Association between the Decrease in Medical Visit Frequency and Chronic Disease Worsening in the Early Stages of
Takeshi Takakubo1, Yuko Odagiri1, Masaki Machida1,2
1Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Tokyo Medical University, Japan.
Internal Medicine (Tokyo, Japan)
|April 3, 2024
Summary
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many Japanese patients with chronic diseases reduced medical visits, increasing disease worsening risk. Factors like psychological distress and unemployment exacerbated these outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Health Services Research
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted healthcare access and patient behaviors.
- Understanding changes in medical treatment for chronic diseases during pandemics is crucial for patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze shifts in medical treatment behaviors among Japanese chronic disease patients during the early COVID-19 pandemic.
- To identify factors contributing to the worsening of chronic diseases in this population.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal panel survey of 2,400 participants recruited online.
- Evaluation of medical visit frequency, medication adherence, and telehealth use at baseline (May 2020) and follow-up (February 2021).
- Analysis of sociodemographic factors, psychological distress, and self-reported chronic disease worsening.
Main Results:
- 34% of participants initially decreased medical visit frequency, reducing to 16.5% at follow-up.
- Chronic disease worsening was reported by 5.1% at both baseline and follow-up.
- Disease worsening was linked to younger age, fewer medical visits, unemployment, smoking history, and psychological distress.
Conclusions:
- Reduced medical visits in early pandemic stages correlated with chronic disease worsening.
- Psychological distress, unemployment, and smoking history identified as key risk factors for adverse outcomes.
- Interventions targeting vulnerable populations are needed during public health crises to maintain chronic disease management.
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