People Who Lack Healthcare Transportation Likely to Have Depression, Diabetes, New Study Finds

A new study by researchers at Montefiore Health System published in the journal Preventive Medicine found that healthcare transportation challenges are strongly associated with chronic health conditions like depression, asthma and diabetes.

Additionally, people who reported healthcare transportation as a need were 84% more likely to have an alcohol/drug abuse diagnosis and 41% more likely to smoke, than people without healthcare transportation needs. People reporting transportation challenges were also associated with higher prevalence of diabetes. Those with asthma, were 37% more likely to report poor housing quality issues like having mold and pests.