A study by the ibs.GRANADA evaluates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on chronic patients
The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Nursing, highlights the need to mitigate the impact of future health crises on the care of chronic patients.
A recent study by the Granada Biosanitary Research Institute (ibs.GRANADA) in collaboration with the Department of Nursing at the University of Granada, has revealed the Adverse effects that COVID-19 pandemic has in older patients with chronic diseases in primary care centres of the Andalusian Health Service. This research, which is part of the Doctoral Thesis entitled “Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the physical and mental health of patients with chronic diseases” by Dr. Rubén A. García Lara, a nurse in the Basic Health Zone of Íllora, offers a comprehensive perspective on how the pandemic has affected the physical, mental and social health of this vulnerable population.
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, movement restrictions and lockdowns were implemented to contain the spread of the virus, resulting in a disruption of health care services, especially in the monitoring and treatment of chronic diseases. The World Health Organization reported that the pandemic severely affected services for the prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases due to the cancellation of planned treatments, the closure of population screening programs, and the reassignment of health personnel to care for COVID-19 cases.
The study carried out in several primary care centres attached to the Granada Metropolitan District included 148 patients over 65 years of age with chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity and dyslipidemia, who were evaluated before, during and after the critical phase of the pandemic. The results showed a significant deterioration in the functional and cognitive status of these patients during confinement and the successive waves of COVID-19, effects that were maintained even during the transition phase.
In terms of chronic disease control, the findings indicated that during the restrictions there was an increase in HbA1c levels in patients with Diabetes Mellitus, indicating poorer glycemic control, although these levels improved in the transition phase. Regarding hypertension, an increase was observed in patients with high blood pressure, both during and after confinement, suggesting insufficient control. On the other hand, the patients' Body Mass Index improved throughout the study. Total and LDL cholesterol levels initially improved during confinement, but worsened in the transition phase, while triglyceride and HDL levels showed similar fluctuations. These results reflect challenges in managing chronic diseases during the pandemic, exacerbated by a 64.6% reduction in face-to-face consultations and a 62.6% reduction in home visits.
The study underlines the need for implement strategies to mitigate the impact of future health crises in the care of chronic patients. The pandemic highlighted the importance of maintaining continuity of medical care and the need to effectively integrate telemedicine services. Although telemedicine was promoted as an alternative, the results indicate that this measure was not sufficient to compensate for the reduction in face-to-face consultations.
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the health of patients with chronic diseases, especially in the older population. This study highlights the importance of implementing public health policies that ensure continuity of care and adapt health systems to handle future emergencies without affecting chronic disease care.
About the group
The research group Ee02-Primary Care Research (GDIAP) brings together professionals from various areas of health to generate useful knowledge in Primary Care and improve clinical practices. Organized as a multidisciplinary network, it collaborates with other scientific groups. Its areas of research include clinical epidemiology, therapeutic prescription, health assessment, promotion and prevention, bioethics, professional-patient communication, quality of working life, postgraduate training and use of health services.
More information: https://www.ibsgranada.es/grupos-de-investigacion/ee02-investigacion-en-atencion-primaria-gdiap/
Bibliographic reference
García‐Lara, RA, Suleiman‐Martos, S., Dominguez‐Vías, G., Romero‐Béjar, JL, Garcia‐Morales, V., Gómez‐Urquiza, JL, & Suleiman‐Martos, N. (2024). Impact effects of COVID‐19 pandemic on chronic disease patients: A longitudinal prospective study. In Journal of Clinical Nursing (Vol. 33, Issue 6, pp. 2226-2236). Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.17104
