The impact of COVID-19 lockdown on the general health status of people with chronic health conditions in Belgium: a cross-sectional survey study

ABSTRACT

Background

Patients with chronic health conditions risk aggravation of their health status due to reduced access to health services during the COVID-19 related lockdown.

Objectives

To investigate the impact of Belgian COVID-19 measures on general health status (i.e. worse or stable/better) of patients, adult and pediatric, with chronic health conditions and how this change in health status relates to personal and health behavior-related factors.

Design

A cross-sectional study using an online survey was conducted during the first COVID-19 related lockdown in Belgium.

Methods

Associations between change in health status since the lockdown and (change in) personal and health behavior-related factors (including physical activity, access to health-care services and social activities) were investigated.

Results

In adults (n = 561), almost all personal factors, including feelings of distress, depression, anxiety, somatization, and low self-efficacy, were significantly worse in patients with a worse health status during the lockdown (n = 293, 52%) compared to patients reporting a stable/better health status (p < .001–0.002). Also, these patients reported lower physical activity levels, more tele-consultations and less social activities (p < .001–0.006). In children (n = 55), all surveys were completed by a proxy (parent(s)/guardian) who reported a worse health status in 38% of the children. Level of distress of the child (p = .005) since the lockdown and somatization of the parent(s) (p = .0018) were significantly worse in children with a worse versus a stable/better health status.

Conclusion

Fifty-two percent of the adults and 38% of children with chronic health conditions reported worsening of their general health status during the lockdown in March–May 2020 in Belgium. Negative personal factors and unhelpful health behavior seems to be associated with a worse health status.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• chronic diseases
• rehabilitation
• health status

Acknowledgments

The research team would like to thank the individuals who generously shared their time and experience for the purposes of this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.