Assessment of Nutrition-Related Biochemical Parameters before and during he COVID-19 Pandemic

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

The COVID-19 pandemic period was associated with significantly increased serum glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglyceride levels, and decreased HDL-C levels compared with the pre-pandemic period.

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cross-Sectional. Population: General hospital patients (n=293462). Intervention: COVID-19 pandemic period vs. Pre-pandemic period. Primary outcome: Serum LDL-C (mg/dL) (p=<0.001).

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

The COVID-19 pandemic period was associated with significantly worsened population-level serum glucose and lipid profiles, including increased glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglycerides, and decreased HDL-C levels. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Q: What question did this study set out to answer?

To compare serum glucose and lipid profiles between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods across different demographic and seasonal groups.

Hakan Bor; Murat Semerci

doi:10.19127/mbsjohs.1993049

August 24, 2026MIDDLE BLACK SEA JOURNAL OF HEALTH SCIENCEOpen Access

Assessment of Nutrition-Related Biochemical Parameters before and during he COVID-19 Pandemic

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Key result

COVID-19 pandemic linked to ~5 mg/dL higher LDL-C and worsening cardiometabolic profiles.

P<0.001
n=293,462

Why the study?

Does the COVID-19 pandemic period exposure correlate with worsened serum glucose and lipid profiles in a general hospital population compared to the pre-pandemic period?

Key Points

To compare serum glucose and lipid profiles between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods across different demographic and seasonal groups.
Conducted a retrospective, record-based study analyzing 293,462 laboratory records from a regional state hospital between February 1, 2019 and May 31, 2021.
Divided records into a pre-pandemic period (February 1, 2019–March 31, 2020; n=165,777) and a pandemic period (April 1, 2020–May 31, 2021; n=127,685), evaluating outcomes across age, sex, and seasons.
Serum glucose increased from 117.05±46.76 mg/dL pre-pandemic to 123.40±58.48 mg/dL during the pandemic (p<0.001), while HDL-C decreased from 50.17±13.28 mg/dL to 45.44±13.24 mg/dL (p<0.001).
During the pandemic, total cholesterol rose from 187.31±46.10 mg/dL to 188.67±53.98 mg/dL (p=0.009), LDL-C rose from 110.63±37.65 mg/dL to 115.66±42.64 mg/dL (p<0.001), and triglycerides rose from 141.43±83.91 mg/dL to 148.91±90.85 mg/dL (p<0.001).

Study Design

Type

Cross-Sectional (n=293,462)

Multicenter

No

Structured PICO

Does the COVID-19 pandemic period exposure correlate with worsened serum glucose and lipid profiles in a general hospital population compared to the pre-pandemic period?

P

Population

293,462 laboratory records from general hospital patients (mean age ~54.5, 55.8% female) in Türkiye, analyzed to assess metabolic changes between pre-pandemic and pandemic periods.

E

Exposure

COVID-19 pandemic period (April 1, 2020 – May 31, 2021)

C

Comparator

Pre-pandemic period (February 1, 2019 – March 31, 2020)

O

Outcome

Serum glucose, total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, and triglyceride levelssurrogate

Main Result

Absolute Event Rate: 115.66% vs 110.63%

p-value: p=<0.001

Limitations

No information on fasting status for blood samples
Inability to link records to unique individuals, allowing for potential repeated measurements
Lack of individual-level data on dietary intake and physical activity
Information on fasting status was not available
Individual-level dietary intake and physical activity were not recorded
Dataset was de-identified, so records could not be linked to unique individuals (potential repeated measurements)

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Implication

The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated lifestyle modifications were associated with unfavorable metabolic changes, including worsened glycemic control and lipid profiles across a general patient population.

Abstract

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Discussion

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Cite This Study

Bor et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in General hospital patients (n=293,462). COVID-19 pandemic period vs. Pre-pandemic period was evaluated on Serum LDL-C (mg/dL) (p=<0.001). The COVID-19 pandemic period was associated with significantly increased serum glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglyceride levels, and decreased HDL-C levels compared with the pre-pandemic period.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a8e9b0e451774b83f3b39a5 https://doi.org/10.19127/mbsjohs.1993049

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Assessment of Nutrition-Related Biochemical Parameters before and during he COVID-19 Pandemic

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Assessment of Nutrition-Related Biochemical Parameters before and during he COVID-19 Pandemic

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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