The impact of burn survivor preinjury income and payer status on health-related quality of life

Model System:

Burn

Reference Type:

Journal article

Accession No.:

J89279

Journal:

Journal of Burn Care And Research (formerly Journal of Burn Care & Rehabilitation)

Year, Volume, Issue, Page(s):

2022 , 43, 2, 293-299

Publication Website:

Abstract:

Study investigated the relationship between burn survivor finances (i.e., personal income, health insurance payer) and health-related quality of life (HRQL). Burn survivors with complete data for preinjury personal income and payer status were extracted from the longitudinal Burn Model System (BMS) National Database. HRQL outcomes were measured with the Veterans RAND 12 (VR-12) scores at 6, 12, and 24 months postinjury. VR-12 scores were evaluated using generalized linear models, adjusting for potential confounders (e.g., age, sex, self-identified race, burn injury severity). About 453 participants had complete data for income and payer status. More than one-third of BMS participants earned less than $25,000/year; 24 percent earned $25,000 to 49,000/year; 23 percent earned $50,000 to 99,000/year; 11 percent earned $100,000 to 149,000/year; 3 percent earned $150,000 to 199,000/year; and 4 percent earned more than $200,000/year. VR-12 mental component summary (MCS) and physical component summary (PCS) scores were highest for those who earned $150,000 to 199,000/year and lowest for those who earned less than $25,000/year. After adjusting for demographics, payer, and burn severity, 12-month MCS and PCS and 24-month PCS scores were negatively associated with Medicare payer. Low income was not significantly associated with lower VR-12 scores. There was a peaking relationship between HRQL and middle-class income, but this trend was not significant after adjusting for covariates. Public payers, particularly Medicare, were independently associated with poorer HRQL. The findings might be used to identify those at risk of financial toxicity for targeting assistance during rehabilitation.

Author(s):