Impacts of mild COVID-19 on elevated use of primary and specialist health care services: A nationwide register study from Norway.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

To explore the temporal impact of mild COVID-19 on need for primary and specialist health care services.

Methods

In all adults (≥20 years) tested for SARS-CoV-2 in Norway March 1st 2020 to February 1st 2021 (N = 1 401 922), we contrasted the monthly all-cause health care use before and up to 6 months after the test (% relative difference), for patients with a positive test for SARS-CoV-2 (non-hospitalization, i.e. mild COVID-19) and patients with a negative test (no COVID-19).

Results

We found a substantial short-term elevation in primary care use in all age groups, with men generally having a higher relative increase (men 20-44 years: 522%, 95%CI = 509-535, 45-69 years: 439%, 95%CI = 426-452, ≥70 years: 199%, 95%CI = 180-218) than women (20-44 years: 342, 95%CI =

SUBMITTER: Skyrud KD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8500442 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature