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Health care seeking due to COVID-19 related symptoms and health care cancellations among older Brazilian adults: the ELSI-COVID-19 initiative.
Macinko, James; Woolley, Natalia Oliveira; Seixas, Brayan V; Andrade, Fabiola Bof de; Lima-Costa, Maria Fernanda.
  • Macinko J; University of California, Los Angeles, U.S.A.
  • Woolley NO; University of California, Los Angeles, U.S.A.
  • Seixas BV; University of California, Los Angeles, U.S.A.
  • Andrade FB; Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Brasil.
  • Lima-Costa MF; Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Brasil.
Cad Saude Publica ; 36Suppl 3(Suppl 3): e00181920, 2020.
Article in English, Portuguese | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-999873
ABSTRACT
The continent of the Americas has the greatest number of people infected and deaths associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the world. Brazil occupies the 2nd position in numbers of infected cases and deaths, preceded only by the United States. Older adults and those with pre-existing chronic illnesses are more vulnerable to the consequences of the virus. The SARS-CoV-2 epidemic has serious consequences for health services. Therefore, an assessment of the pandemic's effect on the older Brazilian population is urgently needed. The study examines the prevalence of COVID-19 related symptoms, care-seeking, and cancellation of surgery or other scheduled medical care among a nationally representative sample of Brazilians aged 50 and over derived from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSI-Brazil) and a telephone follow-up survey (the ELSI-COVID-19 initiative) between late May and early June 2020. About 10.4% of older adults reported any fever, dry cough or difficulty breathing in the 30 days prior to the interview, with the highest prevalence in the North region (50%). Among individuals with symptoms, only 33.6% sought care. Individuals living in the South or Southeast regions were significantly less likely to seek care for COVID-19 related symptoms. Nearly one in six participants had to cancel scheduled surgery or other medical care; this proportion was higher among women, those with more education, and people with multiple chronic conditions. This paper is among the first to investigate the effect of COVID-19 on health care use in Brazil among older adults. Results highlight the need to adapt health care delivery (such as through telemedicine) to ensure the continuity of care as well as the urgent need for wide dissemination of information to guide the population on disease prevention measures and how to obtain healthcare when needed.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Office Visits / Pneumonia, Viral / Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Coronavirus Infections / Pandemics Type of study: Cohort study / Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research Topics: Long Covid Limits: Aged / Female / Humans / Middle aged Country/Region as subject: South America / Brazil Language: English / Portuguese Journal: Cad Saude Publica Journal subject: Public Health Year: 2020 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: 0102-311x00181920

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Office Visits / Pneumonia, Viral / Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Coronavirus Infections / Pandemics Type of study: Cohort study / Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research Topics: Long Covid Limits: Aged / Female / Humans / Middle aged Country/Region as subject: South America / Brazil Language: English / Portuguese Journal: Cad Saude Publica Journal subject: Public Health Year: 2020 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: 0102-311x00181920