COVID-19 has been in a somewhat deadly embrace with other diseases since the pandemic began. In the first instance, pre-existing medical conditions have sometimes made outcomes worse. While in the second, people were afraid to visit doctors and clinics for fear of a pandemic infection. The results of this near perfect storm are clearly evident in the impact of COVID-19 on Diabetes mortality trends.
Lancet Investigates COVID-19 / Diabetes Impact
The Lancet Journal published fresh research on the relationship in its Diabetes and Endocrinology edition of May 27, 2022. Their summary report reads as follows:
- The pandemic had a disproportionate effect on people’s health who are living with diabetes.
- This is because COVID-19 disease creates the potential for bidirectional negative influence.
- Diabetic patients have an excess risk of hospital admission, increased disease severity, and increased mortality.
This conclusion, which confirms data from many other countries comes from a 15-week study from July to October 2021. Researchers David Hopkins and Francesco Rubino compared this with data from the same period the previous year.
They found non COVID related Diabetes deaths increased by 11% between the two samples. The numbers were 30,118 compared to 27,132 previously. There was also ‘a dramatic reduction in the provision of routine Diabetes care processes’ during this period.
A Strong Link Between Interrupted Care and Death
The researchers also found a strong link between interrupted Diabetes care and mortality between 2019 and 2021. When they looked further into records from the United Kingdom, they discovered foot examinations suffered most. This was arguably because they require ‘the most personal contact’.
They identify an urgent need ‘to restore both routine and specialist Diabetes care as quickly as possible’. They see this as part of the general recovery from the pandemic ‘to prevent further ongoing harm’.
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