Health disparities in complicated lower respiratory tract infections: a population-based cohort study in The Hague, The Netherlands.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

International studies show that ethnic minority groups and individuals with lower socioeconomic status (SES) face higher severity of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). It is unclear whether these associations exist in the Netherlands and to what extent they are mediated through comorbidities and household composition. Our study investigates the relationship between sociodemographic factors and complicated LRTI before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in The Hague, the Netherlands.

Methods

A population-based cohort study was conducted using sociodemographic and insurance claims data from Statistics Netherlands, covering The Hague's adult population in 2014-2019 (pre-COVID-19) and 2020 (COVID-19). The associations of structural determinants (age, sex, SES,

SUBMITTER: van Dokkum ED 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12581052 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature