Sociodemographic and health status differences in delaying medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic among older adults: findings from the Health and Retirement Study
Abstract Background During the COVID-19 Pandemic, adults in the United States reported delaying medical care, which may be tied risk of infection and local policies limiting appointment. Some populations may have been more likely to delay care than others, leading to other forms of health inequality...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-09-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14118-4 |
| _version_ | 1798003014209896448 |
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| author | Mateo P. Farina Jennifer A. Ailshire |
| author_facet | Mateo P. Farina Jennifer A. Ailshire |
| author_sort | Mateo P. Farina |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background During the COVID-19 Pandemic, adults in the United States reported delaying medical care, which may be tied risk of infection and local policies limiting appointment. Some populations may have been more likely to delay care than others, leading to other forms of health inequality during this period. To-date there is little research on delayed care among U.S. older adult. We determine the prevalence of delayed medical care among older adults and investigate sociodemographic and health status inequalities in delaying health care. Method We used data from the first public release of the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study COVID-19 Subsample (N = 3006). Using logistic regression, we assessed whether differences in delaying health care varied by age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, self-rated health (SRH), and having any Activity of Daily Living (ADL) limitation. We also conducted additional analysis that evaluated differences in delaying care by two care subtypes: doctor and dental care visits. Results About 30% of U.S. older adults reported delaying care with the most common types of delayed care being dental or doctor visits. Adults ages 75 and older were less likely to delay care, while women, college educated, and those with poor SRH, and any ADL limitations were more likely to delay care. Conclusions Nearly one-third of older adults delayed care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The increased likelihood of delayed care among people with worse health suggests that there may be longer-term impacts on the health care system and population health from the COVID-19 pandemic, and may contribute to health inequalities in the near future. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:01:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f14f6ee9393b4a20867d7ede7a0e55ca |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:01:22Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-f14f6ee9393b4a20867d7ede7a0e55ca2022-12-22T04:24:51ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582022-09-012211710.1186/s12889-022-14118-4Sociodemographic and health status differences in delaying medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic among older adults: findings from the Health and Retirement StudyMateo P. Farina0Jennifer A. Ailshire1Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern CaliforniaLeonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern CaliforniaAbstract Background During the COVID-19 Pandemic, adults in the United States reported delaying medical care, which may be tied risk of infection and local policies limiting appointment. Some populations may have been more likely to delay care than others, leading to other forms of health inequality during this period. To-date there is little research on delayed care among U.S. older adult. We determine the prevalence of delayed medical care among older adults and investigate sociodemographic and health status inequalities in delaying health care. Method We used data from the first public release of the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study COVID-19 Subsample (N = 3006). Using logistic regression, we assessed whether differences in delaying health care varied by age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, self-rated health (SRH), and having any Activity of Daily Living (ADL) limitation. We also conducted additional analysis that evaluated differences in delaying care by two care subtypes: doctor and dental care visits. Results About 30% of U.S. older adults reported delaying care with the most common types of delayed care being dental or doctor visits. Adults ages 75 and older were less likely to delay care, while women, college educated, and those with poor SRH, and any ADL limitations were more likely to delay care. Conclusions Nearly one-third of older adults delayed care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The increased likelihood of delayed care among people with worse health suggests that there may be longer-term impacts on the health care system and population health from the COVID-19 pandemic, and may contribute to health inequalities in the near future.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14118-4Delaying health careOlder adultsCOVID-19Doctor visits |
| spellingShingle | Mateo P. Farina Jennifer A. Ailshire Sociodemographic and health status differences in delaying medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic among older adults: findings from the Health and Retirement Study BMC Public Health Delaying health care Older adults COVID-19 Doctor visits |
| title | Sociodemographic and health status differences in delaying medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic among older adults: findings from the Health and Retirement Study |
| title_full | Sociodemographic and health status differences in delaying medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic among older adults: findings from the Health and Retirement Study |
| title_fullStr | Sociodemographic and health status differences in delaying medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic among older adults: findings from the Health and Retirement Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sociodemographic and health status differences in delaying medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic among older adults: findings from the Health and Retirement Study |
| title_short | Sociodemographic and health status differences in delaying medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic among older adults: findings from the Health and Retirement Study |
| title_sort | sociodemographic and health status differences in delaying medical care during the covid 19 pandemic among older adults findings from the health and retirement study |
| topic | Delaying health care Older adults COVID-19 Doctor visits |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14118-4 |
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