Association between health insurance membership and cataract surgery utilization: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the association between health insurance and the use of cataract surgical services. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis according to preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis guidelines. A literature search was performed on PubMed and ProQuest databases, screening all related articles in the past 10 years (2012-2022). Data were analyzed using RevMan 5.3 software, with pooled effect estimates reported as an odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: A total of seven observational studies with a total of 27,054 patients with cataracts were identified and included in the meta-analysis. The pooling results of these studies suggest that there is a statistically significant association between health insurance membership and cataract surgery utilization. Those who have health insurance are 1.28 times more likely to use cataract surgical services (OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.18-1.39, P < 0.00001). Conclusion:There is an association between health insurance membership and cataract surgery utilization. These results can guide focused interventions aimed at enhancing cataract surgery coverage.