Impact of COVID-19 Confinement on the Lifestyle and Metabolic Control of Adult Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in the City of Buenos Aires (Argentina)

Abstract

In 2020 in our country, a new pandemic with high social impact is added to the growing incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2): COVID-19. In this context, it is necessary to obtain evidence as to whether the isolation measures to stop the spread of the virus brought about changes in the lifestyle and in the clinical-metabolic parameters of patients with DM2 treated at the Italian Hospital of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. Changes in lifestyle were evaluated using a questionnaire designed ad hoc. The clinical-metabolic parameters were obtained from the clinical history of each patient. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis using IBM SPSS software. The sample consisted of 83 patients, with an average age of 64 ± 8 years and a prevalence of the male gender (69%). 52% perceived that the months of confinement did not affect their diet, indicating that they had continued with the same consumption of fruits, vegetables and snacks, fried or processed (53%, 54% and 45%, respectively). The majority (74%) mentioned doing less physical activity and 65% had presented at least one negative emotion. Body Mass Index (BMI), body weight, and HbA1c were significantly (p<0.05) higher after isolation. In the population studied, ASPO was associated with reduced physical activity, negative emotions, and increased BMI, body weight, and HbA1c.