In older Americans, a regular doctor was linked to extra years.

People say: “Does a regular doctor matter once you're older?” We read the study.

What they did

Cohort study. 10,245 people. 15-year mortality follow-up (death records through 2019).

People were watched for years. Nobody was told what to do. A clue, not proof.

Who: Nationally representative US non-institutionalised adults aged 65-84 (n = 10,873; weighted 16.5 million; 60.3% female, 83.6% non-Hispanic White); 739 (6.4%) had no usual source of primary care. Fully adjusted model n = 10,245 (3,379 deaths)

What they found
  • Risk of dying-16%linked, not proven
  • Median survival+2.1 yrsat least this much
The catch

More to know, from our read of the paper:

  • Observational: 'although we cannot be certain of causality' (authors). Linked, not proven; residual and unmeasured confounding possible (disease severity, total disease burden, rurality not available)
  • Exposure self-reported once at baseline: having a usual place for routine/preventive care that is a clinic/health centre or doctor's office/HMO (not an ER). No data on visit frequency, quality, type of clinician, or whether access lasted over 15 years
  • Only 6.4% (739 people) lacked a usual source of care, so the comparison group is small; CI 0.72-0.98 is close to 1
  • Crude 15-year death: 31.1% vs 34.3%; in ages 65-69 no difference (21.4% vs 21.2%); differences mostly at 70+
  • The adjustment index (Schonberg mortality index) was developed by the corresponding author's group: note only
The verdict

A regular doctor: linked to a longer life.

In short

Researchers linked a US national health survey from 2000 and 2005 to death records, following over 10,000 adults aged 65 to 84 for 15 years. People who said they had a usual place for check-ups had a 16% lower risk of dying in that time, after accounting for their health, income, education and insurance. Half of those without one had died by about 13 years; most with one were still alive at 15. Only 6% had no usual place, and it was asked just once. Observational: linked, not proven.

The video
The paper

Zhong A, Amat MJ, Wolfson EA, Phillips RS, Schonberg MA (2026). Primary Care Associated with Improved Life Expectancy in Older US Adults: A Retrospective Cohort Study of National Survey Data. Journal of General Internal Medicine.

Design: Cohort study · retrospective cohort: 2000 and 2005 National Health Interview Survey respondents linked to National Death Index through 2019; survey-weighted Cox model adjusted for a validated mortality index (Schonberg index) and sociodemographics (linked, not proven)

DOI: 10.1007/s11606-025-10105-8

Goals:

Healthy old age
How we checked

We read the abstract and the full text of this paper and checked every number on this page against it (15 facts, checked on 2026-10-29). The study design is named above. Cohort and other observational studies are described as linked, not proven. Found an error? Email theis@onestudyaday.com.

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