Utilization of health services among the elderly in Iran during the COVID‐19 outbreak: A cross‐sectional study

Abstract

Background and Aims: Elderly people are potentially vulnerable with a higher need for health services, and utilization of Essential Public Health Services (EPHS) among this group is of high importance. This study aimed to examine the utilization of health services among the elderly in Iran during the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 21 public health centers in Sirjan, Southern Iran, from May to December 2020. A total of 420 elderly patients were selected through a systematic random sampling method. Data were collected using a questionnaire and were analyzed using SPSS v22.0 . The binary logistic regression was used to examine the effect of demographic, socioeconomic and morbidity status on inpatient and outpatient healthcare utilization.Results: Our results showed that 56% of the elderly had a history of hospitalization during the last year. Although 60% of the elderly reported they had a perceived need for outpatient services, only 49% of them reported that they utilized outpatient services. 51% and 35.5% of the elderly reported that their inpatient and outpatient costs were covered by health insurance, respectively. Others reported their health spending was financed through out-of-pocket payments. Male gender aged 80 and above, urban residents, higher socioeconomic and supplemental insurance coverage were associated with an increase in health services utilization. The elderly with Cancer, mental disorders, kidney disease, and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) were more likely to be hospitalized. Conclusion:There were demographic and socioeconomic inequalities in health services utilization among the elderly. Therefore, appropriate interventions and strategies are needed to reduce these inequalities in health services utilization among the elderly. In addition, given that the hospitalization rate was significantly higher among the elderly with chronic diseases than those without,

Health (Dis)equalities and Social Isolation and Loneliness in the Older People: A Qualitative Study

“…Considering the exponential increase in aging and the consequent proportion of the development of associated clinical complications (Strandberg et al, 2020), the field of health becomes a challenge and therefore access to and use of services in this area are two essential factors for improving outcomes in the health sector (Faraji-Khiavi et al, 2022). In addition, loneliness and social isolation are problems related to ageing and are associated with adverse consequences for physical and mental health (Gardiner et al, 2018) and, consequently, a greater need for health resources (Christiansen et al, 2023).…”

A case report of transmural rectosigmoid ischemia in an elderly patient

“…It is noteworthy that the extent of the injury may be more pronounced in the mucosal than the serosal surface. In pathological examination, neutrophil infiltration, altered rectal vasculature, and mucosal edema may be seen [ 24 , 31 , 32 ].…”

Decomposition analysis on the equity of health examination utilization for the middle-aged and elderly people in China: based on longitudinal CHARLS data from 2011 to 2018

“…Need variables are the unavoidable determinants of health examination service utilization. As suggested by Wagstaff and Van Doorslaer, gender, age, self-assessed health, and functional limitation are commonly employed as indicators reflecting health need variables [23][24][25][26][27]. In this study, the need variables for health examination service utilization were age, gender, disability, and chronic diseases.…”