Impact of COVID-19 on Annual Wellness Visits and Health Disparities
Author Information
Author(s): Nancy Allen, Yao He, Norman Foster
Primary Institution: University of Utah
Hypothesis
Disruptions would exacerbate pre-existing disparities in AWV administration.
Conclusion
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant decline in annual wellness visits, which continued to reflect existing health disparities.
Supporting Evidence
- In 2020, there were 32.9% fewer AWV performed than in 2019.
- There was a 91% decline in AWV when clinic operations were most restricted.
- Post-pandemic, AWV were more frequent in younger individuals than older ones.
- AWV were more frequent in white patients than non-white patients.
- Patients without diabetes had more AWV than those with diabetes.
Takeaway
During COVID-19, fewer older people got their health check-ups, and this made existing health inequalities worse.
Methodology
Observational retrospective chart review of AWV of Medicare-eligible adults ≥65 years from Jan 2018 to Dec 2022.
Potential Biases
There were conscious and unconscious scheduling biases that affected AWV performance.
Limitations
The study may not account for all factors influencing AWV performance and disparities.
Participant Demographics
Medicare-eligible adults ≥65 years, with disparities noted among age, race, and diabetes status.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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