Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33737441›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2021

Evaluating access to health and care services during lockdown by the COVID-19 survey in five UK national longitudinal studies.

Constantin-Cristian Topriceanu, Andrew Wong, James C Moon, Alun D Hughes, David Bann, Nishi Chaturvedi, Praveetha Patalay, Gabriella Conti, Gaby Captur

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 55 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
55citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

55 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Constantin-Cristian TopriceanuSchool of Medicine, University College London, London, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5826-9617
Andrew WongUCL MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing, University College London, London, UK.
James C MoonInstitute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, London, UK.
Alun D HughesSchool of Medicine, University College London, London, UK.
David BannCenter for Longitudinal Studies, Department of Social Science, University College London, London, UK.
Nishi ChaturvediSchool of Medicine, University College London, London, UK.
Praveetha PatalayUCL MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing, University College London, London, UK.
Gabriella ContiDepartment of Economics and UCL Social Research Institute, University College London, London, UK.
Gaby CapturSchool of Medicine, University College London, London, UK gabriella.captur@ucl.ac.uk.

Funding

British Heart Foundation SP/20/2/34841Medical Research Council MC_UU_00019/1Wellcome Trust
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveAccess to health services and adequate care is influenced by sex, ethnicity, socioeconomic position (SEP) and the burden of comorbidities. Our study aimed to assess whether the COVID-19 pandemic further deepened these already existing health inequalities.

designCross-sectional study.

settingData were collected from five longitudinal age-homogenous British cohorts (born in 2000-2002, 1989-1990, 1970, 1958 and 1946).

participantsA web survey was sent to the cohorts. Anybody who responded to the survey was included, resulting in 14 891 eligible participants. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURED: The survey provided data on cancelled surgical or medical appointments, and the number of care hours received in a week during the first UK COVID-19 national lockdown.

interventionsUsing binary or ordered logistic regression, we evaluated whether these outcomes differed by sex, ethnicity, SEP and having a chronic illness. Adjustment was made for study design, non-response weights, psychological distress, presence of children or adolescents in the household, COVID-19 infection, key worker status, and whether participants had received a shielding letter. Meta-analyses were performed across the cohorts, and meta-regression was used to evaluate the effect of age as a moderator.

resultsWomen (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.27 to 1.55) and those with a chronic illness (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.65 to 2.05) experienced significantly more cancellations during lockdown (all p<0.0001). Ethnic minorities and those with a chronic illness required a higher number of care hours during the lockdown (both OR≈2.00, all p<0.002). SEP was not associated with cancellation or care hours. Age was not independently associated with either outcome in the meta-regression.

conclusionThe UK government's lockdown approach during the COVID-19 pandemic appears to have deepened existing health inequalities, impacting predominantly women, ethnic minorities and those with chronic illnesses. Public health authorities need to implement urgent policies to ensure equitable access to health and care for all in preparation for a fourthwave.

Indexed as

COVID-19PandemicsAdultAgedCommunicable Disease ControlCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHealthcare DisparitiesHealth Services AccessibilityHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleMiddle AgedUnited KingdomYoung Adultepidemiologypublic healthquality in health care

Identifiers

PMID33737441
PMCPMC7978270

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.