2023 Volume 66 Issue 11 Pages 773-782
We conducted a questionnaire survey on the changes in anxiety/fear, sleep, exercise, and eating habits, as well as the social determinants of health (SDH) regarding economic circumstances and social isolation, in patients with diabetes being treated on an outpatient basis, which provide free/low-cost medical system, in Osaka during the COVID-19 emergency Free/Low-cost Medical Service is an enterprise that provides appropriate medical services for free or at with a low cost for those who migh not usually be afford it. The effects of the above on the HbA1c value and body weight were investigated. Analyses were conducted among 705 patients in the first survey (June-August 2020) and 632 in the second survey (September-October 2021). Over time, feelings of anxiety/fear increased (first survey 75.3 %, second survey 72.2 %), the frequency of exercise and going out decreased (first survey 76.9 %, second survey 76.2 %), and conversations with other people decreased (first survey 41.3 %, second survey 53.1 %) Compared to before the state of emergency declared. No significant differences were seen in HbA1c values, while the body weight decreased significantly over time (p<0.01). Among patients under 60 years old and those receiving free/low-cost medical service, a significantly greater percentage experienced economic hardship than others (p<0.01). During the COVID-19 pandemic, medical care should be provided with consideration of socioeconomic circumstances.
