Indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare contacts, quality of care, and social disparities across essential healthcare domains.

This article examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare contacts, quality of care, and social disparities across multiple key healthcare domains in Denmark, using data from the Danish National Clinical Quality Registries from 2015 to 2022. Findings indicate that while the pandemic initially reduced hospital contacts and participation in cancer screening programs, most healthcare activities gradually returned to prepandemic levels except for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) contacts and colorectal cancer incidence. The overall quality of care was maintained or slightly improved, but social disparities increased, with reduced healthcare contacts among immigrants, individuals living alone, and those with lower education or income. The study highlights the resilience of the Danish healthcare system during the pandemic but emphasizes the need to address growing social inequalities to ensure equitable healthcare access in future crises.