Your browser doesn't support javascript.
Which factors are associated with COVID-19 infection incidence in care services for older people in Nordic countries? A cross-sectional survey.
Rauhala, Auvo S; Fagerström, Lisbeth M; Lindholst, Andrej C; Sinervo, Timo S; Bertelsen, Tilde M; Bliksvær, Trond; Lunde, Bente V; Solli, Rolf; Wolmesjö, Maria G; Hansen, Morten B.
  • Rauhala AS; Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
  • Fagerström LM; Vaasa Central Hospital, Finland.
  • Lindholst AC; Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
  • Sinervo TS; University South-Eastern Norway, Norway.
  • Bertelsen TM; Aalborg University, Aalborg East, Denmark.
  • Bliksvær T; Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Finland.
  • Lunde BV; Aalborg University, Aalborg East, Denmark.
  • Solli R; Nordland Research Institute, Bodo, Norway.
  • Wolmesjö MG; Nord University, Bodø, Norway.
  • Hansen MB; University of Borås, Boras, Sweden.
Scand J Public Health ; 50(6): 787-794, 2022 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1846723
ABSTRACT

AIMS:

To investigate the differences between Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway regarding residential/home care units' and frontline managers' background factors, the resources allocated and measures taken during the initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, and whether and how these differences were associated with COVID-19 among older people in residential/home units.

METHODS:

Register- and survey-based data. Responses from managers in municipal and private residential/home units. Number of municipal COVID-19 cases from national registries. Multilevel logistic multivariate regression analysis with presence of COVID-19 among older people in residential/home units as the outcome variable.

RESULTS:

The proportions of residential/home units with client COVID-19 cases, mid-March-April 2020 were Denmark 22.7%, Finland 9.0%, Norway 9.7% and Sweden 38.8%, most cases found in clusters. The proportions were similar among employees. Client likelihood of having COVID-19 was six-fold higher if the employees had COVID-19. Mean client cases per residential/home unit were Denmark 0.78, Finland 0.46, Norway 0.22 and Sweden 1.23. For the same municipal infection incidence class, Sweden's mean client infection levels were three-fold those of other countries. The regression analysis variables country, municipal COVID-19 incidence proportion, and care type were associated with client cases at p ⩽ .001. Compared with Denmark, the odds ratios (ORs) for Sweden, Norway and Finland were 1.86, 0.41 and 0.35 respectively. The variable difficulties in preventive testing had an OR of 1.56, p ⩽ .05.

CONCLUSIONS:

Municipal COVID-19 incidence, employee cases, and the lack of testing resources somewhat explained the confirmed COVID-19 cases among older people in residential/home units. A two- to five-fold unexplained inter-country difference in ORs in the multivariate analyses was notable. The level of protection of vulnerable older clients in municipal and private residential/home units differed between the included countries.
Subject(s)
Keywords

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Aged / Humans Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: English Journal: Scand J Public Health Journal subject: Social Medicine / Public Health Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: 14034948221085398

Similar

MEDLINE

...
LILACS

LIS


Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Aged / Humans Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: English Journal: Scand J Public Health Journal subject: Social Medicine / Public Health Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: 14034948221085398