Vital and Health Statistics: Utilization of Ambulatory Medical Care by Women: United States, 1997-98

OBJECTIVES: This report presents national estimates of the volume and characteristics of ambulatory medical care provided to women 15 years of age and over in the United States. Included is information on the characteristics of the patients, providers, and visits. A section on comparative differences in use by sex is also included. SOURCE OF DATA: This report is based on an analysis of data from the 1997 and 1998 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS), national probability sample surveys of visits to office-based physicians (NAMCS) and visits to the outpatient departments and emergency departments of non-Federal, short-stay and general hospitals (NHAMCS) in the United States. Sample data are weighted to produce annual estimates. RESULTS: Approximately 500 million visits were made by women to ambulatory medical care providers annually in 1997 and 1998, representing an age-adjusted rate of 4.6 visits per woman per year. The rate of ambulatory medical care visits increased with age (3.8 per woman 15-44 years of age, 4.7 visits per woman 45-64 years of age, and 7.1 visits per woman 65 years of age and over). Six out of ten visits to office-based physicians and hospital outpatient departments had no mention of therapeutic or preventive services provided. Nonnarcotic analgesics, antidepressant, and estrogen/progestin were the three most common classifications of medications mentioned. Compared with visits by men, visits by women (with nonpregnancy-related diagnoses) were more frequent at younger ages and more likely to be to primary care physicians and outpatient departments.