Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-7cvxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T10:41:45.241Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Health Problems and Healthcare use During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Impact on Vulnerable Groups.

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 July 2023

Mark Bosmans
Affiliation:
Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (Nivel), Utrecht, Netherlands
Anouk van Duinkerken
Affiliation:
Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (Nivel), Utrecht, Netherlands
Nannah Tak
Affiliation:
GGD GHOR Nederland, Utrecht, Netherlands
Michel Dückers
Affiliation:
Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (Nivel), Utrecht, Netherlands University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
Christos Baliatsas
Affiliation:
Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (Nivel), Utrecht, Netherlands
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.
Introduction:

The COVID-19 pandemic and the countermeasures taken form a threat to the physical and mental health of the population, especially for more vulnerable groups. In this study, which is part of the Integrated Health Monitor COVID-19, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the healthcare use of the Dutch population and specific vulnerable groups was examined.

Method:

In this study two data-sources were combined. The first consists of electronic patient records of general practices (GP) participating in the Nivel Primary Care Database. These records are representative of the Dutch population and provide insight into acute complaints, chronic conditions, medication prescriptions and primary care use. For the current study, primary care use in pre-COVID years (2018 and 2019) was compared to that in 2021. This data was coupled with microdata from Statistics Netherlands, containing such information as socio-economic status and migration background. Analyses were conducted using longitudinal mixed-effects regression models.

Results:

Results show that risk factors play a role in the utilization of primary care. Women and those with a low household income visited the GP more often for mental complaints. Individuals with a migrant background visited the GP more often for coughing, fatigue, and social problems. Those with pre-existing chronic physical conditions were seen less often by their GP for shortness of breath. Among those with pre-existing mental problems GPs more often registered shortness of breath, yet less problems with access to care or social problems.

Conclusion:

Combining GP registry data with relevant background data has deepened our understanding of changes in health problems and healthcare use among the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study provides insight into how specific vulnerable groups are affected more strongly, and emphasizes the importance of monitoring these groups during a health crisis.

Type
Lightning and Oral Presentations
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine