Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken everyday life causing morbidity and mortality across the globe. While each country has been hit by the pandemic, individual countries have had different infection and health trajectories. Of all welfare state institutions, healthcare has faced the most immense pressure due to the pandemic and hence, we take a comparative perspective to study COVID-19 related health system performance. We study the way in which health system characteristics were associated with COVID-19 excess mortality and case fatality rates before Omicron variant.
Methods: This study analyses the health system performance during the pandemic in 43 OECD countries and selected non-member economies through three healthcare systems dimensions: (1) healthcare finance, (2) healthcare provision, (3) healthcare performance and health outcomes. Health system characteristics-related data is collected from the Global Health Observatory data repository, the COVID-19 related health outcome indicators from the Our World in Data statistics database, and the country characteristics from the World Bank Open Data and the OECD statistics databases.
Results: We find that the COVID-19 excess mortality and case fatality rates were systematically associated with healthcare system financing and organizational structures, as well as performance regarding other health outcomes besides COVID-19 health outcomes.
Conclusion: Investments in public health systems in terms of overall financing, health workforce and facilities are instrumental in reducing COVID-19 related mortality. Countries aiming at improving their pandemic preparedness may develop health systems by strengthening their public health systems.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09206-z | DOI Listing |
JMIR Mhealth Uhealth
January 2025
Department of Learning and Workforce Development, The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research, Soesterberg, Netherlands.
Background: Wearable sensor technologies, often referred to as "wearables," have seen a rapid rise in consumer interest in recent years. Initially often seen as "activity trackers," wearables have gradually expanded to also estimate sleep, stress, and physiological recovery. In occupational settings, there is a growing interest in applying this technology to promote health and well-being, especially in professions with highly demanding working conditions such as first responders.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSports Health
January 2025
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hackensack Meridian Health, Hackensack, New Jersey.
Background: The elderly US population is growing quickly and staying active longer. However, there is limited information on sports-related injuries in older adults.
Hypotheses: (1) National estimate and incidence of sports-related orthopaedic injuries in the US elderly population have increased over the last 10 years, (2) types and causes of sports-related injuries in the elderly have changed, and (3) elderly sports-related injuries will increase more than the number of treating physicians by 2040.
Ir Vet J
January 2025
Animal Health Ireland, 4-5 The Archways, Carrick On Shannon, Co. Leitrim, N41 WN27, Ireland.
Background: Biosecurity measures are crucial to the introduction and spread of pathogens both within and between farms. External biosecurity focuses on preventing pathogens from entering or leaving the farm, while internal biosecurity aims to limit or stop the spread of pathogens within the farm. Implementing biosecurity measures not only protects animals from disease but also has positive effects on productivity, welfare and farm profitability.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIsr J Health Policy Res
January 2025
Geha Mental Health Center, Helsinki 1st, Petach-Tikva, +9729258220, Israel.
Background: The events of October 7, 2023, and the subsequent war have starkly exposed the shortcoming of Israel's public mental health system. This system, already strained by years of underfunding and the COVID-19 pandemic, was unprepared for the surge in mental health needs resulting from these traumatic events. This paper outlines the systemic failures and proposes a comprehensive overhaul reform towards an integrative community-based, recovery-oriented mental health service.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTrop Med Health
January 2025
School of Medicine, Private Technical University of Loja, Loja, 110101, Ecuador.
Introduction: Dengue is one of the most widespread arboviruses in Latin America and is now affecting areas previously free of transmission. The COVID-19 pandemic and climatic variations appear to have affected the incidence of the disease, abundance of vectors and health programs related to dengue in some countries.
Objective: To analyze the epidemiology of dengue in Paltas, Ecuador (2016-2022), compare the periods before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, examine entomological reports and discuss the possible implications of the COVID-19 pandemic and climatic variations.
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