Evaluating Chronic Disease Management through Annual Health Examinations during COVID-19

Abstract

 Objective The study aims to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on managing lifestyle-related diseases during annual health examinations, particularly its influence on the ongoing care and diagnosis of conditions such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, coronary heart disease (CHD), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and stroke.

 Methods We analyzed responses from 396 men and 198 women who underwent health examinations at Tokai University Hachioji Hospital from June 2022 to January 2023 and had prior evaluations before January 2020.

 Results The study found increased treatment rates during the pandemic across several conditions. Hypertension treatment rates rose from 23.2% to 28.0% in men and 17.2% to 19.7% in women. Diabetes treatment rates increased from 3.8% to 5.1% in men and 2.5% to 4.5% in women, while dyslipidemia treatment rates grew from 16.2% to 21.0% in men and 14.1% to 22.2% in women. CHD treatment rates also increased, from 3.3% to 5.1% in men, and CKD treatment rose from 0.8% to 1.5% in men. Stroke treatment slightly increased from 3.8% to 4.5% in men. Additionally, key health parameters, such as blood pressure and plasma glucose levels, exhibited changes, underscoring the pandemic's impact on disease management.

 Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly influenced the management of lifestyle-related diseases, improving treatment rates and health monitoring for multiple conditions. Despite some challenges in healthcare access, the findings highlight the need for resilient health systems and adaptable care strategies to ensure adequate disease management during global health crises. The study's findings provide insights that can inform future healthcare policies and practices, particularly by enhancing the role of annual health examinations in chronic disease management.