Inequities in Health Service Needs Among Older Adults During COVID-19: A Gender-Stratified Analysis Using Longitudinal SHARE Data

This study examined sociodemographic and health-related determinants of self-reported unmet health service needs to better understand the factors contributing to inequities among adults aged 50 and older during the COVID-19 pandemic in Latvia. Data from the longitudinal SHARE study—Corona Surveys 1 and 2, and Wave 8—were analysed using logistic regression. A total of 647 cases from Latvia (62.9% women) were included, with a mean age of 68.6 years (±9.6). During the pandemic, 29.5% of adults aged 50 and older encountered barriers to accessing healthcare services. Gender-stratified analysis revealed that older adults from urban areas, men with higher education, and women with chronic conditions and activity limitations were at significantly higher risk of experiencing unmet health service needs. The study reveals significant disparities in health service needs among older adults in Latvia during the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasising the need for targeted interventions to reduce inequalities and improve access for vulnerable populations in public health crises.