Effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on primary health care for persons with type 2 diabetes – Results from the German Disease Analyzer database

Abstract

ObjectivesTo identify the effects of the first lockdown in Germany (March to May 2020) on glycemic control, BMI, and cardiovascular risk factors in persons with type 2 diabetes. MethodsThe nationwide Disease Analyzer database includes a representative panel of physicianś practices in Germany providing anonymized real-world patient data. For metabolic and renal factors, we estimated absolute changes of means comparing outcomes from June to November 2020 to outcomes in the same persons from June to November 2019, and June to November 2018, respectively. ResultsIn 32,399 patients with type 2 diabetes, HbA1c change between 2019 and 2020 was + 0.04% (95 %CI: 0.03%; 0.05%) compared to −0.02% (95 %CI: −0.03%; −0.01%) between 2018 and 2019. Metabolic risk factors and creatinine changed only little between June to November 2019 and June to November 2020. The proportions of patients with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 were 56%, 55%, and 54% in June to November 2018, 2019, and 2020, respectively. The corresponding proportions for HbA1c > 53 mmol/mol Hb (>7.0%) were 39%, 39%, and 40%. ConclusionsThere is little evidence that the first COVID-19 lockdown in Germany had a short-term harmful influence on acute health care outcomes and vascular risk factors in people with type 2 diabetes.