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. 2021 Jan-Feb;19(1):44-47.
doi: 10.1370/afm.2625.

The COVID-19 Pandemic in Nijmegen, the Netherlands: Changes in Presented Health Problems and Demand for Primary Care

Henk Schers  1 , Chris van Weel  2 , Kees van Boven  2 , Reinier Akkermans  2 , Erik Bischoff  2 , Tim olde Hartman  2
Affiliations

The COVID-19 Pandemic in Nijmegen, the Netherlands: Changes in Presented Health Problems and Demand for Primary Care

Henk Schers et al. Ann Fam Med. 2021 Jan-Feb.

Abstract

We studied the changes in presented health problems and demand for primary care since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the Netherlands. We analyzed prominent symptom features of COVID-19, and COVID-19 itself as the reason for encounter. Also, we analyzed the number and type of encounters for common important health problems. Respiratory tract symptoms related to COVID-19 were presented more often in 2020 than in 2019. We observed a dramatic increase of telephone/e-mail/Internet consultations in the months after the outbreak. Contacts for other health problems such as prevention and acute and chronic conditions plummeted substantially (P <0.001); mental health problems stabilized.

Keywords: COVID-19; coronavirus; delivery of healthcare; general practice; primary care; the Netherlands.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Reasons for encounters related to COVID-19 in family practices; February-May 2019 and 2020. COVID-19 = coronavirus disease 2019. Note: Numbers/1,000 patients; in black February-May 2019; in gray February-May 2020.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Contacts with family practices in February-May 2019 and 2020; visits and telephone/e-mail consultations (numbers per 1,000 patients).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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