Impact of covid-19 pandemic on the hypertension control: perspectives from health system

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic impacts daily lives and healthcare access, including hypertension healthcare access and utilization. The aim of this study is to evaluate how Covid-19 pandemic affects to local public and private healthcare systems in response to hypertension control.

Methods: A mixed-method approach of both quantitative and qualitative studies was applied. The participants being representatives of the healthcare facilities at the district, commune, private clinic, and pharmacy level in two districts (one urban and one rural district) of Hanoi, Vietnam were invited to the study. A descriptive analysis for quantitative and a content analysis approach for qualitative were employed.

Results: All healthcare facilities were mostly fully or partly interrupted by COVID-19 as the number of outpatients visited with hypertension decreased during COVID-19, especially at the commune level. Insufficient clinical staff was the reason that was frequently stated. In parallel, insufficient antihypertensive medicines leading to increased prices, psychological effects on health staff and disruption of training-related activities for healthcare workers were notably impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the healthcare system regarding hypertension control.

Conclusion: Our study confirmed the disruption of COVID-19 on hypertension-related activities (including screening, diagnosis, treatment and management of hypertension).

File download

Related article

• The reliability and validity of depression scales for use in Hanoi high school students: a pilot study
• The association between Depression, Anxiety and Stress with risk behaviors and past trauma experience among students in Hanoi, 2022
• Preparedness for hospital safety during COVID-19 pandemic: A survey of private hospitals in Vietnam
• Very Late Presentation to HIV Care in Ho Chi Minh City: Social Support and Other Associated Factors
• Health risk behaviors among Vietnamese students aged 13-18 in two districts in Ha Nam province and some associated factors
• Assessing the knowledge, attitude, and practices of using household insecticides among residents and factors related to practices in Vinh Linh District, Quang Tri Province, 2022
• Knowledge and factors related to the understanding of using plastic bags by homemakers in Quan Hau town, Quang Ninh district, Quang Binh province in 2022
• Factors associated with quality of life in outpatient with type 2 diabetes at Ha Dong General Hospital
• A review of government expenditure on National Plan on Action for Nutrition (NPAN) in Viet Nam during 2017-2020
• Mental health of adolescents in COVID-19 social distancing and lockdowns: A scoping review
• Global health officers’ competency gaps on knowledge and skills and its associated factors in Vietnam
• Impact of covid-19 pandemic on the hypertension control: perspectives from health system