Healthcare avoidance and excess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands: a population-based cohort study

During the first phase of the pandemic, one in five people did not go to the doctor. In addition, healthcare providers have postponed and/or postponed appointments due to COVID-19. It is unclear to what extent this (perceived) change in access to care has contributed to the observed excess mortality in the Netherlands in 2020-2021. In this population study we answer the following research question: What is the relationship between care avoidance during the first phase of the corona pandemic and observed mortality? In response to this research question, we use previously distributed questionnaires among 5,656 patients to determine to what extent reported care avoidance during the first phase of the pandemic is related to mortality.