Delay or postponement of medical care among older adults in the Netherlands at earlier and later stages of the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Aims The aim of the current study was to compare cancellations or postponement of medical care among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic between 2021 and 2020. Methods Data of respondents aged ≥ 62 years were used from the longitudinal aging study Amsterdam (LASA), collected in 2020 and 2021, directly after the main COVID-19 waves in the Netherlands. A questionnaire assessed cancellations of medical care and postponed help-seeking behavior. Descriptive analyses were performed. Results Overall, cancellations declined from 35% in 2020 (sample n = 1128) to 17% in 2021 (sample n = 1020). Healthcare-initiated cancellations declined from 29 to 8%. Respondent-initiated cancellations declined from 12 to 7%. Postponed help-seeking remained around 8%. Conclusions In 2021, less cancellations were reported compared to just after the first wave of the pandemic in 2020, while postponed help-seeking remained the same. It is important to investigate how cancellations and postponed help-seeking can be prevented in future pandemics.

Framing the pandemic: Multiplying “crises” in Dutch healthcare governance during the emerging COVID-19 pandemic

“…on number of consultations with general practitioners ( Deml et al, 2022 ), the waning levels of staff commitment as the pandemic progressed ( Gifford et al, 2022 ), and patients' clinical condition ( de Lange et al, 2022 ). We do see evidence of continuous strain on healthcare systems due to staff shortages and the constant pressure of treating COVID and post-COVID patients and working through waiting lists of regular patients whose care was postponed ( Mizee et al, 2022 ).…”