Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health services utilisation and mortality in Ontario, Canada: an interrupted time series analysis

The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant fluctuations in healthcare utilisation in Ontario. These changes suggest increased risks of missed diagnoses and delayed care, impacting morbidity and mortality. The results emphasise the importance of adaptable healthcare systems and strong pandemic preparedness to maintain care continuity, especially for chronic disease management, during resource-limited periods.