Characterization of Morbidity and Mortality due to COVID-19 Associated with Diabesity in Rural Areas

Abstract

Purpose: Identify the morbidity and mortality factors due to COVID-19 in patients with diabesity according to the records of two pharmaceutical offices in the La Venta sector, Ica. Methodology: An observational, longitudinal, and prospective descriptive study was carried out, with a quantitative data recording technique in the pharmaceutical care file corresponding to two community pharmacies in the village of La Venta, district of Santiago in the city of Ica; In the research the Santiago district has a population as 11,594 in the age range of 30 to 65 years, of which 330 people registered in the period from July 2020 to June 2021, of which 118 agreed to be study subjects; between 30 to 65 years. People with obesity and type 2 diabetes were considered, as was the onset of symptoms, evolution, and treatment. To assess the evolution of the disease, monitoring was carried out through telephone calls. Results: It was observed that 62% of the people with diabetes who presented with fever over 38 °C, back pain, and severe respiratory symptoms; where the severity of the respiratory condition determined whether they were hospitalized. No statistically significant differences (p≤0.05) were found between the study subjects of the two community pharmacies. Applications / Originality / Value: The results made it possible to indicate that diabesity is a vulnerable condition to coronavirus infection (COVID-19); likewise, 42% died as a consequence of the severity of the respiratory condition. Conclusion: COVID-19 / diabesity affects older men more frequently (48 to 65 years), the most prevalent symptoms were; headache, cough and fever, with a percentage of 72.9%, 67.8% and 56.8% respectively; the mortality rate was statistically higher in the male group with 16%, likewise, the cumulative death rate was 27%, demonstrating that diabesity is a risk factor for mortality in patients with COVID-19. COVID-19 generally attacks elderly patients with frequent comorbidities, however, there is a greater risk of morbidity and mortality in people with diabetes.