COVID-19 and Unmet Healthcare Needs of Older People: Did Inequity Arise in Europe?

ABSTRACT:

Background

The disruption in healthcare provision due to the COVID-19 pandemic forced many non-urgent medical treatments and appointments to be postponed or denied, which is expected to have huge impact on non-acute health conditions, especially in vulnerable populations such as older people. Attention should be paid to equity issues related to unmet needs during the pandemic.

Methods

We calculated concentration indices to identify income-related inequalities and horizontal inequity in unmet needs due to postponed and denied healthcare in people over 50 during COVID-19, using data from the Survey on Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE).

Results

Very few countries show significant income-related inequalities in postponed, rescheduled or denied treatments and

SUBMITTER: Gonzalez-Touya M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8431067 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature