Health Insurance Coverage as a Social Determinant of Osteoporosis Diagnosis in a Population-Based Cohort Study of Older American Adults

Social determinants of health theoretical frameworks identify health insurance coverage as a determinant of older adults’ osteoporosis diagnoses, which results in health inequities. In this research, we used the longitudinal Health and Retirement Study dataset of older United States adults, sampled biennially from 2012 to 2016. Logistic regressions estimated odds of osteoporosis diagnosis with and without a bone scan and/or hip fracture, holding insurance type, and health and demographic factors constant. Results were validated using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Probable underdiagnosing is present in older adults identifying as Black/African American and as males without a bone scan, regardless of fracture status, potentially as products of structural racism and sexism. Models including a bone scan show a reduction in disparities. These findings suggest having a bone scan is still crucial for addressing health inequities in older adults, and remedying barriers to accessing a scan is paramount.