Abstract
Aims
Restrictions imposed to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission should be weighed against consequences on vulnerable groups’ health. Lifestyles and disease management of older people with diabetes might have been differentially impacted compared to non-chronic individuals.
Methods
A cross-sectional study (LOST in Lombardia) was conducted on a representative full sample of 4 400 older adults (17th-30th November 2020), collecting data on lifestyles, mental health and access to care before and during the pandemic.
Results
We compared 947 (51.9%) people with diabetes and 879 (48.1%) healthy subjects reporting no chronic conditions. People with diabetes reported more frequently increased physical activity (odds ratio, OR 2.65, 95% confidence internals, CI 1.69-4.13), drinks/week reduction (OR 6.27, 95%CI 3.59-10.95), increased consumption of fruit (OR 2.06, 95%CI 1.62-2.63), vegetables (OR 1.41, 95%CI 1.10-1.82), fish (OR 2.51, 95%CI 1.74-3.64) and olive oil (OR 3.54, 95%CI 2.30-5.46). People with diabetes increased telephone contacts with general practitioners (OR 3.70, 95%CI 2.83-4.83), hospitalisations (OR 9.01, 95%CI 3.96-20.51), visits and surgeries cancellations (OR 3.37, 95%CI 2.58-4.42) and treatment interruptions (OR 1.95, 95%CI 1.33-2.86).
Conclusions
Pandemic adverse effects occurred but are heterogenous in a population with chronic diseases, who seized the opportunity to improve health behaviours, despite health system difficulties guaranteeing routine care, within and beyond COVID-19.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, diabetes, Italy, Pandemics, Cross-sectional studies, delivery of health care, lifestyles, Health behaviours, 【초록키워드】 Treatment, pandemic, physical activity, mental health, cross-sectional, SARS-CoV-2 transmission, Health, management, health system, hospitalisation, disease, Care, Odds ratio, chronic conditions, reduction, Chronic diseases, adverse effect, Older, 95%CI, restriction, routine care, telephone contact, heterogenous, Lombardia, Practitioner, Prevent, consequence, collecting data, IMPROVE, Result, occurred, reported, conducted, individuals, healthy subject, diabete, impacted, weighed, 【제목키워드】 COVID-19 pandemic, Older, Italian,