Identifying Veterans with a Higher Risk of Social Needs Using Cluster Analysis

Importance

Many social need screening to advance population health and reduce health disparities, but barriers to screening remain. Improved knowledge of patient populations at risk for social needs based on administrative data could facilitate more targeted practices, and by extension, feasible social need screening and referral efforts.

Objective

To illustrate the use of cluster analysis to identify patient population segments at risk for social needs.

Design

We used clustering analysis to identify population segments among Veterans (N=2010) who participated in a survey assessing nine social needs (food, housing, utility, financial, employment, social disconnection, legal, transportation, and neighborhood safety). Clusters were based on eight variables (age, race, gender, comorbidity, region, no-show rate, rurality, and VA priority group). We used weighted logistic regression to assess association of clusters with the risk of experiencing social needs.

Participants

National random sample of Veterans with and at risk for cardiovascular disease who responded to a mail survey (N=2010).

Main Outcomes and Measures

Self-reported social needs defined as the risk of endorsing (1) each individual social need, (2) one or more needs, and (3) a higher total count of needs.

Key Results

From the clustering analysis process with sensitivity analysis, we identified a consistent population segment of Veterans. From regression modeling, we found that this cluster, with lower average age and higher proportions of women and racial minorities, was at higher risk of experiencing ≥ 1 unmet need (OR 1.74, CI 1.17–2.56). This cluster was also at a higher risk for several individual needs, especially utility needs (OR 3.78, CI 2.11–6.78).

Conclusions

The identification of characteristics associated with increased unmet social needs may provide opportunities for targeted screenings. As this cluster was also younger and had fewer comorbidities, they may be less likely to be identified as experiencing need through interactions with healthcare providers.

Visual Abstract