Job loss and lower healthcare utilisation due to COVID-19 among older adults across 27 European countries

KŠIŇANOVÁ, Gabriela, Martin BOBÁK, Hynek PIKHART and Albert KŠIŇAN. Job loss and lower healthcare utilisation due to COVID-19 among older adults across 27 European countries. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. LONDON: BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP, 2021, vol. 75, No 11, p. 1078-1083. ISSN 0143-005X. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jech-2021-216715.

Basic information

• Original name: Job loss and lower healthcare utilisation due to COVID-19 among older adults across 27 European countries
• Authors: KŠIŇANOVÁ, Gabriela (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution), Martin BOBÁK (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Hynek PIKHART (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution) and Albert KŠIŇAN (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution).
• Edition: Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, LONDON, BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP, 2021, 0143-005X.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Article in a journal
• Field of Study: 30304 Public and environmental health
• Country of publisher: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• WWW: URL
• Impact factor: Impact factor: 6.286
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14310/21:00123003
• Organization unit: Faculty of Science
• Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jech-2021-216715
• UT WoS: 000708108300009
• Keywords in English: COVID-19; multilevel modelling; economics; unemployment
• Tags: rivok
• Tags: International impact, Reviewed

Abstract

Background Older adults are at greater risk for becoming severely ill from COVID-19; however, the impact of the pandemic on their economic activity and non-COVID-19-related healthcare utilisation is not well understood. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence and predictors of COVID-19-related unemployment and healthcare utilisation in a sample of older adults across 27 European countries. Methods We used data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe COVID-19 Survey, collected between June and August 2020. Participants (n=52 061) reported whether they lost a job, forwent medical treatment and whether their appointment was postponed due to COVID-19. Three-level models were estimated for each outcome to test the effects of individual, household and country-level characteristics. Results The mean prevalence of reported job loss, and forgone and postponed medical care was 19%, 12% and 26%, respectively. Job loss was associated with female sex, lower education and household income, and older age in women. For example, the OR of job loss, comparing primary versus tertiary (college) education, was 1.89 (95% CI 1.59 to 2.26). Forgone and postponed medical care was associated with older age in men, female sex and higher education. At the country level, postponed medical care was associated with more stringent governmental anti-COVID measures. Conclusion Job loss and lower healthcare utilisation for non-COVID-19-related reasons were common among older adults and were associated with several sociodemographic characteristics. Job loss appeared to disproportionally affect already economically vulnerable individuals, raising concerns about the exacerbation of social inequalities.

Links

• 857487, interní kód MU: Name: R-Exposome Chair: Unlocking the potential of RECETOX in Exposome research (Acronym: R-Exposome Chair)

Investor: European Union, Spreading excellence and widening participation