Screening Vaccinees for Non-Communicable Diseases and Risk Factors at a Covid-19 Vaccination Center in Vadodara, Gujarat

Abstract

Context: Adult population visiting COVID vaccination center is a potential teachable moment for screening and preventive advice on non-communicable diseases.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the proportion of vaccinees volunteering for screening and to know the proportion of newly detected hypertensives and diabetics among the screened vaccinees at COVID-19 vaccination center.

Setting and design: This descriptive, cross-sectional, operational research study was carried out at the COVID vaccination center at a medical college in central Gujarat from July to September 2021.

Methods: After receiving the vaccine, the vaccinee was offered screening through a community-based assessment checklist for risk factors of non-communicable diseases, blood pressure, and blood sugar measurement. Those volunteering for this screening received a slip mentioning their risk score, blood pressure and blood sugar reading, and relevant health information and disease prevention advice. The study variables were acceptability (proportion of vaccinees volunteering for screening) and yield (newly detected hypertensives and diabetics among those screened).

Results: Among vaccinees, 27.7% volunteered for risk scoring and blood pressure measurement, whereas 8.3% volunteered for blood sugar measurement. Around 15.5% of vaccinees had high-risk scores as per the community-based assessment checklist. The yield of freshly detected high blood pressure and high blood sugar was 19.3% and 10.5%, respectively. The yield was similar even among vaccinees under 30 years of age.

Conclusions: Vaccinees demonstrated interest in undergoing screening for non-communicable diseases. Yield indicates that such screening is worth the effort.

Keywords: COVID vaccination center; diabetes mellitus; hypertension; non-communicable diseases; risk scoring; screening; teachable moment.