Open AccessA cross‐sectional study of socioeconomic status and treatment interruption among Japanese workers during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Author(s) -
Fujimoto Kenji,
Ishimaru Tomohiro,
Tateishi Seiichiro,
Nagata Tomohisa,
Tsuji Mayumi,
Eguchi Hisashi,
Ogami Akira,
Matsuda Shinya,
Fujino Yoshihisa
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of occupational health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.664
H-Index - 59
ISSN - 1348-9585
DOI - 10.1002/1348-9585.12232
Subject(s) - socioeconomic status , medicine , pandemic , cross sectional study , demography , odds ratio , covid-19 , unemployment , residence , logistic regression , odds , environmental health , disease , population , pathology , sociology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , economics , economic growth
Objectives The COVID‐19 pandemic has caused interruptions to chronic disease and non‐emergency treatment. The purpose of this study is to examine which socioeconomic status groups are most at risk of treatment interruption among Japanese workers. Methods This cross‐sectional internet monitor study was conducted among Japanese workers on December 22‐26, 2020. Out of a total of 33 302 participants in the survey, 9510 (5392 males and 4118 females) who responded that they required regular treatment or hospital visits were included in the analysis. A multilevel logistic model nested in the prefecture of residence was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) for treatment disruption. We examined separate multivariate models for socioeconomic factors, health factors, and lifestyle factors. Results During a period of rapid COVID‐19 infection, about 11% of Japanese workers who required regular treatment experienced interruptions to their treatment. The OR of treatment interruption associated with not being married compared with being married was 1.44 (95%CI: 1.17‐1.76); manual labor work compared with desk work was 1.30 (95%CI: 1.11‐1.52); loss of employment when the COVID‐19 pandemic started and continued unemployment compared with being employed over the entire pandemic period was 1.62 (95%CI: 1.13‐2.31) and 2.57 (95%CI: 1.63‐4.07), respectively; and feeling financially unstable was 2.92 (95%CI: 2.25‐3.80). Conclusion Treatment interruption is a new health inequality brought about by COVID‐19 with possible medium‐ and long‐term effects, including excess mortality, morbidity, and productivity loss due to increased presenteeism. Efforts are needed to reduce treatment interruptions among workers who require regular treatment.