Table 4

Change in mean diabetes care measurements during versus pre-COVID among KPGA adult members with prevalent diabetes (2018–2021), stratified by telehealth use

Non-telehealth usersTelehealth users
Diabetes care processPre-pandemic (2018–2019)During pandemic (2020–2021)Absolute change (during vs pre)Mean difference (95%CI)*Pre-pandemic (2018–2019)During pandemic (2020–2021)Absolute change (during vs pre)Mean difference (95% CI)*
HbA1c (mean (SD); %)7.1 (1.5)7.2 (1.7)0.10.17 (0.11 to 0.22)7.2 (1.6)7.3 (1.6)0.10.4 (0.2 to 0.6)
Systolic BP (mean (SD); mm Hg)132.4 (12.6)133.9 (14.1)1.52.05 (1.51 to 2.60)132.3 (11.5)134.1 (12.9)1.81.62 (1.44 to 1.81)
Diastolic BP (mean (SD); mm Hg)72.6 (8.9)73.2 (10.0)0.60.2 (−0.14 to 0.56)72.0 (8.4)72.2 (9.1)0.2−0.04 (−0.16 to 0.08)
LDL cholesterol (mean (SD); mg/dL)101.0 (39.0)98.1 (36.3)−2.9−4.36 (−5.92 to −2.81)100.1 (39.4)91.5 (35.7)−8.6−9.08 (−9.77 to −8.39)
Creatinine (mean (SD); mg/dL)1.1 (0.7)1.0 (0.5)−0.1−0.02 (−0.04 to −0.01)1.1 (0.7)1.1 (0.8)0.00.03 (0.02 to 0.04)
OR (95% CI)OR (95% CI)
UACR (%, >300 mg/g)†6.06.10.11.26 (1.04 to 0.53)6.99.72.81.48 (1.36 to 1.62)
  • Missingness: Pre-pandemic non-telehealth users: HbA1c=8.2%, BP=3.2%, cholesterol=20.3%, creatinine=8.8%, UACR=33.6%; pre-pandemic telehealth users: HbA1c=3.0%, BP=0.2%, cholesterol=15.4%, creatinine=2.5%, UACR=27.6%. During pandemic non-telehealth users: HbA1c=8.2%, BP=5.0%, cholesterol=20.3%, creatinine=8.8%, UACR=33.6%. During pandemic telehealth users: HbA1c=5.3%, BP=3.8%, cholesterol=24.0%, creatinine=3.3%, UACR=36.8%.

  • *Compares during versus pre-period, adjusted for baseline age; a 95% CI that does not include 0 is significant at p<0.05.

  • †A 95% CI that does not include one is significant at p<0.05.

  • BP, blood pressure; GEE, generalized estimating equatio; KPGA, Kaiser Permanente Georgia; UACR, urine-albumin-creatinine ratio.