Abstract P171: Effects Of Covid-19 On Cardiometabolic Outcomes (diabetes, Hypertension, And Obesity)

Background: Prior studies have examined cardiometabolic outcomes, but literature on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on cardiometabolic outcomes (diabetes, hypertension, and obesity) among the general U.S. population is sparse. Objective: To examine differences in the prevalence of cardiometabolic outcomes by sexual identity, cigarette smoking, e-cigarette use, and anxiety/depression before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hypothesis: We assessed the hypothesis that there will be statistically significant differences in cardiometabolic outcomes between sexual minority and heterosexual individuals before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Data were drawn from the 2019 (N= 5,359) and 2020 (N= 3,830) Health Information National Trends Surveys on adults. We conducted weighted descriptive and multivariable logistic regression analyses to assess the study objective. Results: During the pandemic, compared to before the pandemic, the prevalence of diabetes (18.10% vs. 17.28%) and obesity (34.68% vs. 34.18%) has increased, while the prevalence has decreased for hypertension (36.38% vs. 36.36%). In general, the prevalence of cardiometabolic outcomes was higher during the pandemic (56.09%) than before the pandemic (54.96%). The prevalence has also increased for sexual minority (53.50% vs. 51.12%) and heterosexual (56.45% vs. 54.96%) individuals, former (67.91% vs. 63.86%) and current (59.39% vs. 55.43%) cigarette smokers, current e-cigarette users (37.24% vs. 28.66%), and individuals with mild (59.62% vs. 55.43%) or moderate (61.98% vs. 57.83%) anxiety/depression symptoms. Contrary to our hypothesis, there were no statistically significant differences in the odds of cardiometabolic outcomes between sexual minority and heterosexual individuals before and during the pandemic. Former smokers, compared to never smokers, had higher odds of cardiometabolic outcomes (AOR= 1.38, 95% CI= 1.01, 1.87 vs. AOR= 1.57, 95% CI= 1.10, 2.25) before and during the pandemic, respectively. The odds were lower for current e-cigarette users (AOR= 0.44, 95% CI= 0.23, 0.85) compared to never e-cigarette users before the pandemic, but no significant differences were found in e-cigarette use groups during the pandemic. People with mild anxiety/depression symptoms (before: AOR= 1.52, 95% CI= 1.06, 2.19 vs. during: AOR= 1.55, 95% CI= 1.01, 2.38) relative to those with no anxiety/depression symptoms had higher odds of cardiometabolic outcomes, whereas the odds were higher for those with severe anxiety/depression symptoms (AOR= 2.44, 95% CI= 1.27, 4.69) before the pandemic but not during the pandemic. Conclusion: Positive associations were noted between tobacco use and mental health and the risks of cardiometabolic outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic.