RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Having a Usual Source of Care Is Associated with Longer Telomere Length in a National Sample of Older Adults
JF The Journal of the American Board of Family
                Medicine
JO J Am Board Fam Med
FD American Board of Family Medicine
SP 832
OP 841
DO 10.3122/jabfm.2020.06.200008
VO 33
IS 6
A1 T. Baltrus, Peter
A1 Li, Chaohua
A1 H. Gaglioti, Anne
YR 2020
UL http://www.jabfm.org/content/33/6/832.abstract
AB Objective: To provide a potential biological, mechanistic link for the well-established association between primary care access and reduced mortality, this study sought to measure the impact of having a usual source of health care on leukocyte telomere length (LTL).Data Sources: Our study population included 3202 participants aged 50 to 84 years from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999 to 2001.Study Design: Cross-sectional Study. LTLs between people with and without a usual source of care were compared using unadjusted and adjusted linear regression models. Fully adjusted models accounted for demographic characteristics, health conditions, and health behaviors.Principal Findings: After controlling for individual factors, health conditions, and health behaviors, people who had a usual source of health care had significantly longer LTL (β = 89.8 base pairs, P-value = .005) compared with those without a usual source of care; corresponding to approximately 7 years of life.Conclusions: Having a usual source of health care is associated with longer LTL among older adults. This study provides a potential biologic link for the noted association between primary care access and reduced mortality that has been observed at the individual and population level.