REDUCED HEALTHCARE UTILIZATION AMONG PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC DISEASES DURING THE PANDEMIC

ABSTRACT

Objective: Public-health strategies resorted to world-wide, to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 impacted the healthcare-utilization of people with preexisting chronic diseases. We aimed to assess the healthcare utilization, patientexperiences and economic impacts among people with chronic diseases due to COVID-19 pandemic. Design and Methods: An online survey was conducted in 2021 involving 449 adults living in the Western-Province of Sri Lanka. Data on participants sociodemographic and economic status, co-morbidities, healthcare utilization, and healthcare-seeking behaviours were collected using a pre-tested questionnaire. The questionnaire link was distributed through social media and by emails. Categorical data were expressed as proportions/percentages with 95% confidence intervals where relevant. Quantitative data, normally distributed, were summarized in terms of mean and standard deviation (SD) and non-normally distributed as the median and interquartile-range (IQR). Results: 449 respondents completed the survey. Majority (55%) responded that they experienced a negative impact on their main income. 26%(n = 115) mentioned that they had a doctor-diagnosed chronic disease or a disability and of them 72% (n = 83) were on regular medication. Nearly half (n = 55;48%) mentioned that there was a delay in seeking healthcare during the pandemic and 27% (n = 30) reported not having sought treatment during the lockdown period. Of the people with delayed healthcare seeking 25% had hypertension, 16% diabetes, and 12.2% asthma. Considering care seeking pattern among people with chronic illness, it declined in all institutions during the lockdown period. However careseeking in the private sector, only margially declined during the pandemic. Considering care seeking at a government hospital, a drastic drop was observed during the lockdown period (n = 13;= 11.3%). Of the respondents who sought healthcare for chronic illness during the pandemic in lockdown (n = 85;74%) and no-lock down (n = 107;93%), a considerable proportion mentioned that clinics were either not functioning on time or not functioning at all. Although the majority agreed that their perceived health despite the chronic illness was good, very good, or excellent, around 38% reported it as fair or poor. Conclusion: Health-care utilization among people with a chronic disease reduced due to supply and demand driven factors in healthcare. Efforts are necessary to ensure continuity of care for people with chronic disease to prevent complications. The government needs to invest in resilient health systems to be better equipped to provide uninterrupted care for NCDs in any circumstances. To support this, primary healthcare strengthening and tele-health options should be explored.