Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on cardiometabolic patients without SARS-CoV-2 infection in Latin America.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A cross-sectional survey including 38 questions about demography, clinical condition, changes in health habits, and medical treatments for cardiometabolic patients in outpatient follow-up was conducted. From June 15 to July 15, 2020, a total of 13 Latin-American countries participated in enrolling patients. METHODS: These countries were divided into 3 geographic regions: Region 1 including North, Central, and Caribbean Regions (NCCR), Region 2 including the Andean Region (AR), and Region 3 including the Southern Cone Region (SCR). 4.216 patients were analyzed, resulting in a coefficient of 33.82%, 32.23%, and 33.94% for NCCR, AR, and SCR, respectively. RESULTS: Significant differences were found between the AR, SCR, and NCCR regions. The analysis of habitual medication usage showed that discontinued use of medication was more present in AR, reaching almost 30% (p < 0.001). The main finding of this study was the negative impact that restrictive measures have on adherence to medications and physical activity: Rs = 0.84 (p = 0.0003) and Rs = 0.61 (p = 0.0032), respectively. AR was the most vulnerable region. CONCLUSION: Restrictive quarantine measures imposed by the different countries showed a positive correlation with medication discontinuation and a negative correlation with physical activity levels in patients analyzed. These findings characterize the impact of the consequences left by this pandemic. Undoubtedly, restrictive measures have been and will continue to have reverberating negative effects in most Latin-American countries.

ANTECEDENTES Y OBJETIVOS: Se realizó una encuesta transversal que incluyó 38 preguntas sobre demografía, estado clínico, cambio de hábitos de salud, tratamientos médicos a pacientes cardiometabólicos en seguimiento ambulatorio. Un total de 13 países latinoamericanos inscribieron pacientes del 15 de junio al 15 de julio de 2020. MÉTODO: Los países se dividieron en 3 regiones geográficas Región 1 (NCCR): Región Norte, Centro y Caribe; Región 2 (AR): Región Andina; Región 3 (SCR): Región Cono Sur. Las medidas de aislamiento se estimaron a partir de informes nacionales y se correlacionaron utilizando el coeficiente R de Spearman. Se analizaron 4.216 pacientes, NCCR (33.82%); AR (32.23%) SCR (33.94%). RESULTADOS: Se encontraron diferencias significativas entre regiones. Este análisis de la medicación habitual mostró que la discontinuación de la medicación fue mayor en RA, llegando a casi el 30% (p < 0.001). El principal hallazgo de este estudio fue el impacto negativo que tienen las medidas restrictivas sobre la adherencia a la medicación y la actividad física, Rs = 0.84 (p = 0.0003) y Rs = 0.61 (p = 0.0032), respectivamente. Se encontraron diferencias significativas entre regiones. AR es la región más vulnerable. CONCLUSIONES: Las medidas restrictivas impuestas por los diferentes países (cuarentena) mostraron una correlación positiva con la interrupción de la medicación y una correlación negativa con la cantidad de actividad física. El impacto de las consecuencias que deja esta pandemia será muy profundo en la mayoría de los países latinoamericanos.

Gender-related Differences in the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic in Cardiometabolic Patients in Latin America: The CorCOVID LATAM Gender Sub-study.

COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown measures have disrupted lifestyle habits and self-care. Gender differences in health behavior during the pandemic have not yet been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate gender related differences in the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on patients with cardiometabolic diseases. A cross-sectional survey was administered to cardiometabolic patients in 13 Latin American countries between June 15th and July 15th, 2020. The study included 4216 participants, of which 2147 (50.9%) were women. Women reported healthier eating habits as well as lower tobacco and alcohol consumption than men but exercised less and reported increased symptoms of depression. Low income and symptoms of depression were associated with sedentarism in women. The interplay between psychological factors and sedentarism could increase the risk of cardiovascular events in this population.