Objectives: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the impact of Covid-19 on utilization of chronic diseases services.
Methods: Interrupted time-series design was used to examine the utilization of chronic diseases services before and during the Covid-19 pandemic among hospitals in Iran. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, type 2 diabetes, heart failure, and chemotherapy were selected as a proxy to indicate the impact of Covid-19 on utilization of chronic diseases services. Data were collected in 24 sites from 12 months before the onset of Covid-19 (from March 2019 to February 2020) to 12 months during the Covid-19 pandemic (February 2020 to March 2021).
Results: A total of 7,039,378 services were provided, of which 51.92% were provided for women and 62.73% for >65 age group. A sudden decrease was observed in monthly utilization of services during the Covid-19 pandemic; ranging from 13.91 (95% CI = -21.73, 6.10, = 0.001) for chemotherapy to 606.39 (95% CI = -1040.72, 172.06, = 0.009) for heart failure services per 100 thousand population. A decrease was observed in COPD services; 15.28 services compared with the period before Covid-19. Subsequently, the monthly utilization trends of asthma, type 2 diabetes, and chemotherapy services increased significantly ( < 0.05).
Discussion: Although chronic diseases are a factor in more severe form of Covid-19, their failure to seek diagnostic, prevention and treatment services has somewhat complicated the issue.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10372501 | PMC |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/17423953231178168 | DOI Listing |
Dig Dis Sci
January 2025
Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endoscopy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
Background: Chronic constipation, diarrhea, and fecal incontinence (FI) are prevalent with significant impact on quality of life and healthcare utilization. Thyroid dysfunction was recognized as a potential contributor to bowel disturbances in selected populations, but the strength/consistency of this association remain unclear.
Aims: To investigate the relationship between thyroid function and bowel health measures (constipation, diarrhea, and FI) in a nationally representative sample of the U.
Clin Exp Nephrol
January 2025
Department of Nephrology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Background: Previous studies have suggested a potential role of estrogen in the pathophysiology of chronic kidney disease (CKD); however, the association and causality between estrogen and kidney function remain unclear.
Methods: The cross-sectional correlation between serum estradiol concentration and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) was analyzed using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2016. Causality was tested using mutual bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) approaches based on six large-scale GWAS studies.
Mol Biol Rep
January 2025
Faculty of Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey.
Background: Chemokines and their receptors, which regulate lymphoid organ development and immune cell trafficking, are integral to the mechanisms underlying viral control, hepatic inflammation, and liver damage in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection. This study explores the potential relationship between serum chemokine levels/polymorphisms and hepatitis C infection in affected individuals, with a particular focus on their utility as biomarkers across different stages of fibrosis.
Methods And Results: Serum levels of the chemokines CXCL11, CXCL12, and CXCL16 were measured in patients with mild/moderate and advanced fibrosis due to CHC, as well as in healthy controls, using the ELISA method.
Arch Dermatol Res
January 2025
Institute of Social and Political Sciences, Corvinus University of Budapest, Budapest, Hungary.
This study aims to explore the measurement agreement between direct and indirect health utility measures in four chronic dermatological conditions (atopic dermatitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, pemphigus, psoriasis). Outpatients survey data collected between 2015 and 2021 were analysed. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcome measures included time trade-off (TTO), EQ-5D-5L and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRheumatol Int
January 2025
Department of Internal Medicine, General Hospital Oberndorf, Teaching Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease marked by systemic inflammation. While RA primarily affects the joints, its systemic effects may lead to an increased cerebro- and cardiovascular risk. Atherosclerosis of the carotid arteries is a significant risk factor for cerebrovascular events and serves as a surrogate marker for cardiovascular risk.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!