The impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemia control in patients in KSUMC, Riyadh

Abstract

Background: Previous studies on the COVID-19 lockdown reported contradictory evidence on controlling diabetes, hypertension (HT), and dyslipidemia (DLD). Thus, this study aimed to determine pre- and post-lockdown diabetes, HT, and DLD control with patient characteristics and predict positive or negative lockdown changes. Methods: Three hundred and fifty-five randomly selected patients from King Saud University Medical City (KSUMC) in Riyadh were studied between January 2019 and February 2020 using electronic medical records and phone calls to collect the data. Demographic, biomedical, medication, admission, blood glucose measurement, emergency room visits, and lifestyle data were collected. Results: The mean body mass index was increased in all demographic variables, particularly in people below the age of 60, and also in males and females (0.054 and 0.172, respectively) after the lockdown. All demographic variables showed a decrease in mean hemoglobin A1c difference. The mean systolic blood pressure difference between patients below the age of 60 and above the age of 60 was 2.00 (0.5491) and 4.54 (1.0812), respectively. 86.5% of the patients accounted for compliance with medications. In addition, 21.40% of the patients exercised regularly, and 36.60% did not follow a diet. Conclusion: Minor lab changes indicated stable conditions during the lockdown. KSUMC's telemedicine and virtual clinics contributed to this stability. The Ministry of Health's free online consultations were also helpful. A blended clinic (physical and virtual) seemed effective, especially during the pandemic.