Disrupted specialist outpatient services and alternative modes of service for patients with diabetes mellitus: A population-based, retrospective cohort study in Hong Kong.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Reduced specialist outpatient clinic (SOPC) services during COVID-19 waves may have increased the risk of mortality and complications in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Evidence on whether alternative modes of service have mitigated these risks is lacking.

Methods

In this population-based, retrospective cohort study in Hong Kong, we included patients with DM between 2010 and 2019 and had internal medicine SOPC visits in 2019. We identified modes of care (SOPC, primary care clinics and drug-refill service) of these patients in 2020 and followed them from January 2021 to June 2024. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate risks of all-cause mortality and complications.

Results

Among 96 372 patients, SOPC follow-up disruptions in 2020 were

SUBMITTER: Yau YK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12515776 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature