THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND LOCKDOWN ON CARDIOMETABOLIC STATUS ON PATIENTS WITHOUT EVIDENCE OF SARS COV-2 INFECTION IN THREE REGIONS OF LATIN AMERICA. A SUB-STUDY OF THE CORCOVID LATAM STUDY

Abstract

Objective: Background The purpose of the study was to evaluate regional related differences in Latin America on the impact of the pandemic in cardiometabolic patients without evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted which included 38 questions about demography, clinical condition, change of health habits, medical treatments to cardio metabolic patients in outpatient follow-up. A total of 66 researchers from 13 Latin American countries enrolled patients from June 15 to July 15, 2020. The countries were divided into 3 geographic regions Region1 (NCCR) North, Central, and Caribbean Region; Region2 (AR) Andean Region; Region3 (SCR) Southern Cone Region. Isolation measures were estimated from national reports and correlated using the Spearman R coefficient. Design and method: 4216 patients were analyzed, NCCR (33.82%); AR (32.23%) SCR (33.94%). Significant differences were found between regions in the AR, SCR and NCCR, in age, unemployment, CV risk, adherence, percentage of smokers, type of diet and vaccination coverage. This analysis of habitual medication showed, that discontinued medication was greater in AR, reaching almost 30% (1 in 3 patients), to a lesser extent in NCCR and ultimately less in SCR, showing a significant difference between zones (p < 0.001). The main finding of this study was the negative impact that restrictive measures have on adherence to medications and physical activity, Rs = 0.84 p = 0.0003 and Rs = 0.61 p = 0.0032, respectively. Results: Significant differences were found between regions, AR is the most vulnerable region, lower income, lower educational level, higher medication discontinuation. Restrictive measures imposed by the different countries (quarantine) showed a positive correlation with the discontinuation of medication and a negative correlation with the amount of physical activity. The impact of the consequences left by this pandemic will be very profound in most Latin American countries.