The profound impact of COVID-19 on the control and care of diabetic patients: a comprehensive retrospective cohort study

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant shift in healthcare services, focusing on pandemic response and emergency preparedness. The Oman Ministry of Health implemented various measures to combat and control COVID-19. However, this shift disrupted routine outpatient appoint...

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Main Authors: Fakhria Al Rashdi, Salwa Al Harrasi, Mohammed Al Ismaili, AL-Ghaliya AL Yaaqubi, Zeenah Atwan, Celine Tabche
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-12-01
Series:BMC Primary Care
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-024-02672-2
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author Fakhria Al Rashdi
Salwa Al Harrasi
Mohammed Al Ismaili
AL-Ghaliya AL Yaaqubi
Zeenah Atwan
Celine Tabche
author_facet Fakhria Al Rashdi
Salwa Al Harrasi
Mohammed Al Ismaili
AL-Ghaliya AL Yaaqubi
Zeenah Atwan
Celine Tabche
author_sort Fakhria Al Rashdi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant shift in healthcare services, focusing on pandemic response and emergency preparedness. The Oman Ministry of Health implemented various measures to combat and control COVID-19. However, this shift disrupted routine outpatient appointments, particularly for chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HTN). This study aims to assess the pandemic’s effect on diabetes control, by examining glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), blood pressure (BP), lipid values (particularly low-density lipoprotein (LDL), body weight/ body mass index (BMI), and comparing these measures to pre-pandemic levels. Methods A retrospective cohort study of 223 people with diabetes (PwD), aged 20–95 years who underwent a blood workup in 2019 and 2020 and were registered in Al-Khuwair Health Centre from March to December 2020. Data was extracted from the Al Shifa 3plus System and National Diabetic Register (NDR), and analyzed using SPSS. Results Out of 260 PwD identified, 223 met the inclusion criteria, while 37 were excluded due to recent diagnoses or missing follow-up in 2019. Significant changes were observed in HbA1C, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and BMI from 2019 to 2020. Mean HbA1c increased from 6.9% in 2019 to 7.2% in 2020. Mean SBP rose from 131.22 mmHg in 2019 to 134.84 mmHg in 2020, while mean BMI increased from 30.49 to 30.80. No significant changes were found in LDL levels or diastolic BP. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare systems globally, and the consequences on health and mortality were not only due to the direct impact of the virus, but also to the modifications in priorities. These interruptions in inconsistent care, had consequences for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes. Future strategic plans should be prepared and implemented to manage NCD cases in case of pandemics.
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spelling doaj-art-fa8825d67f0b4547bb38c41f3a1f36692025-08-20T02:39:52ZengBMCBMC Primary Care2731-45532024-12-012511710.1186/s12875-024-02672-2The profound impact of COVID-19 on the control and care of diabetic patients: a comprehensive retrospective cohort studyFakhria Al Rashdi0Salwa Al Harrasi1Mohammed Al Ismaili2AL-Ghaliya AL Yaaqubi3Zeenah Atwan4Celine Tabche5Ministry of Health Sultan OmanMinistry of Health Sultan OmanMinistry of Health Sultan OmanMinistry of Health Sultan OmanSchool of Public Health / WHO Collaborating Centre/Department of Primary Care and Public Health/Imperial College LondonSchool of Public Health / WHO Collaborating Centre/Department of Primary Care and Public Health/Imperial College LondonAbstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant shift in healthcare services, focusing on pandemic response and emergency preparedness. The Oman Ministry of Health implemented various measures to combat and control COVID-19. However, this shift disrupted routine outpatient appointments, particularly for chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HTN). This study aims to assess the pandemic’s effect on diabetes control, by examining glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), blood pressure (BP), lipid values (particularly low-density lipoprotein (LDL), body weight/ body mass index (BMI), and comparing these measures to pre-pandemic levels. Methods A retrospective cohort study of 223 people with diabetes (PwD), aged 20–95 years who underwent a blood workup in 2019 and 2020 and were registered in Al-Khuwair Health Centre from March to December 2020. Data was extracted from the Al Shifa 3plus System and National Diabetic Register (NDR), and analyzed using SPSS. Results Out of 260 PwD identified, 223 met the inclusion criteria, while 37 were excluded due to recent diagnoses or missing follow-up in 2019. Significant changes were observed in HbA1C, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and BMI from 2019 to 2020. Mean HbA1c increased from 6.9% in 2019 to 7.2% in 2020. Mean SBP rose from 131.22 mmHg in 2019 to 134.84 mmHg in 2020, while mean BMI increased from 30.49 to 30.80. No significant changes were found in LDL levels or diastolic BP. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare systems globally, and the consequences on health and mortality were not only due to the direct impact of the virus, but also to the modifications in priorities. These interruptions in inconsistent care, had consequences for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes. Future strategic plans should be prepared and implemented to manage NCD cases in case of pandemics.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-024-02672-2COVID-19DiabetesPrimary careOman
spellingShingle Fakhria Al Rashdi
Salwa Al Harrasi
Mohammed Al Ismaili
AL-Ghaliya AL Yaaqubi
Zeenah Atwan
Celine Tabche
The profound impact of COVID-19 on the control and care of diabetic patients: a comprehensive retrospective cohort study
BMC Primary Care
COVID-19
Diabetes
Primary care
Oman
title The profound impact of COVID-19 on the control and care of diabetic patients: a comprehensive retrospective cohort study
title_full The profound impact of COVID-19 on the control and care of diabetic patients: a comprehensive retrospective cohort study
title_fullStr The profound impact of COVID-19 on the control and care of diabetic patients: a comprehensive retrospective cohort study
title_full_unstemmed The profound impact of COVID-19 on the control and care of diabetic patients: a comprehensive retrospective cohort study
title_short The profound impact of COVID-19 on the control and care of diabetic patients: a comprehensive retrospective cohort study
title_sort profound impact of covid 19 on the control and care of diabetic patients a comprehensive retrospective cohort study
topic COVID-19
Diabetes
Primary care
Oman
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-024-02672-2
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