• BaltrusPeterPTFrom the National Center for Primary Care, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA (PB, CL, AG); Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA (PB); Department of Family Medicine, Morehou, Chaohua Li, and H GagliotiAnneAFrom the National Center for Primary Care, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA (PB, CL, AG); Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA (PB); Department of Family Medicine, Moreho.
• From the National Center for Primary Care, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA (PB, CL, AG); Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA (PB); Department of Family Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA (AG).
• J Am Board Fam Med. 2020 Nov 1; 33 (6): 832-841.

ObjectiveTo provide a potential biological, mechanistic link for the well-established association between primary care access and reduced mortality, this study sought to measure the impact of having a usual source of health care on leukocyte telomere length (LTL).Data SourcesOur study population included 3202 participants aged 50 to 84 years from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999 to 2001.Study DesignCross-sectional Study. LTLs between people with and without a usual source of care were compared using unadjusted and adjusted linear regression models. Fully adjusted models accounted for demographic characteristics, health conditions, and health behaviors.Principal FindingsAfter controlling for individual factors, health conditions, and health behaviors, people who had a usual source of health care had significantly longer LTL (β = 89.8 base pairs, P-value = .005) compared with those without a usual source of care; corresponding to approximately 7 years of life.ConclusionsHaving a usual source of health care is associated with longer LTL among older adults. This study provides a potential biologic link for the noted association between primary care access and reduced mortality that has been observed at the individual and population level.© Copyright 2020 by the American Board of Family Medicine.

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