Impact of COVID-19 on loneliness, mental health, and health service utilisation: a prospective cohort study of older adults with multimorbidity in primary care.

Autor: Wong, Samuel Yeung Shan, Zhang, Dexing, Sit, Regina Wing Shan, Yip, Benjamin Hon Kei, Chung, Roger Yat-nork, Wong, Carmen Ka Man, Chan, Dicken Cheong Chun, Sun, Wen, Kwok, Kin On, Mercer, Stewart W
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Zdroj: British Journal of General Practice; Nov2020, Vol. 70 Issue 700, pe817-e824, 8p
Abstrakt: Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the psychological health and health service utilisation of older adults with multimorbidity, who are particularly vulnerable.Aim: To describe changes in loneliness, mental health problems, and attendance to scheduled medical care before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.Design and Setting: Telephone survey on a pre-existing cohort of older adults with multimorbidity in primary care.Method: Mental health and health service utilisation outcomes were compared with the outcomes before the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak in Hong Kong using paired t-tests, Wilcoxon's signed-rank test, and McNemar's test. Loneliness was measured by the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale. The secondary outcomes (anxiety, depression, and insomnia) were measured by the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire, the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder tool, and the Insomnia Severity Index. Appointments attendance data were extracted from a computerised medical record system. Sociodemographic factors associated with outcome changes were examined by linear regression and generalised estimating equations.Results: Data were collected from 583 older (≥60 years) adults. There were significant increases in loneliness, anxiety, and insomnia, after the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak. Missed medical appointments over a 3-month period increased from 16.5% 1 year ago to 22.0% after the onset of the outbreak. In adjusted analysis, being female, living alone, and having >4 chronic conditions were independently associated with increased loneliness. Females were more likely to have increased anxiety and insomnia.Conclusion: Psychosocial health of older patients with multimorbidity markedly deteriorated and missed medical appointments substantially increased after the COVID-19 outbreak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Databáze: Complementary Index