637-P: The Impact of the Lockdown on Romanian Patients with Type 1 Diabetes and Basedow-Graves’ Disease

Abstract

Introduction: The lockdown imposed in Romania to limit the spread of COVID-infection has led to socio-psychological changes, especially stress affecting the endocrine system. Objectives: Monitoring the impact of the lockdown imposed in Romania on patients with type 1 diabetes (DM 1) and compensated Basedow-Graves’ disease (BGD) , in treatment with antithyroid drugs (AD) . Material and Method: This retrospective observational study included 151 patients with DM 1 and BGD and was based on an original questionnaire published online with questions about blood glucose, HbA1c, and TSH, diabetologist and endocrinologist contact, access to treatment, and factors influencing the glycemic control. Results: We observed that 71.52% reported that they were afraid to go to the hospital when their general condition was altered (p <0.001) , and 80.13% stated that the stress increased during the restrictions (p <0.001) . A percent of 68.87% felt overwhelmed by the multitude of information about their disease, which they had to manage on their own (p˂0.001) . However, 67.54% of patients stated that they were able to contact the diabetologist and endocrinologist more often, via telemedicine (p˂0.001) and only 37.74% agreed that they did not encounter difficulties in managing type 1 diabetes during the pandemic, compared to 25.16% who had difficulties. Also, 33.77% of patients had decompensations of BGD, although initially the TSH value was within normal limits under treatment with AD. Conclusions: Stress and anxiety were among the main causes that led to increased blood sugar levels and decompensation of BGD, suggesting that the psychological impact of the pandemic could bring long-term complications.