Impact of COVID-۱۹ Pandemic and Lockdown Measures on the Nutrition Plan Service Cohort

Objective: This study analyses the patients' factors can influence the attitude to follow or not the therapeutic weight-loss plan after national lockdown measures adopted from March ۲۰۲۰ to May ۲۰۲۰. Materials and Methods: Patients that visited a private nutritional center in March ۲۰۲۰ were included in this retrospective observational study. All relevant characteristics were noted. In May ۲۰۲۰, patients who did not attend the follow-up visit were labeled as "abandoned". Variation in Body Mass Index (BMI) was noted in the second visit. Univariate logistic regression was performed to test the influence on dependent variables (lost follow-up). Odds Ratio (OR) was calculated. According to BMI distribution, we performed a Student T-test (α= ۰.۰۵) or Wilcoxon test (α= ۰.۰۵) to test BMI variation in patients that attended the follow-up visit. A P-value< ۰.۰۵ was considered statistically significant. Results: Our population consisted of ۷۷ patients, and ۲۶ patients (۳۳.۸%, CI۹۵% ۲۳.۴-۴۵.۴%) were labelled as "abandoned". Age≥ ۵۴ years old (OR= ۸.۹۰۴۸, CI۹۵%:۱.۸۸۸-۴۱.۹۸۲۲, P-value= ۰.۰۰۵۷) and suffering from hypertension (OR= ۴.۸۷۰۶, CI۹۵%:۱.۴۲۸۴-۱۶.۶۰۷۶, P-value= ۰.۰۱۱۴) were factors associated with the abandon follow-up visits. Wilcoxon test for BMI variation resulted statistically significant (May BMI ۲۹.۵ kg/m۲ vs March BMI ۲۹.۴ kg/m۲, P-value= ۰.۰۰۹۴). Conclusion: Age and hypertension are related to the risk of abandoning healthcare services after ending the national lockdown. The losing follow-up phenomenon could worsen clinical conditions and reduce life expectancy. An increase in BMI during lockdown should be interpreted as a personal difficulty in complying with therapeutic prescriptions.

Keywords:

COVID-۱۹ , Pandemic , Lockdown , Obesity , Diet