Dataset Information

Evaluating the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on hypertension and diabetes care in South Korea: an interrupted time series analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Access to healthcare services is important, especially for patients with chronic diseases. We evaluated the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on outpatient visits and medication for patients with hypertension and diabetes in South Korea.

Methods

Nationwide claims data were extracted for patients with hypertension and diabetes from January 2019 to July 2020. We used an interrupted time series (ITS) analysis to evaluate the pandemic's impact on outpatient care using the number of outpatient visits and days of medication supplied per visit. We identified the change in the continuity of care in medication, a consequence of the change in outpatient care, using the Medication Possession Ratio (MPR).

Results

The number of outpatient visits for diabetes significantly declined in February 2020, when community transmission began. However, when high-intensity social distancing was relaxed in April 2020, outpatient visits for hypertension and diabetes rebounded significantly. Moreover, when the outpatient visits declined, the number of days of medication supplied per visit increased. Consequently, the average MPRs significantly increased compared to 2019, increasing the ratio of patients with appropriate medication supply (MPR ≥ 0.8).

Conclusions

Outpatient visits decreased immediately when COVID-19 spread to local communities. However, the number of days of medication supplied per visit increased to compensate for the longer intervals between visits. Rather, the change in the continuity of care in medication improved; thus, the temporary decrease in outpatient visits might have had a limited negative impact on health outcomes.

SUBMITTER: Sim B

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10422749 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Evaluating the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on hypertension and diabetes care in South Korea: an interrupted time series analysis.

Sim Boram B Kim Sunmi S Nam Eun Woo EW

BMC public health 20230812 1

<h4>Background</h4>Access to healthcare services is important, especially for patients with chronic diseases. We evaluated the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on outpatient visits and medication for patients with hypertension and diabetes in South Korea.<h4>Methods</h4>Nationwide claims data were extracted for patients with hypertension and diabetes from January 2019 to July 2020. We used an interrupted time series (ITS) analysis to evaluate the pandemic's impact on outpatient care using the num ...[more]

PMID: 37568089

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Project description:BackgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in significant disruptions to critical care systems globally. However, research on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on intensive care unit (ICU) admissions via the emergency department (ED) is limited. Therefore, this study evaluated the changes in the number of ED-to-ICU admissions and clinical outcomes in the periods before and during the pandemic.MethodsWe identified all adult patients admitted to the ICU through level 1 or 2 EDs in Korea between February 2018 and January 2021. February 2020 was considered the onset point of the COVID-19 pandemic. The monthly changes in the number of ED-to-ICU admissions and the in-hospital mortality rates before and during the COVID-19 pandemic were evaluated using interrupted time-series analysis.ResultsAmong the 555,793 adult ED-to-ICU admissions, the number of ED-to-ICU admissions during the pandemic decreased compared to that before the pandemic (step change, 0.916; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.869-0.966], although the trend did not attain statistical significance (slope change, 0.997; 95% CI 0.991-1.003). The proportion of patients who arrived by emergency medical services, those transferred from other hospitals, and those with injuries declined significantly among the number of ED-to-ICU admissions during the pandemic. The proportion of in-hospital deaths significantly increased during the pandemic (step change, 1.054; 95% CI 1.003-1.108); however, the trend did not attain statistical significance (slope change, 1.001; 95% CI 0.996-1.007). Mortality rates in patients with an ED length of stay of ≥ 6 h until admission to the ICU rose abruptly following the onset of the pandemic (step change, 1.169; 95% CI 1.021-1.339).ConclusionsThe COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected ED-to-ICU admission and in-hospital mortality rates in Korea. This study's findings have important implications for healthcare providers and policymakers planning the management of future outbreaks of infectious diseases. Strategies are needed to address the challenges posed by pandemics and improve the outcomes in critically ill patients.

Dataset Information

Evaluating the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on hypertension and diabetes care in South Korea: an interrupted time series analysis.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Evaluating the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on hypertension and diabetes care in South Korea: an interrupted time series analysis.

Similar Datasets

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