Self-Reported Unmet Healthcare Needs Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and Emergency Services Use and Hospitalization Among Cancer Survivors

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted the entire healthcare system, resulting in unmet needs for medical care (e.g., delayed or forgone care) among patients with cancer. Methods: Using 2020 National Health Interview Survey data, we examined the prevalence of unmet healthcare needs and whether the self-reported experience of having delayed or forgone healthcare is associated with increased emergency services use and hospitalizations. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to assess the associations between unmet healthcare needs because of COVID-19 and emergency services use and hospitalization, controlling for potential confounding. All analysis was conducted in March and April 2022. Results: Among 2,386 study participants living with cancer (representing 25.6 million U.S. adults), 33.7% reported having unmet healthcare needs because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The prevalence of unmet healthcare needs was higher among younger cancer survivors and those with higher education. In the adjusted analysis, cancer survivors with unmet healthcare needs were 31% more likely to report any emergency services use (adjusted OR=1.31, 95% CI=1.05, 1.65) than those without. Having unmet healthcare needs was not significantly associated with hospitalization (p=0.465). Conclusions: Our findings highlight the unmet need for cancer care because of the pandemic and potential adverse health outcomes.