{"entity": "publication", "iuid": "b7fc28884c3a4319911a0806a56f2ea5", "timestamp": "2026-09-28T11:17:34.686Z", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/b7fc28884c3a4319911a0806a56f2ea5.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/b7fc28884c3a4319911a0806a56f2ea5"}}, "title": "Sociodemographic characteristics and COVID-19 testing rates: spatiotemporal patterns and impact of test accessibility in Sweden.", "authors": [{"family": "Kennedy", "given": "Beatrice", "initials": "B", "orcid": "0000-0002-0066-4814", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/cb88fcd6bead49978b129dffe779d8a0.json"}}, {"family": "Varotsis", "given": "Georgios", "initials": "G"}, {"family": "Hammar", "given": "Ulf", "initials": "U"}, {"family": "Nguyen", "given": "Diem", "initials": "D"}, {"family": "Carrasquilla", "given": "Germ\u00e1n D", "initials": "GD"}, {"family": "van Zoest", "given": "Vera", "initials": "V"}, {"family": "Kristiansson", "given": "Robert S", "initials": "RS"}, {"family": "Fitipaldi", "given": "Hugo", "initials": "H", "orcid": "0000-0001-5352-2134", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/178a6a1fc31c42e2b502633c4c356286.json"}}, {"family": "Dekkers", "given": "Koen F", "initials": "KF"}, {"family": "Daivadanam", "given": "Meena", "initials": "M"}, {"family": "Martinell", "given": "Mats", "initials": "M"}, {"family": "Bj\u00f6rk", "given": "Jonas", "initials": "J", "orcid": "0000-0003-1883-2000", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/0e898da2ed624022a2da0ec479797d16.json"}}, {"family": "Fall", "given": "Tove", "initials": "T"}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2024-02-05", "journal": {"title": "Eur J Public Health", "issn": "1464-360X", "volume": "34", "issue": "1", "pages": "14-21", "issn-l": null}, "abstract": "Diagnostic testing is essential for disease surveillance and test-trace-isolate efforts. We aimed to investigate if residential area sociodemographic characteristics and test accessibility were associated with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing rates.\n\nWe included 426 224 patient-initiated COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction tests from Uppsala County in Sweden from 24 June 2020 to 9 February 2022. Using Poisson regression analyses, we investigated if postal code area Care Need Index (CNI; median 1.0, IQR 0.8-1.4), a composite measure of sociodemographic factors used in Sweden to allocate primary healthcare resources, was associated with COVID-19 daily testing rates after adjustments for community transmission. We assessed if the distance to testing station influenced testing, and performed a difference-in-difference-analysis of a new testing station targeting a disadvantaged neighbourhood.\n\nWe observed that CNI, i.e. primary healthcare need, was negatively associated with COVID-19 testing rates in inhabitants 5-69 years. More pronounced differences were noted across younger age groups and in Uppsala City, with test rate ratios in children (5-14 years) ranging from 0.56 (95% CI 0.47-0.67) to 0.87 (95% CI 0.80-0.93) across three pandemic waves. Longer distance to the nearest testing station was linked to lower testing rates, e.g. every additional 10 km was associated with a 10-18% decrease in inhabitants 15-29 years in Uppsala County. The opening of the targeted testing station was associated with increased testing, including twice as high testing rates in individuals aged 70-105, supporting an intervention effect.\n\nEnsuring accessible testing across all residential areas constitutes a promising tool to decrease inequalities in testing.", "doi": "10.1093/eurpub/ckad209", "pmid": "38011903", "labels": [], "xrefs": [{"db": "pmc", "key": "PMC10843959"}, {"db": "pii", "key": "7452814"}], "notes": [], "created": "2026-09-23T11:29:12.838Z", "modified": "2026-09-23T11:29:12.881Z"}