59
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Objectives. We investigated whether nonelderly US adults (aged 18-64 years) in food-insecure households are more likely to report cost-related medication underuse than the food-secure, and whether the relationship between food insecurity and cost-related medication underuse differs by gender, chronic disease, and health insurance status. Methods. We analyzed data from the 2011 and 2012 National Health Interview Survey (n = 67 539). We examined the relationship between food insecurity and cost-related medication underuse with the χ² test and multivariate logistic regression with interaction terms. Results. Bivariate and multivariate analyses showed a dose-response relationship between food insecurity and cost-related medication underuse, with an increasing likelihood of cost-related medication underuse with increasing severity of food insecurity (P<.001). This association was conditional on health insurance status, but not substantially different by gender or chronic disease status. Being female, low-income, having no or partial health insurance, chronic conditions, functional limitations, or severe mental illness were positively associated with cost-related medication underuse. Conclusions. Using food insecurity as a risk factor to assess cost-related medication underuse could help increase identification of individuals who may need assistance purchasing medications and improve health for those in food-insecure households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]