Assessment of Risk Factor Progression Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Diagnosed Cases of Hypertension and Diabetes Under the Field Practice Area of Urban Primary Health Centre, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand

Introduction: Hypertension and diabetes were the two pertinent comorbidities of non-communicable disease which was most deadly affected during the COVID-19 pandemic, globally. Therefore, the present study was carried out to assess the progression of risk factors in patients with hypertension and diabetes, and behavioural risk factors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and Methods: A community-based longitudinal study was carried out for a period of one year in patients with pre-existing hypertension and diabetes in the field practise area of urban primary health centres (UPHC) in Rishikesh. The sample size is estimated to be 274, Only 100 study participants could be enrolled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A convenience sampling method was used. Data were analysed using SPSS Version 23 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Mean ± SD was calculated for continuous variables. The Chi-square test and the Fischer exact test were employed as appropriate to examine the association. To compare the means, the paired “T-test” was utilised. Result: Mean age of 100 study participants was 56 years ± 11SD. A significant difference (p=0.03) in random blood sugar and diastolic blood pressure was observed before and during the pandemic Proportion of tobacco users and alcoholics was 33% and 22%, respectively. The progression of hypertension and diabetes was reported to be significant among the participants with unhealthy diets and unhealthy lifestyles. Conclusion: COVID-19 pandemic poses an increase in risk factors like the adoption of unhealthy and sedentary lifestyles, tobacco, and alcohol consumption. All these factors were significantly (p=0.02) associated with the progression of diabetes and hypertension.