Self-Assessed Health Status of Individuals with Chronic Diseases During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objective: This study aims to explore how the self-assessed health (SAH) status of individuals with chronic diseases has changed during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to their status before the pandemic. Materials and Methods: This research utilized panel data, tracing the socio-demographic and health status indicators of individuals and applying a difference-in-difference model to determine whether individuals with chronic diseases reported a greater decrease in SAH status during the pandemic. Data were derived from the Turkish Statistical Institute's Survey of Income and Living Conditions panel data spanning four waves from 2017 to 2020. The dependent variable of this study is SAH, while socio-demographic and health status indicators of individuals serve as independent variables. Results: Statistically significant differences were observed between individuals with and without chronic diseases in terms of SAH status (p<0.001). Due to the negative and significant interaction parameter obtained from caliper matching (-0.09582; p<0.001), the decrease in SAH status among individuals with chronic diseases was pronounced during and following the pandemic. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a reduction in the SAH status of individuals with chronic diseases. These results provide insights for managers of chronic diseases to enhance the management of chronic conditions during pandemic times.