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Trends in Healthcare Access in Japan during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic, up to June 2020

Author

Listed:
  • Koji Makiyama

    (HOXO-M Inc., 1-22-11 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061, Japan
    Shared co-first authorship.)

  • Takayuki Kawashima

    (Department of Mathematical and Computing Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
    Shared co-first authorship.)

  • Shuhei Nomura

    (Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Medicine, Keio University, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjyuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
    Department of Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan
    Shared co-first authorship.)

  • Akifumi Eguchi

    (Department of Sustainable Health Science, Center for Preventive Medical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan)

  • Daisuke Yoneoka

    (Graduate School of Public Health, St. Luke’s International University, 10-1 Akashi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0044, Japan)

  • Yuta Tanoue

    (Institute for Business and Finance, Waseda University, 1-6-1 Nishi-Waseda, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-8050, Japan)

  • Yumi Kawamura

    (Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Medicine, Keio University, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjyuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan)

  • Haruka Sakamoto

    (Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Medicine, Keio University, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjyuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
    Department of Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan)

  • Stuart Gilmour

    (Graduate School of Public Health, St. Luke’s International University, 10-1 Akashi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0044, Japan)

  • Shoi Shi

    (Department of Systems Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan
    Laboratory for Synthetic Biology, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan)

  • Kentaro Matsuura

    (HOXO-M Inc., 1-22-11 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061, Japan
    Department of Management Science, Graduate School of Engineering, Tokyo University of Science, 1-3 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8601, Japan)

  • Shinya Uryu

    (Center for Environmental Biology and Ecosystem Studies, National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan)

  • Masahiro Hashizume

    (Department of Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan)

Abstract

We evaluated the impact of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on healthcare access in Japan in terms of the number of outpatients and hospitalized patients as well as the length of hospital stays, during the first wave of the pandemic, up to June 2020. This observational study evaluated the monthly average number of outpatients per day at hospitals, the average number of hospitalized patients per day, and the average length of hospital stays per patient, from December 2010 to June 2020, using the hospital reports data, which are open aggregated data on the utilization of hospitals from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. These numbers were compared with those from the same period of previous years, using a quasi-Poisson regression model. We found a nationwide decrease in the number of outpatients in general hospitals and hospitalized patients, particularly in long-term care beds in Japan, as well as the excess length of hospital stays among psychiatric care patients during the first wave of the COVID-19. This limited access to healthcare demonstrated the importance of the long-term health monitoring of vulnerable populations and the need for urgent management support to healthcare facilities in preparation for possible prolonged pandemics in the future.

Suggested Citation

  • Koji Makiyama & Takayuki Kawashima & Shuhei Nomura & Akifumi Eguchi & Daisuke Yoneoka & Yuta Tanoue & Yumi Kawamura & Haruka Sakamoto & Stuart Gilmour & Shoi Shi & Kentaro Matsuura & Shinya Uryu & Mas, 2021. "Trends in Healthcare Access in Japan during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic, up to June 2020," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-11, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:6:p:3271-:d:521795
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Vincenzo Russo & Roberta Cassini & Valentina Caso & Chiara Donno & Annunziata Laezza & Maria Naddei & Alfonso Fiorelli & Paolo Golino & Gerardo Nigro, 2021. "Nursing Teleconsultation for the Outpatient Management of Patients with Cardiovascular Disease during COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-10, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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