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The effect of the Covid-19 shutdown on glycemic testing and control

Anu Sharma1, Dina N Greene2, Allison B Chambliss3

  • 1Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.

Clinica Chimica Acta; International Journal of Clinical Chemistry
|May 1, 2021
PubMed

Insights

The COVID-19 pandemic reduced HbA1c testing, leading to a rise in abnormal results. This highlights the impact of reduced healthcare access on diabetes management.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Public Health
  • Diabetes Management

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted in-person ambulatory care.
  • Access to essential healthcare services, including diabetes monitoring, was curtailed.
  • This study investigates the pandemic's impact on HbA1c testing and patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effect of reduced healthcare access on Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) testing volume.
  • To assess changes in the percentage of abnormal HbA1c results during the pandemic.
  • To understand the relationship between testing volume reduction and abnormal glycemic control.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of HbA1c data from 11 institutions.
  • Comparison of testing volumes and abnormal result rates between pre-pandemic (Jan-June 2019) and pandemic (Jan-June 2020) periods.
  • Abnormal HbA1c results defined as >6.4%.

Main Results:

  • HbA1c testing volumes decreased significantly (up to 61% in April 2020).
  • The percentage of abnormal HbA1c results increased during the pandemic months (April-June 2020).
  • A statistically significant association was found: a 1% decrease in testing volume correlated with a 0.31% increase in abnormal results (p < 0.0005).

Conclusions:

  • Outpatient HbA1c testing volume dropped by as much as 70% in early pandemic months.
  • Reduced HbA1c testing during the COVID-19 pandemic was linked to an increase in abnormal glycemic control.
  • These findings underscore the critical need for sustained access to diabetes monitoring during public health crises.
Abstract

Keywords:
Covid-19Glycemic controlHbA1c

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