What Happened to People with Non-Communicable Diseases during COVID-19: Implications of H-EDRM Policies

Emily Ying Yang Chan, Jean Hee Kim, Eugene Siu Kai Lo, Zhe Huang, Heidi Hung, Kevin Kei Ching Hung, Eliza Lai Yi Wong, Eric Kam Pui Lee, Martin Chi Sang Wong and Samuel Yeung Shan Wong
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Emily Ying Yang Chan: Collaborating Centre for Oxford University and CUHK for Disaster and Medical Humanitarian Response (CCOUC), The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Jean Hee Kim: JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Eugene Siu Kai Lo: Collaborating Centre for Oxford University and CUHK for Disaster and Medical Humanitarian Response (CCOUC), The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Zhe Huang: Collaborating Centre for Oxford University and CUHK for Disaster and Medical Humanitarian Response (CCOUC), The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Heidi Hung: JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Kevin Kei Ching Hung: Collaborating Centre for Oxford University and CUHK for Disaster and Medical Humanitarian Response (CCOUC), The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Eliza Lai Yi Wong: JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Eric Kam Pui Lee: JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Martin Chi Sang Wong: JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Samuel Yeung Shan Wong: JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-7

Abstract: People with existing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are particularly vulnerable to health risks brought upon by emergencies and disasters, yet limited research has been conducted on disease management and the implications of Health-EDRM policies that address health vulnerabilities of people with NCDs during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper reports the baseline findings of an anonymous, random, population-based, 6-month cohort study that aimed to examine the experiences of people with NCDs and their relevant self-care patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 765 telephone interviews were completed from 22nd March to 1st April 2020 in Hong Kong, China. The dataset was representative of the population, with 18.4% of subjects reporting at least one NCD. Results showed that low household income and residence in government-subsidized housing were significant predictors for the subjects who experienced difficulty in managing during first 2 months of the pandemic (11% of the NCD patients). Of those on long-term NCD medication, 10% reported having less than one week’s supply of medication. Targeted services for vulnerable groups during a pandemic should be explored to support NCD self-care.

Keywords: Health-EDRM; non-communicable disease; COVID-19; self-care; NCD management; home care; early phase of pandemic (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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