Cost and non-cost factors associated with delays in receiving medical care in adults with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease

Abstract

Background: The study aims to compare cost and non-cost factors associated with delays in receiving medical care in adults with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Methods: Using 2014–2018 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Behaviour Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey ( N = 508,203), multivariate logistic regression models were developed to compute the adjusted odds ratio of reasons for delays in medical care in adults with ASCVD. Results: Our study population of 61,227 adults with ASCVD (9.1%) had higher odds of any medical care delay (aOR 1.50, 95% CI 1.43–1.57), delay due to cost (aOR 1.55, 95% CI 1.45–1.65), long clinic wait times (aOR 1.21, 95% CI 1.04–1.39) and lack of transportation (aOR 1.64, 95% CI 1.47–1.84) than those without ASCVD. Conclusion: Novel public health and health policy approaches are urgently needed to reduce the cost- and non-cost-related barriers that adults with ASCVD encounter when accessing healthcare services.