Publication date: Jul 17, 2024
The study explored the perceived impacts of COVID-19 and its associated policies and social restrictions on health, self-management and access to healthcare. Cross-sectional observational (online survey) and qualitative study (semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis). Australia. People with self-reported cardiovascular disease (CVD) and/or risk factors. Survey responses were collected from 690 participants (43. 8% women, 40. 1% over 65 years). Participants reported that their heart health had been affected by the pandemic (26. 3%), were less likely to exercise (47. 1%), have a healthy diet (25. 9%) and take medications (9. 4%). A large proportion were admitted to hospital (46. 2%) and presented to the emergency department (40. 6%). Difficulties in accessing healthcare providers (53. 2%) and use of telemedicine (63. 6%) were reported. We conducted 16 semi-structured interviews and identified five key themes: adding burden in seeking medical care, impediments in accessing a readjusted health system, exacerbating vulnerability and distress, coping with self-management and adapting to telehealth. Patients with CVD expressed an additional burden in seeking medical care and difficulties navigating a readjusted health system during the COVID-19 pandemic. Associated policies and access issues heightened vulnerabilities and distress, making self-management of health difficult for patients with CVD.
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Semantics
| Type | Source | Name |
|---|---|---|
| disease | MESH | COVID-19 pandemic |
| disease | MESH | cardiovascular disease |
| disease | MESH | emergency |
| disease | MESH | infections |
| disease | MESH | morbidity |
| disease | VO | population |
| disease | MESH | ST elevation myocardial infarction |
| disease | IDO | country |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Coenzyme M |
| disease | IDO | contact tracing |
| disease | VO | vaccination |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Trestolone |
| disease | MESH | atrial fibrillation |
| disease | MESH | hypertension |
| disease | IDO | infection |
| disease | VO | frequency |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Etoperidone |
| disease | IDO | process |
| disease | MESH | aneurysm |
| disease | MESH | chronic illness |
| disease | IDO | history |
| disease | MESH | arrythmia |
| disease | MESH | Heart failure |
| disease | VO | time |
| disease | MESH | Lifestyle |
| disease | MESH | complications |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Ethanol |
| disease | MESH | Loneliness |
| disease | MESH | premature mortality |
| disease | MESH | cognitive decline |
| pathway | REACTOME | Translation |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Elm |
| disease | VO | Equity |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Morpholinylmercaptobenzothiazole |