Fewer and fewer people are looking for health care after having had Covid-19. However, still half of all children and adults see their GP with a COVID-19 related condition within 30 days after a positive PCR test. This is shown by a new study by the National Institute of Public Health.
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Research by the National Institute of Public Health
In the study, researchers from the National Institute of Public Health (FHI) examined how many Norwegians use health services for a condition related to COVID-19 within 30 days after a positive test (PCR test).
Decline in the number of receptions
The study shows that during the pandemic, fewer people were using primary care such as primary care doctors and emergency services. In the first wave of infections, more than 4 in 5 people went to their family doctor or emergency room, compared with 3 in 5 during the omicron wave.
There was an even greater drop in the number of receptions. While 10 out of 200 with coronovirus infection were admitted in the first year, only 1 in 200 were admitted during the omicron wave.
Significant decline in all age groups
Scientists have divided the Norwegian population into three age groups: children and youth (1-19 years), adults (20-67 years) and older people (68 years and older). The survey results show that there is a marked decline in the overall use of health services, with little variation between different age groups.
- There has been a large drop in the percentage of people seeking primary care among those under 68, but this is not so clear in the older group. On the other hand, we are seeing a marked decline in admissions among the oldest, says an advisor at FHI and the study's first author, Fredrik Methi.
About half are still seeing their GP after they are diagnosed with Covid-19.
Fewer doctor visits and shorter hospital stays
It was during the pandemic less and less doctor visits and hospital stays due to Covid-19.
People who checked into primary care with COVID-19 in their first year had an average of three to four visits. The average for the last two waves was between one and two visits. We are also seeing some reduction in hospital stays. However, as there are few hospitalizations for COVID-19 in Norway, there is more uncertainty about these numbers, Methi emphasizes.
This study could shed light on knowledge gaps
The study helps to focus on the existing health workload during a pandemic. It also explains what to be prepared for in the event of future waves or new pandemics.
- This is a purely descriptive study showing differences in the use of health services. The study does not try to explain why we are seeing this decline. However, it is natural to think of a few factors such as vaccinations, more knowledge about the virus, and less serious variants. All of these factors, taken together, could contribute to the decline in numbers, Methi notes.
The researchers hope this study could shed light on knowledge gaps and lead to more research. The research will help delve into explaining the dips. They will help to find out what causes some people to visit their primary health service several times for translation. There are other elements to using health care after having Covid-19.
Source: National Institute of Public Health
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