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The hidden crisis: classifying unmet healthcare needs in European older adults during COVID-19

Author

Listed:
  • Šime Smolić

    (University of Zagreb)

  • Petra Međimurec

    (University of Zagreb)

  • Ivan Čipin

    (University of Zagreb)

  • Stipica Mudražija

    (University of Washington)

  • Dario Mustač

    (University of Zagreb)

  • Margareta Fabijančić

    (University of Zagreb)

Abstract

This study investigates the unmet healthcare needs of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, leveraging data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) and the two waves of the SHARE Corona Survey (SCS) conducted in 2020 and 2021. Using latent class analysis (LCA) with covariates, we identified distinct groups based on experiences of forgoing medical treatments due to fear of infection, postponed medical appointments, and denied care, while examining socio-demographic, economic, and health-related differences in class membership. The two-wave data provide insights into patterns of unmet healthcare needs across time, highlighting groups whose situations appeared to either improve or deteriorate. Our findings reveal six distinct classes of healthcare needs: no unmet needs, high early postponement with rapid improvement, rising barriers, high early fear-based barriers, high denial with persistent postponement, and persistently high fear-based barriers. We observe significant disparities in class membership based on age, gender, living arrangements, rural/urban residence, education, employment status, financial hardship, self-rated health, changes in health, and the number of chronic conditions. High-risk groups, particularly women, those with lower education, those experiencing financial hardship, and individuals with multiple chronic conditions, were identified as especially vulnerable to unmet healthcare needs during the pandemic. Our findings offer targeted insights for intervention and policy, aiming to address healthcare access disparities among older adults during such crises.

Suggested Citation

  • Šime Smolić & Petra Međimurec & Ivan Čipin & Stipica Mudražija & Dario Mustač & Margareta Fabijančić, 2025. "The hidden crisis: classifying unmet healthcare needs in European older adults during COVID-19," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 1-17, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:eujoag:v:22:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s10433-025-00866-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s10433-025-00866-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Oreffice, Sonia & Quintana-Domeque, Climent, 2021. "Gender inequality in COVID-19 times: evidence from UK prolific participants," Journal of Demographic Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 87(2), pages 261-287, June.
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    8. Vaida Gineikytė Kanclerė & Luka Klimavičiūtė & Marco Schito, 2024. "The effects of restricted access to healthcare on vulnerable people: an analysis of the determinants of health outcomes among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 22(4), pages 937-958, December.
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    10. Šime Smolić & Ivan Čipin & Petra Međimurec, 2022. "Access to healthcare for people aged 50+ in Europe during the COVID-19 outbreak," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 793-809, December.
    11. Apostolos Davillas & Andrew M. Jones, 2021. "Unmet health care need and income‐Related horizontal equity in use of health care during the COVID‐19 pandemic," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(7), pages 1711-1716, July.
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