Impact of urgently initiated tele-prescription due to COVID-19 on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes
- Author:
Sung-Don PARK
1
;
Na-young KIM
;
Jae-Han JEON
;
Jung-Guk KIM
;
In-Kyu LEE
;
Keun-Gyu PARK
;
Yeon-Kyung CHOI
Author Information
- Publication Type:2
- From:The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine 2021;36(4):942-948
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background/Aims:Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic that had affected more than 13,000 people in South Korea by July 2020. To prevent spread of COVID-19, tele-prescription was permitted temporarily. This study investigated the impact of tele-prescription on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Methods:Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) concentrations were retrospectively analyzed in patients with type 2 diabetes who were treated with tele-prescription because of COVID-19 and those who were treated by face-to-face care (non-tele-prescription group) enrolled at the same period of time. Mean HbA1c concentrations and mean change in HbA1c concentration (ΔHbA1c) were compared in these two groups.
Results:The mean HbA1c levels of patients were significantly higher after than before the tele-prescription period (7.46% ± 1.24% vs. 7.27% ± 1.13%, p < 0.05). Mean ΔHbA1c was significantly higher in the tele-prescription than in the non-tele-prescription group (0.19% ± 0.68% vs. 0.04% ± 0.95%, p < 0.05). HbA1c was significantly greater in patients taking fewer oral hypoglycemic agents, no insulin, fewer comorbidities (e.g., coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular accident, and diabetic neuropathy), and higher baseline HbA1c.
Conclusions:Tele-prescription may worsen glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes during public health crises.
