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. 2023 Jul 26:68:1606010.
doi: 10.3389/ijph.2023.1606010. eCollection 2023.

Changes in Healthcare Utilization During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Potential Causes-A Cohort Study From Switzerland

Erika Harju  1   2   3 , Alexandre Speierer  4 , Katharina Tabea Jungo  4 , Sara Levati  5 , Stéphanie Baggio  4   6 , Stefano Tancredi  6 , Nazihah Noor  6 , Pierre-Yves Rodondi  7 , Stéphane Cullati  6   8 , Medea Imboden  9   10 , Dirk Keidel  9   10 , Melissa Witzig  9   10 , Irène Frank  3 , Philipp Kohler  11 , Christian Kahlert  11   12 , Luca Crivelli  5 , Rebecca Amati  13 , Emiliano Albanese  13 , Marco Kaufmann  14 , Anja Frei  14 , Viktor von Wyl  14   15 , Milo A Puhan  14 , Nicole Probst-Hensch  9   10 , Gisela Michel  1 , Nicolas Rodondi  4   16 , Patricia Chocano-Bedoya  4   6
Affiliations

Changes in Healthcare Utilization During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Potential Causes-A Cohort Study From Switzerland

Erika Harju et al. Int J Public Health. .

Abstract

Objectives: To describe the frequency of and reasons for changes in healthcare utilization in those requiring ongoing treatment, and to assess characteristics associated with change, during the second wave of the pandemic. Methods: Corona Immunitas e-cohort study (age ≥20 years) participants completed monthly questionnaires. We compared participants reporting a change in healthcare utilization with those who did not using descriptive and bivariate statistics. We explored characteristics associated with the number of changes using negative binomial regression. Results: The study included 3,190 participants from nine research sites. One-fifth reported requiring regular treatment. Among these, 14% reported a change in healthcare utilization, defined as events in which participants reported that they changed their ongoing treatment, irrespective of the reason. Reasons for change were medication changes and side-effects, specifically for hypertension, or pulmonary embolism treatment. Females were more likely to report changes [Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) = 2.15, p = 0.002]. Those with hypertension were least likely to report changes [IRR = 0.35, p = 0.019]. Conclusion: Few of those requiring regular treatment reported changes in healthcare utilization. Continuity of care for females and chronic diseases besides hypertension must be emphasized.

Keywords: COVID-19; digital follow-up; healthcare delivery; healthcare utilization; population-based study.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they do not have any conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Flow chart of study population, Corona Immunitas eCohort of nine centers (Switzerland, September 2020–February 2021).
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Reasons for change in healthcare utilization, Corona Immunitas eCohort of nine centers (Switzerland, September 2020–February 2021).
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Type of consultation in those who did not need regular treatment (n = 345), eCohort of nine centers (Switzerland, September 2020–February 2021). Abbreviation: GP, general practice.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Fear of infection during regular treatment (A), or during consultation (B). Corona Immunitas eCohort of nine centers (Switzerland, September 2020–February 2021).
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Characteristics associated with change in healthcare utilization (n = 631), Corona Immunitas eCohort of nine centers (Switzerland, September 2020–February 2021).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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