Flu and Finances: Influenza Outbreaks and Loan Defaults in US Cities, 2004–2012

Houle, Jason N.; Collins, J. Michael; Schmeiser, Maximilian D.

doi:10.2105/ajph.2015.302671

Cited by 18 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Only a few studies have linked credit to individual or population-based health conditions [ 40 – 44 ], and no studies have linked credit to health after cancer. One ecological study found small but significant increases in city-wide influenza severity among those who fell behind on debt payments, which would influence credit quality [ 43 ]. If an economic shock [ 43 , 45 ] due to an acute disease like the flu is associated with consumer credit, the shock due to management of a chronic disease and adverse events arising from it could have larger and sustained impacts.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One ecological study found small but significant increases in city-wide influenza severity among those who fell behind on debt payments, which would influence credit quality [ 43 ]. If an economic shock [ 43 , 45 ] due to an acute disease like the flu is associated with consumer credit, the shock due to management of a chronic disease and adverse events arising from it could have larger and sustained impacts. To assess how an economic shock due to chronic disease might be associated with credit quality, this exploratory analysis assessed the relationships between current self-reported consumer credit quality and (a) economic burden since cancer, and (b) current mental and physical health in a sample of women who had experienced the chronic disease of breast cancer.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Consumer credit as a novel marker for economic burden and health after cancer in a diverse population of breast cancer survivors in the USA

et al. 2018

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Background Consumer credit may reflect financial hardship that patients face due to cancer treatment, which in turn may impact ability to manage health after cancer; however, credit’s relationship to economic burden and health after cancer has not been evaluated. Methods From May to September 2015, 123 women with a history of breast cancer residing in Pennsylvania or New Jersey completed a cross-sectional survey of demographics, socioeconomic position, comorbidities, SF-12 self-rated health, economic burden since cancer diagnosis, psychosocial stress, and self-reported (poor to excellent) credit quality. Ordinal logistic regression evaluated credit’s contribution to economic burden and self-rated health. Results Mean respondent age was 64 years. Mean year from diagnosis was 11.5. Forty percent of respondents were Black or Other and 60% were White. Twenty-four percent self-reported poor credit, and 76% reported good to excellent credit quality. In adjusted models, changing income, using savings, borrowing money, and being unable to purchase a health need since cancer were associated with poorer credit. Better credit was associated with 7.72 ([1.22, 14.20], p = 0.02) higher physical health t-score, and a − 2.00 ([− 3.92, − 0.09], p = 0.04) point change in psychosocial stress. Conclusions This exploratory analysis establishes the premise for consumer credit as a marker of economic burden and health for breast cancer survivors. Future work should validate these findings in larger samples and for other health conditions. Implications for Cancer Survivors Stabilizing and monitoring consumer credit may be a potential intervention point for mitigating economic burden after breast cancer.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Consumer credit as a novel marker for economic burden and health after cancer in a diverse population of breast cancer survivors in the USA

et al. 2018

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“…Credit scores represent a person’s financial situation, and low credit score has been linked to both worse outcomes for both acute and chronic disease (1–4). In the United States, credit scores are numeric estimates of an individual’s likelihood of paying debts on time (5) based on past payment behavior, current credit utilization, history or length of credit use, new accounts and credit inquiries, and mix of credit in use (6).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…For example, a previous study suggesting higher credit scores with lower cardiovascular disease risk found that education and behavioral factors explained 45% of the relationship between credit and health (1). A study suggesting higher credit default rates coincided with higher influenza rates posited that illness represents an economic shock that disrupts income and financial security, and might influence credit scores (4). Yet, studies have not assessed how credit scores are linked to measures of financial security or socio-economic position (7).…”

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confidence: 99%

Consumer credit scores as a novel tool for identifying health in urban U.S. neighborhoods

Knapp

Dean

2018

Annals of Epidemiology

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Purpose: Credit scores may operate as a socioeconomic indicator of health: they represent cumulative financial history that directly influences ability to access financial and non-financial resources related to health. Yet little is known about the relationship of credit score and health, or to traditional measures of socioeconomic position. Our objectives were to: (1) evaluate the association between area-level credit score and individual self-rated health; and (2) compare credit score to traditional markers of area-level socioeconomic position (SEP) in predicting self-rated health. Methods: Equifax estimates of average household credit score in 2015 among 9-digit zip code regions were combined with a representative survey of 2,083 residents of Philadelphia to estimate the correlation with income, housing value, education, and occupational status then predict the odds of self-rated health for credit score and each SEP measure. Results: Credit score was moderately correlated with SEP markers (r=−0.78 to 0.49). After adjusting for area and individual level SEP and demographic factors, each standard deviation increase in credit score is associated with 26% greater odds of better self-rated health (OR=1.26, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.46). Credit score had a larger effect size than other SEP markers. Conclusions: Credit score may be a useful complement to traditional measures of SEP in assessing health outcomes.

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“…(2) Area-level consumer credit may also reflect areas where disease prevalence is high, especially when costs to manage or treat those chronic diseases may lead to populations who experience higher medical costs. For example, one ecological study in the USA found small but significant increases in city-wide influenza severity with a higher area-level credit card and mortgage default rates 4. The authors attributed this to the increased likelihood of consumer credit borrowing in areas with higher disease rates.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Consumer credit, chronic disease and risk behaviours

Dean

Knapp

Snguon

et al. 2018

J Epidemiol Community Health

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BackgroundCredit scores have been identified as a marker of disease burden. This study investigated credit scores’ association with chronic diseases and health behaviours that are associated with chronic diseases.MethodsThis cross-sectional analysis included data on 2083 residents of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA in 2015. Nine-digit ZIP code level FICO credit scores were appended to individual self-reported chronic diseases (obesity, diabetes, hypertension) and related health behaviours (smoking, exercise, and salt intake and medication adherence among those with hypertension). Models adjusted for individual-level and area-level demographics and retail pharmacy accessibility.ResultsMedian ZIP code credit score was 665 (SD=58). In adjusted models, each 50-point increase in ZIP code credit score was significantly associated with: 8% lower chronic disease risk; 6% lower overweight/obesity risk, 19% lower diabetes risk; 9% lower hypertension risk and 14% lower smoking risk. Other health behaviours were not significantly associated. Compared with high prime credit, subprime credit score was significantly associated with a 15%–70% increased risk of chronic disease, following a dose–response pattern with a prime rating.ConclusionLower area level credit scores may be associated with greater chronic disease prevalence but not necessarily with related health behaviours. Area-level consumer credit may make a novel contribution to identifying chronic disease patterns.

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Flu and Finances: Influenza Outbreaks and Loan Defaults in US Cities, 2004–2012

Abstract: Overall, it appears there is a relationship between exogenous health shocks (such as influenza) and credit default. The results suggest that consumer finances could benefit from policies that aim to reduce the financial shocks of illness, particularly for vulnerable borrowers.

Cited by 18 publications

References 30 publications

Consumer credit as a novel marker for economic burden and health after cancer in a diverse population of breast cancer survivors in the USA

Consumer credit as a novel marker for economic burden and health after cancer in a diverse population of breast cancer survivors in the USA

Consumer credit scores as a novel tool for identifying health in urban U.S. neighborhoods

Consumer credit, chronic disease and risk behaviours

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