Metabolic indicators associated with non-communicable diseases deteriorated in COVID-19 outbreak: evidence from a two-center, retrospective study

  1. Ting Xue
  2. Lizhen Xu
  3. Yaqian Mao
  4. Wei Lin
  5. Jixing Liang
  6. Huibin Huang
  7. Liantao Li
  8. Junping Wen
  9. Gang Chen

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Abstract

Objective

Our study aimed to investigate whether the metabolic indicators associated with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the general population have changed during the COVID-19 outbreak.

METHODS

This retrospective self-controlled study enrolled adult participants with metabolic indicators relate to NCDs followed at Fujian Provincial Hospital and Fujian Provincial Hospital South Branch. The metabolic indicators followed during January 1, 2020 and April 30, 2020, the peak period of the COVID-19 epidemic in China, were compared with the baseline value in the same period last year. Pared-samples T-test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were performed to analyze the differences between paired data.

Results

The follow-up total cholesterol was significantly increased than that of the baseline (4.73 (4.05, 5.46) mmol/L vs 4.71 (4.05, 5.43) mmol/L, p=0.019; n=3379). Similar results were observed in triglyceride (1.29 (0.91, 1.88) vs 1.25 (0.87, 1.81) mmol/L, p<0.001; n=3381), uric acid (330.0 (272.0, 397.0) vs 327.0 (271.0, 389.0) umol/L, p<0.001; n=3364), and glycosylated hemoglobin (6.50 (6.10, 7.30) vs 6.50 (6.10, 7.20) %, p=0.013; n=532). No significant difference was observed in low density lipoprotein, body mass index and blood pressure.

Conclusions

Metabolic indicators associated with NCDs deteriorated in the COVID-19 outbreak. We should take action to prevent and control NCDs without delay.

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  1. ScreenIT

    SciScore for 10.1101/2020.07.02.20144857: (What is this?)

    Please note, not all rigor criteria are appropriate for all manuscripts.

    Table 1: Rigor

    Institutional Review Board StatementIRB: This retrospective study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Fujian Provincial Hospital and Fujian Provincial Hospital South Branch.
    Consent: Due to the retrospective nature of the study, informed consent was waived.
    Randomizationnot detected.
    Blindingnot detected.
    Power Analysisnot detected.
    Sex as a biological variablenot detected.

    Table 2: Resources

    Software and Algorithms
    SentencesResources
    All statistical analyses were conducted with SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 25.0 (Armonk, NY: IBM Corp).
    SPSS
    suggested: (SPSS, RRID:SCR_002865)

    Results from OddPub: We did not detect open data. We also did not detect open code. Researchers are encouraged to share open data when possible (see Nature blog).

    Results from LimitationRecognizer: We detected the following sentences addressing limitations in the study:
    The main limitation of our study is that it only reflected changes in metabolic indicators associated with NCDs during the COVID-19 outbreak. With no detailed information relating to particular changes in eating habits, physical activity, and psychological situation from the participants, we could not confirm which one lead to the deterioration of the metabolic indicators most. In addition, these data refered to an adult cohort including healthy people and patients with NCDs. Information of medical history that may affect the results were not recorded. More studies are necessary to fully evaluate the impact that COVID-19 has had on the health status at population level, and it is of vital importance to collect information from now on to better prevent and control NCDs. In conclusion, metabolic indicators associated with NCDs deteriorated in the COVID-19 outbreak. It is a crucial time to strengthen action on prevention and control of NCDs to minimize the morbidity and mortality rates of COVID-19 in the short-term and reduce total morbidity and mortality rates of NCDs in the long-term, avoiding adding on to the burden of countries’ healthcare systems.

    Results from TrialIdentifier: No clinical trial numbers were referenced.

    Results from Barzooka: We did not find any issues relating to the usage of bar graphs.

    Results from JetFighter: We did not find any issues relating to colormaps.

    Results from rtransparent:
    • Thank you for including a conflict of interest statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
    • Thank you for including a funding statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
    • No protocol registration statement was detected.

    About SciScore

    SciScore is an automated tool that is designed to assist expert reviewers by finding and presenting formulaic information scattered throughout a paper in a standard, easy to digest format. SciScore checks for the presence and correctness of RRIDs (research resource identifiers), and for rigor criteria such as sex and investigator blinding. For details on the theoretical underpinning of rigor criteria and the tools shown here, including references cited, please follow this link.

  2. Version published to 10.1101/2020.07.02.20144857v1 on medRxiv