Assessment of Nutrition-Related Biochemical Parameters before and during he COVID-19 Pandemic
Abstract
Objective: This study compared serum glucose and lipid levels between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods.
Methods: In this retrospective, record-based study, serum biochemical data from patients who visited a regional state hospital between February 1, 2019 and May 31, 2021 were used. The data were divided into two equal time periods: a pre-pandemic period (February 1, 2019–March 31, 2020) and a pandemic period (April 1, 2020–May 31, 2021). In addition to general comparisons between the two groups, they were also analyzed by age, sex, and seasonal categories.
Results: Data from a total of 293,462 laboratory records were included in the study. Pre-pandemic and pandemic groups were compared on a general basis, independent of age, sex, and seasonal effects. During the pandemic, individuals' serum glucose, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglyceride levels increased, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels decreased.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that the pandemic period was associated with a less favorable serum glucose and lipid profiles compared with the pre-pandemic period (p<0.05). These adverse metabolic changes may be related to a number of factors, including changes in daily routines and physical activity, dietary habits, psychological stress, restricted access to healthcare, and disruptions in routine screening and follow-up.
Keywords
COVID-19, Pandemic period, Blood glucose, Lipid profile, Retrospective study
Ethical Statement
Ethical committee approval for this study was obtained from the the Non-Interventional Studies Ethics Committee of Gümüşhanre University (Date: June 9, 2021 Number: E-95674917-108.99-21807).
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