Chronic Disease and COVID-19: Mitigating Collateral Damage from the Pandemic

A collaborating network of researchers summarize preliminary results from recent harmonized surveys on the impact of COVID-19 on individuals living with diabetes and hypertension, focusing on their access to medication and other care, loss of household income, (non)adherence to treatment, and worsening of symptoms. Researchers from China, India, Korea, and Thailand discuss empirical results from data gathered in the last few months. Understanding to what extent lapses in medication or other treatment have occurred, and whether telehealth or other options are associated with better outcomes, may enable locally tailored, evidence-based policy responses to help mitigate impacts on future morbidity and mortality.