Pandemic disrupted care for millions with chronic illnesses, study finds
NCT ID NCT05813652
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study analyzed electronic medical records of nearly 920,000 Canadian adults to see how the COVID-19 pandemic affected primary care for chronic conditions like diabetes, heart failure, and depression. Researchers compared care before and during the pandemic, looking at visits, tests, vaccinations, and medications. The goal is to understand which patient groups were most impacted and help improve care during future health emergencies.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this research could help healthcare systems better prepare for future disruptions to chronic disease management.
- What could go wrong
- This is an observational study using existing records, so it can show patterns but cannot prove cause and effect. Results may not apply to other countries or healthcare settings.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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919,928 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Oct 2022
- Finished
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Mar 2025
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
The study population is all patients who were age 18 years and older in 2018. As only year of birth is available, we will use the mid-point of the year for age calculation. We will include patients who have had at least one encounter or form of contact with their primary care clinic between the dates of March 13, 2018 and March 13, 2020. People with a deceased status during the study period will be included up to the point of death.
- Ages
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18 to 105 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * 18 years of age or older as of 2018 * Records included in the CPCSSN database * Patient had at least one encounter with their clinic between March 13, 2018 and March 13, 2020 Exclusion Criteria: * Patients aged 105 or older as of 2018 will be excluded due to possibility of data entry error
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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McMaster University Department of Family Medicine
Hamilton, Ontario, L8P 1H6, Canada
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