Fear of Covid 19 during the third wave of infection in Norwegian patients with type 1 diabetes

Abstract

Objective To study the fear of Covid 19 infection among Norwegian patients with type 1 diabetes. Research design and methods Fear of Covid 19 scale, a validated scale assessing the fear of Covid 19, was sent electronically to 16255 patients with type 1 diabetes in May 2021. The items are rated on a scale from 1 to 5 (total scores from 7 to 35). The higher the score, the greater the fear. Results 10145 patients, 52% of the Norwegian adult type 1 diabetes population, completed the questionnaire. The mean total fear score was 13.8 (SD 5.8). Women experienced more fear than men (OR 1.96), and fear increased significantly with increasing age for both genders (p<0.05). Fear increased with increasing BMI, more pronounced for men than women. Fear was positively correlated to HbA1c (Spearman rho 0.067, p<0.05), and significantly increased in patients with micro- and macrovascular complications, compared with patients without complications (p<0.05). Smokers showed increased fear compared with non-smokers, (1.59 (1.39–1.81)), and non-European patients reported more fear than Europeans (OR of 2.02 (95% CI 1.55–2.63). Conclusion Assessment of fear of Covid 19 in the type 1 diabetes population in Norway revealed an overall low fear during the third wave of infection. Patients considered to be at high risk of serious disease, such as older individuals, smokers and obese individuals expressed more fear than low risk individuals. The degree of fear was also associated with sex, ethnicity, educational/working status, glycemic control and presence of complications.

The Influence of Socioeconomic and Educational Factors on the Level of Anxiety and Fear of COVID-19

“…Nevertheless, there is a dearth of studies that have examined the general population after the second wave, particularly in Europe, with a predominant focus on healthcare professionals or patients with chronic diseases. For instance, a study conducted by Ueland GÅ et al in mid-2021 revealed that patients with type 1 diabetes exhibited lower levels of fear towards COVID-19 [ 30 ].…”

Resultater fra Norsk diabetesregister for voksne

“…Studien sendte ut et validert spørreskjema under pågående pandemi i mai 2021 (The fear of covid-19 scale) der pasientene ble bedt om å gradere sin angst for covid 19, sett i lys av at de har en kronisk sykdom og er kategorisert som risikopasienter. Studien ble publisert i Plos One i juli 2022 (2). Videre ble det sendt ut en mer omfattende registrering av hvordan pasientene har vaert rammet av pandemien, også via Helse-Norge, i desember 2021.…”