RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Impact of COVID-19 on loneliness, mental health, and health service utilisation: a prospective cohort study of older adults with multimorbidity in primary care JF British Journal of General Practice JO Br J Gen Pract FD British Journal of General Practice SP e817 OP e824 DO 10.3399/bjgp20X713021 VO 70 IS 700 A1 Samuel Yeung Shan Wong A1 Dexing Zhang A1 Regina Wing Shan Sit A1 Benjamin Hon Kei Yip A1 Roger Yat-nork Chung A1 Carmen Ka Man Wong A1 Dicken Cheong Chun Chan A1 Wen Sun A1 Kin On Kwok A1 Stewart W Mercer YR 2020 UL http://bjgp.org/content/70/700/e817.abstract AB Background The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the psychological health and health service utilisation of older adults with multimorbidity, who are particularly vulnerable.Aim To describe changes in loneliness, mental health problems, and attendance to scheduled medical care before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.Design and setting Telephone survey on a pre-existing cohort of older adults with multimorbidity in primary care.Method Mental health and health service utilisation outcomes were compared with the outcomes before the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak in Hong Kong using paired t-tests, Wilcoxon’s signed-rank test, and McNemar’s test. Loneliness was measured by the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale. The secondary outcomes (anxiety, depression, and insomnia) were measured by the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire, the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder tool, and the Insomnia Severity Index. Appointments attendance data were extracted from a computerised medical record system. Sociodemographic factors associated with outcome changes were examined by linear regression and generalised estimating equations.Results Data were collected from 583 older (≥60 years) adults. There were significant increases in loneliness, anxiety, and insomnia, after the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak. Missed medical appointments over a 3-month period increased from 16.5% 1 year ago to 22.0% after the onset of the outbreak. In adjusted analysis, being female, living alone, and having >4 chronic conditions were independently associated with increased loneliness. Females were more likely to have increased anxiety and insomnia.Conclusion Psychosocial health of older patients with multimorbidity markedly deteriorated and missed medical appointments substantially increased after the COVID-19 outbreak.