Is health needs of chronic disease patients addressed during COVID-19 lockdown in India? A cross-sectional survey

Abstract

BackgroundThe novel corona virus disease (COVID-19) was declared as pandemic by World health organisation (WHO) on the 11th of March 2020. India was one among the countries in the world to declare the longest lock down across the nation in order to resist the spread of COVID-19. It was a challenge to assess the medical care of chronic disease patients during these lock down days.MethodologyWe adopted a cross sectional survey design to assess the health conditions and perceptions of patients with cardiovascular metabolic co-morbidities and those with autoimmune rheumatic diseases during the COVID-19 lock down daysResults and DiscussionA total of 310 patients completed the survey during this time period. Among these 310 responders, 299 completed the survey. We had 157(52.50%) patients with cardiovascular metabolic co-morbidities and 142(47.49%) with autoimmune rheumatic diseases. The mean age of patients in cardiovascular metabolic co-morbidities group was found to be 59.19±16.34 and those in autoimmune rheumatic diseases was 47.05±13.30. The predominant distribution of female gender for cardiovascular metabolic co-morbidities (57.32%) group and autoimmune rheumatic diseases (72.53%) is in accordance all the previous studies in this field.. The women are found to react more negatively in terms of to the same traumatic stress when compared with menConclusionIn conclusion there is strong need for health policy reformations in the field of the chronic diseases health care management to equip the preparedness in order respond adequately to such medical emergencies including natural disaster

Pandemics and Patients with Chronic Diseases: A Study on the Health Care System in Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands

“…Another study among divorced or widowed and middle-aged female, adult patients with chronic diseases in Saudi Arabia showed that they were more vulnerable to have high levels of fear and health anxiety, which may lead to poor mental and physical health (Al-Rahimi et al, 2021). An online study in Kerala by Paul et al (2020) shows the challenges to assess the medical care of chronic disease patients during the lockdown days. They concluded that there is a strong need for health policy reformations in the field of the chronic diseases health.…”