Evaluation of glycemic control among Type 2 diabetic patients in the first visit after COVID-19 lockdown, Prince Mansour Military Hospital, Taif, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic causes significant morbidities and mortalities. Lockdown is applied worldwide to counteract the spread of the disease. These circumstances limit diabetic patients from hospital visits and follow-ups.

Objectives: To evaluate glycemic control for type 2 diabetic patients in the first visit after COVID-19 lockdown and to study the effect of COVID-19 lockdown on glycemic control.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Prince Mansour Military Hospital, Taif city, Western Saudi Arabia. It included type 2 diabetic patients of both genders aged over 20 years that were assigned to follow-up in the diabetic center. Data were collected from patients' medical records using a simple random technique. It included patients` gender, age group, body mass index, and three glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) readings for each year (2018-2019) and one HbA1C reading upon the first visit after COVID-19 lockdown. HbA1c level was treated as a continuous variable.

Results: The study included 420 diabetic patients. Females represented 51% of them, and more than a third (39.8%) were aged 60 years and over. The majority of them were either overweight (29.3%) or obese (61.2%). There was an increase in the overall level of HbA1c after curfew (8.72 ± 1.73) than before it (8.58 ± 1.72). However, the difference did not reach a statistically significant level, P = 0.056. Among females, the level of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was statistically and significantly higher after curfew than before it (8.71 ± 1.82 vs. 8.43 ± 1.71), P = 0.005. Also, among obese subjects, the level of hemoglobin A1c was statistically and significantly higher after curfew than before it (8.55 ± 1.74 vs. 8.34 ± 1.63), P = 0.034.

Conclusion: There was a relative increase in the level of HbA1c after the lockdown during COVID-19, indicating poorer glycemic control; this impact was more obvious among female and obese type 2 diabetic patients.

Keywords: COVID-19; HbA1c level; Lockdown; Saudi Arabia.