| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2021 | Volume
: 12
| Issue : 3 | Page : 155-160 |
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Impact of lockdown period on chronic diseases
Rajashree Khot, Amol H Dube, Bharatsing D Rathod, Prashant P Joshi, Sunita D Kumbhalkar
Department of General Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Rajashree Khot
Plot No. 52 Jayneeta, New Ramdaspeth, Nagpur - 440 010, Maharashtra
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
DOI: 10.4103/injms.injms_19_21
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Objectives: In the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, strict lockdown measures posed many challenges in managing chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. The impact of lockdown on physical and biochemical parameters along with contributing factors was assessed. Design: Cross-sectional analytical study. Materials and Methods: One hundred and fifty consecutive patients with chronic illnesses attending medicine outpatient department during unlock down phase I were enrolled. A 5 point Likert scale was used to determine the effect on diet, exercise, pain, physical and psychological symptoms, and a personal interview to assess the contributing factors. Clinical examination and laboratory investigations were done to compare between pre and post lockdown status and appropriate statistical tests were used. Results: The mean age of the patients was 48.53 ± 6.4 years with a female preponderance. Mean duration of illness was 8.93 ± 2.4 years and majority had hypertension (21%), diabetes (19%) or both (12%), hypothyroidism (18%), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (8%). While physical symptoms and pain did not show a significant change, 41.3% had worsening of psychological symptoms, 53.3% diet, and 70.6% exercise noncompliance. Weight, blood pressure, lipids, serum thyroid-stimulating hormone showed little change. Glycemic control was deranged in 72.5% with HbA1c increasing from 6.47 ± 1.9 to 8.1 ± 2.4 (P = 0.007). Contributing factors, 52.3% reported lack of exercise, 40% financial problems, 36% transport difficulties, and 30% unavailability of medicines. Conclusion: Lockdown negatively affected the management of chronic diseases with significant worsening of psychological symptoms, diet, and exercise adherence. Glycemic control worsened in diabetics. Lack of transport and unavailability of medicines were the significant contributing factors.
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