Adherence
Suspension of routine primary care during the initial COVID-19 lockdown (March 2020) caused a 76%-88% reduction in essential Type 2 diabetes health checks (HbA1c, blood pressure, BMI, etc.) compared to historical trends, with recovery remaining 28%-47% below expected rates through December 2020.
Do not skip your routine diabetes checks. The pandemic showed that missing even a few months of HbA1c, blood pressure, and kidney function tests leads to a significant backlog of untreated risks. If in-person visits are restricted, ask your provider about home monitoring kits or telehealth options to ensure your care continues uninterrupted.
In April 2020, in English practices, rates of performing health checks were reduced by 76%–88% when compared with 10- year historical trends... Between May and December 2020, the reduced rates recovered gradually but overall remained 28%–47% lower
Why this rating
Large-scale UK-wide cohort study (n=618,161) with 10-year historical controls.
Source
Impact of COVID-19 restrictions on diabetes health checks and prescribing for people with type 2 diabetes: a UK-wide cohort study involving 618 161 people in primary care
Matthew Carr et al. · BMJ Quality & Safety · 2021
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