HYPERTENSION AND THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC – MEDICAL SERVICES ACCESS AND OVERCOMING DIFFICULTIES
Abstract:
Hypertension is a global burden with elevated medical costs, many complications, high
morbidity and mortality rates. In the COVID-19 pandemic, HT had a devastating effect on the medical
care facilities, physicians and patients. Access to medical services was hindered and the human and
financial resources were oriented towards battling this disease, other diseases being disregarded,
increasing the morbidity and mortality due to other causes. This manuscript aims at revealing the
magnitude of this phenomena in HT-suffering patients from South-East of Romania. A questionnaire
was applied on 440 HT patients via the PATI method - Paper and Pen Assisted Telephone
Interviewing: from those suffering from COVID-19, the majority had difficulties in addressing
medical care, in maintaining their blood pressure values at normal ranges and in acquiring their HT
medication. Medical information access was also of prime importance during this period, open access
publishing helping physicians in ensuring up-dated patient care.
full text article in English (.EN) |