Self-Reported Unmet Healthcare Needs due to COVID-19 Pandemic and Emergency Services Use and Hospitalization among Cancer Survivors
Ce dossier présente un ensemble d'articles concernant la prise en charge des cancers durant la crise sanitaire liée au COVID-19
Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted the entire healthcare system, resulting in unmet needs for medical care (e.g., delayed or forgone care) among patients with cancer.
Materials and Methods: Using 2020 National Health Interview Survey data, we examined the prevalence of unmet healthcare needs and whether having delayed or forgone healthcare experience is associated with increased emergency services use and hospitalizations. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to assess the associations between unmet healthcare needs due to COVID-19 and emergency services use and hospitalization, controlling for potential confounding. All analysis was conducted in March and April 2022.
Results: Among 2,386 study participants living with cancer (representing 25.6 million US adults), 33.7% reported having unmet healthcare needs due to COVID-19. The prevalence of unmet healthcare needs was higher among younger cancer survivors and those with higher education. In adjusted analysis, cancer survivors with unmet healthcare needs were 31% more likely to report any emergency services use (adjusted OR 1.31, 95% CI: 1.05-1.65) than those without. Having unmet healthcare needs was not significantly associated with hospitalization (P=0.465).
Conclusions: Our findings highlight the unmet need for cancer care due to the pandemic and potential adverse health outcomes.
AJPM Focus , résumé, 2023