Korean Journal of Family Medicine

"Health Services for the Aged"

Original Articles

Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Medical Use of Elderly Patients with Hypertension: A Nationwide Cohort Study in Korea: Eunbyul Cho, Sujeong Han, Jae-ryun Lee, Hyejin Lee, Bumjo Oh; Korean J Fam Med 2024;45(5):283-289. Published online March 4, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.23.0129

Abstract
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Background
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted healthcare services, including chronic disease management, for vulnerable groups, such as older individuals with hypertension. This study aimed to evaluate hypertension management in South Korea’s elderly population during the pandemic using treatment consistency indices such as the continuity of care (COC), modified, modified continuity index (MMCI), and most frequent provider continuity (MFPC).
Methods
This study used the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency-COVID-19-National Health Insurance Service cohort (K-COV-N cohort) from the National Health Insurance Service between 2017 and 2021. The research included a total of 4,097,299 hypertensive patients aged 65 years or older. We defined 2018 and 2019 as the baseline period before the COVID-19 pandemic and 2020 and 2021 as the COVID-19 period and calculated the indices of medical continuity (number of visits, COC, MMCI, and MFPC) on a yearly basis.
Results
The number of visits decreased during the COVID-19 period compared to the baseline period (59.64±52.75 vs. 50.49±50.33, P<0.001). However, COC, MMCI, and MFPC were not decreased in the baseline period compared to the COVID-19 period (0.71±0.21 vs. 0.71±0.22, P<0.001; 0.97±0.05 vs. 0.96±0.05, P<0.001; 0.8±0.17 vs. 0.8±0.17, P<0.001, respectively).
Conclusion
COVID-19 had no significant impact on the continuity of care but affected the frequency of outpatient visits for older patients with hypertension. However, this study highlights the importance of addressing healthcare inequalities, especially in older patients with hypertension, during pandemics and advocates for policy changes to ensure continued care for vulnerable populations.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Reflecting on progress and challenges: the Korean Journal of Family Medicine in 2024
Seung-Won Oh
Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2025; 46(2): 55. CrossRef
The impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on hypertension phenotypes (ESH ABPM COVID-19 study)
Aleksandra Ostrowska, Wiktoria Wojciechowska, Marek Rajzer, Thomas Weber, Michael Bursztyn, Alexandre Persu, George Stergiou, Grzegorz Kiełbasa, Marzena Chrostowska, Michaelis Doumas, Gianfranco Parati, Grzegorz Bilo, Guido Grassi, Giuseppe Mancia, Andrze
European Journal of Internal Medicine.2024;[Epub] CrossRef

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Factors Associated with the Use of Uterine Cervical Cancer Screening Services in Korean Elderly Women: Ki Dong Ko, Sang Min Park, Kiheon Lee; Korean J Fam Med 2012;33(3):174-181. Published online May 24, 2012; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.2012.33.3.174

Abstract
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Background

The Papanicolaou (Pap) smear test is an effective screening test for the early detection of uterine cervical cancer. The Pap test still plays an important role in Korean elderly women, as uterine cervical cancer remains a frequent form of cancer and an important cause of death. However, the participation rate and other factors related to the Pap test in Korean elderly women have been studied insufficiently.

Methods

This study included 654 individuals aged 65 and over who completed a cervical cancer screening questionnaire from the Third Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005. Using multiple logistic regression, odds ratios and confidence intervals for the association between attendance of the Pap test and sociodemographic or health-related factors were calculated.

Results

One hundred and eleven individuals (17.0%) of the study population showed compliance with Pap testing within the previous 2 years. We recognized that the most elderly women (75 years and over) or those with lower levels of education were less likely to have had the test.

Conclusion

Primary health care providers need to make efforts to improve attendance rates of Pap smear screening in Korean elderly women, individually taking into account previous Pap results, life expectancy, risk factors for cervical cancer, and preferences. More attention will especially be needed among the eldest elderly or less educated elderly women.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Regularity of cervical cancer screening in Korea: analysis using national public data for 12 years
Jong-Yeup Kim, Jeeyoung Hong, Juhee Yoon, Jinsol Park, Tae-Hyun Kim
Journal of Gynecologic Oncology.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Cervical Cancer Screening and Its Associated Factors Among North Korean Defectors Living in South Korea
Jeongok Park, HeesSook Kim, Wonhee Yang, HaeWon Lee, Sang Min Park
Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health.2018; 20(1): 66. CrossRef
Disparities in the utilisation of preventive health services by the employment status: An analysis of 2007-2012 South Korean national survey
SangJune Kim, Jee Hey Song, Yoo Min Oh, Sang Min Park, Geofrey Musinguzi
PLOS ONE.2018; 13(12): e0207737. CrossRef
Role of cervical screening in older women
Laurie Elit
Maturitas.2014; 79(4): 413. CrossRef