Inequalities in health care use among patients with arthritis in China: Evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study

Abstract Bakcground This study sought to assess socioeconomic-related inequalities in health care use among arthritis patients in China and to analyze factors associated with this disparity. Methods This study used data from the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. 3255 arthritis patients were included. The annual per capita household expenditure was used to divide individuals into five categories. We calculated actual, need-predicted, and need-standardized distributions of health care use by socioeconomic groups among people with arthritis. The concentration index (Cl) was used to assess inequalities in health service use. Influencing factors of inequalities were measured with the decomposition method. Results The outpatient and inpatient service use rates among 3255 arthritis patients were 23.1% and 21.4%, respectively. The CIs for actual outpatient visits and inpatient service use were 0.0449 and 0.0985, respectively. The sandardized CIs for both outpatient and inpatient services increase (CI for outpatient visits = 0.0537; CI for inpatient services = 0.1260), indicating the emergence of a significant pro-rich inequity. Annual per capita household expenditure was the chief positive contributor to inequity for both outpatient (104.45%) and inpatient services (105.74%), followed by infrequently social interaction (22.60% for outpatient services) and Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance(UEBMI) (11.90% for inpatient services). By contrast, UEBMI also provided a high negative contribution to outpatient services (-15.99%). Conclusions There are significant pro-rich inequalities in outpatient and inpatient service use among patients with arthritis, which are exacerbated by widening economic gaps. Interventions to address inequalities should start by improving the economic situation of lower socioeconomic households.