Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the patients with diabetes mellitus healthcare, General Pueyrredon District, Argentina

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic led to the adoption of confinement measures with impact on the control of diabetes mellitus (DM). The aim was to assess the effect of the pandemic on the care of people with DM in the public and private health subsectors of General Pueyrredon District (PGP). The primary endpoints were glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and metabolic control, and the secondary were fasting plasma glucose, body mass index (BMI), triglycerides, cholesterol, medical visits, hospitalization, ophthalmoscopy and albumin-to-creatinine ratio. Differences with a p-value. RESULTS: A total of 327 participants were included (51.7% from the public subsector). Median HbA1c increased from 8.1% (interquartile range [IQR] 2.7) to 8.8% (IQR 2.8). The pandemic along with the public subsector healthcare and incomplete DM treatment were independent predictors of the HbA1c increase; while insulin treatment was a predictor of glycemic control decrease. DISCUSSION: The pandemic had a negative impact on DM medical care, which highlights inequalities in the subsectors of the healthcare system.