Correlates of annual health check-up among community-dwelling persons 60 years and older: Longitudinal national evidence from the health, aging, and retirement in Thailand study, 2015–2022

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this longitudinal study was to assess the prevalence and determinants of annual health check-up (AHC) utilization among older adults in Thailand. Methods: We used data from the 2015, 2017, 2020, and 2022 Health, Aging, and Retirement in Thailand study (analytic sample: n = 10,970 observations, ≥60 years). The factors of AHC consumption were estimated using Andersen's Behavioral Model of Healthcare Access and conditional fixed effects (FE) logistic regressions. Results: The overall prevalence of AHC utilization was 53.3 %, which decreased from 52.6 % in 2015 to 42.1 % in 2022 (p < 0.001). Regressions showed that urban residency (OR = 1.36), higher social engagement (OR = 1.29), higher subjective life expectancy (OR = 1.03), loneliness (OR = 1.43), higher number of chronic conditions (OR = 1.09), stopped smoking (OR = 1.34), and physical activity (OR = 1.20) were positive associated with AHC utilization, while age (OR = 0.96), living alone (OR = 0.79), depressive symptoms (OR = 0.96), functional limitations (OR = 0.83) and self-rated physical health (OR = 0.97) were negatively associated with AHC utilization. Conclusions: Our knowledge of the factors influencing AHC use in people 60 and older is improved by this longitudinal study. Strategies to increase physical activity, smoking cessation, and social engagement, as well as delay or decrease chronic conditions and functional disability and screen and manage depressive symptoms, may help increase AHC utilization.