Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

October 19, 2020

Association of Time to Diagnosis with Socioeconomic Position and Geographical Accessibility to Healthcare among Symptomatic COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective Study in Hong Kong

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Living in public rental houses and living in an area with low educational attainment were associated with longer time to diagnosis in the first wave of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Hong Kong. In contrast, this association was not observed during the second wave of infections, when the surveillance measures were enhanced. The study examined socioeconomic characteristics and geographical accessibility to healthcare services in relation to time to diagnosis among symptomatic patients with COVID-19. The risk of delayed diagnosis for public rental house residents was partially mitigated by a higher density of public clinics and hospitals, but exacerbated by a higher density of private medical practitioners nearby. 

Wu et al. (2020). Association of Time to Diagnosis with Socioeconomic Position and Geographical Accessibility to Healthcare among Symptomatic COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective Study in Hong Kong. Health & Place. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2020.102465