COVID-19 pandemic impact on people with diabetes: results from a large representative sample of Italian older adults

• Published in: Primary care diabetes 2022-10, Vol.16 (5), p.650-657
• Main Authors: Vigezzi, Giacomo Pietro, Bertuccio, Paola, Bossi, Camilla Bonfadini, Amerio, Andrea, d’Oro, Luca Cavalieri, Derosa, Giuseppe, Iacoviello, Licia, Stuckler, David, Zucchi, Alberto, Lugo, Alessandra, Gallus, Silvano, Odone, Anna, Amerio, A., Amore, M., Bertuccio, P., Bonaccio, M., Bosetti, C., Cavalieri d’Oro, L., Ciampichini, R., De Sena, R., Gallus, S., Gianfagna, F., Ghislandi, S., Ghulam, A., Iacoviello, L., Jarach, CM, Lugo, A., Mosconi, G., Odone, A., Rognoni, M., Serafini, G., Scala, M., Signorelli, C., Stival, C., Stuckler, D., Vigezzi, GP, Wang, Y., Zucchi, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; delivery of health care; diabetes; Diabetes Mellitus - diagnosis; Diabetes Mellitus - epidemiology; Diabetes Mellitus - therapy; health behaviours; Humans; Italy; lifestyles; Olive Oil; pandemics; Pandemics - prevention & control; SARS-CoV-2
• ISSN: 1751-9918; 1878-0210
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pcd.2022.06.001

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. 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. 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). 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. •COVID-19 impacted disproportionally older people with diabetes compared to healthy subjects.•People with diabetes were more likely to increase physical activity and reduce alcohol intake.•Older people with diabetes shifted towards a more balanced diet.•People with diabetes increased healthcare seeking in autumn 2020 compared to 2019.•Pandemic proved to be an opportunity to design preventive interventions.