Effects of the
COVID
‐19 Shutdown on Blood Test of Older Patients Who Received Home or Outpatient Care: A Retrospective Longitudinal Observational Study With Repeated Measurements
Emiko Kurosawa, Shigeto Mashiko, Katsutoshi Furukawa ABSTRACT
Aim
This study aimed to investigate the effects of the COVID‐19 shutdown (ShD) on the health status of older patients by analyzing longitudinal blood test data and comparing the differences between those receiving outpatient care (OPC) versus home medical care (HMC).
Methods
This retrospective longitudinal observational study with repeated measurements included 402 patients aged ≥ 65 years. Blood test data were collected at three time points: early pre‐ShD, late pre‐ShD, and during ShD. Changes between “the early and late pre‐ShD” and “late pre‐ShD and during ShD” were compared. Subgroup analyses were performed on the OPC and HMC groups.
Results
No significant laboratory changes were observed between the two pre‐ShD periods. In contrast, the transition from the late pre‐ShD period to the ShD period was associated with significant decreases in serum albumin, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), red blood cell counts, and lymphocyte counts, together with a significant increase in blood urea nitrogen (BUN). The HMC group demonstrated a more pronounced increase in BUN during the ShD period than the OPC group.
Conclusions
The COVID‐19 ShD was associated with changes in several laboratory parameters, particularly those receiving home medical care. Although the observed increases in BUN and decreases in serum albumin and HbA1c may be compatible with changes in hydration and nutritional status, these findings should be interpreted cautiously because direct assessments were unavailable. Likewise, the reduction in HbA1c should be interpreted with caution because concurrent decreases in red blood cell counts may have influenced HbA1c.