Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on CVD prevention between different socioeconomic groups in Switzerland.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the continuing management of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in the population. Socioeconomic status (SES) is a major determinant of health. Whether the COVID-19 pandemic increased, the SES gap in CVD risk factors is unknown.

Aims: To compare the management of CVD risk factors and the SES gap before and during the pandemic.

Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted between 2018 and 2021 in Lausanne, Switzerland. Prevalence, awareness, treatment and control rates of hypertension, dyslipidaemia and diabetes were compared between the periods before (N=2416, 45.2% men, 65.3±9.8 years) and during (N=776, 44.5% men, 63.9±9.1 years) the COVID-19 pandemic. SES was defined by education and categorised as low (compulsory or apprenticeship), middle (high school) and high (university).

Results: After multivariable analysis, the prevalence of hypertension increased, and awareness decreased during the pandemic: OR and (95% CI) 1.26 (1.04 to 1.53) and 0.70 (0.53 to 0.94), respectively. For dyslipidaemia, prevalence decreased during the pandemic 0.82 (95% CI 0.69 to 0.98); awareness did not change. For diabetes, prevalence did not change but awareness increased 5.76 (95% CI 1.23 to 27.04). No differences were found before and during the pandemic regarding treatment and control for all CVD risk factors. Relative to high SES, a decrease in hypertension awareness among middle SES categories was observed during the pandemic (OR and 95% CI 1.11 (0.73 to 1.69) before and 0.45 (95% CI 0.23 to 0.85) during, p for interaction<0.05), while no other changes were found.

Conclusion: Prevalence and management of CVD risk factors changed little during the pandemic. The SES gap did not increase except for hypertension awareness.

Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.

(© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.)