In-hospital admissions and deaths in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, in Romania.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic context led to a relevant burden on essential sectors of society; hospital sector capacity is tested in this period.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of admissions in hospitals reporting DRG data for 2018-2020. Trend analysis of admissions and deaths in hospitals was carried out for identifying annual patterns and deviations from the 2010-2020 trend.

Monitoring Health Inequalities in 12 European Countries: Lessons Learned from the Joint Action Health Equity Europe.

To raise awareness about health inequalities, a well-functioning health inequality monitoring system (HIMS) is crucial. Drawing on work conducted under the Joint Action Health Equity Europe, the aim of this paper is to illustrate the strengths and weaknesses in current health inequality monitoring based on lessons learned from 12 European countries and to discuss what can be done to strengthen their capacities. Fifty-five statements were used to collect information about the status of the capacities at different steps of the monitoring process.

Retrospective analysis and time series forecasting with automated machine learning of ascariasis, enterobiasis and cystic echinococcosis in Romania.

The epidemiology of neglected tropical diseases (NTD) is persistently underprioritized, despite NTD being widespread among the poorest populations and in the least developed countries on earth. This situation necessitates thorough and efficient public health intervention. Romania is at the brink of becoming a developed country.

Societal Cost of Ischemic Stroke in Romania: Results from a Retrospective County-Level Study.

Background: Health policies in transitioning health systems are rarely informed by the economic burden of disease due to scanty access to data. This study aimed to estimate direct and indirect costs for first-ever acute ischemic stroke (AIS) during the first year for patients residing in Cluj, Romania, and hospitalized in 2019 at the County Emergency Hospital (CEH).

Methods: The study was conducted using a mixed, retrospective costing methodology from a societal perspective to measure the cost of first-ever AIS in the first year after onset.

Time Series Analysis and Forecasting with Automated Machine Learning on a National ICD-10 Database.

The application of machine learning (ML) for use in generating insights and making predictions on new records continues to expand within the medical community. Despite this progress to date, the application of time series analysis has remained underexplored due to complexity of the underlying techniques. In this study, we have deployed a novel ML, called automated time series (AutoTS) machine learning, to automate data processing and the application of a multitude of models to assess which best forecasts future values.

INCIDENCE AND TIME TREND OF HIP FRACTURES IN ROMANIA: A NATIONWIDE STUDY FROM 2008 TO 2018.

Background: Hip fractures are a major issue of public health as they are responsible for high morbidity, excess mortality and costs. There are differences in Europe and worldwide in the incidence rates of hip fractures and time trends, in the context of the population aging. Ten years ago, we characterized the incidence of hip fracture in Romania using data from the national hospital discharge register.

Hospital reforms in 11 Central and Eastern European countries between 2008 and 2019: a comparative analysis.

This paper aims to: (1) provide a brief overview of hospital sector characteristics in 11 Central and Eastern European countries (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia); (2) compare recent (2008 - 2019) hospital reforms in these countries; and (3) identify common trends, success factors and challenges for reforms. Methods applied involved five stages: (1) a theoretical framework of hospital sector reforms was developed; (2) basic quantitative data characterizing hospital sectors were compared; (3) a scoping review was performed to identify an initial list of reforms per country; (4) the list was sent to national researchers who described the top three reforms based on a standardized questionnaire; (5) received questionnaires were analysed and validated with available literature. Results indicate that the scope of conducted reforms is very broad.

The unexpected outcomes of the closure of 67 inpatient care facilities in 2011 in Romania.

One of the main objectives of the National Strategy for Hospitals Rationalization approved by the Romanian Government in 2011 was to resize the hospital sector in order to improve efficiency. To this end, the government decided the closure of 67 inpatient care facilities with low efficiency scores, giving them the opportunity to become nursing homes for elderly under a national programme financed by the Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Protection. The measure faced a tremendous public opposition that put pressure on politicians to re-open some hospitals, while other hospitals were re-opened by the governments that followed in order to consolidate their power.

The cross-national epidemiology of DSM-IV intermittent explosive disorder.

Background: This is the first cross-national study of intermittent explosive disorder (IED).

Method: A total of 17 face-to-face cross-sectional household surveys of adults were conducted in 16 countries (n = 88 063) as part of the World Mental Health Surveys initiative. The World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI 3.

Subthreshold posttraumatic stress disorder in the world health organization world mental health surveys.

Background: Although only a few people exposed to a traumatic event (TE) develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), symptoms that do not meet full PTSD criteria are common and often clinically significant. Individuals with these symptoms sometimes have been characterized as having subthreshold PTSD, but no consensus exists on the optimal definition of this term. Data from a large cross-national epidemiologic survey are used in this study to provide a principled basis for such a definition.

Barriers to mental health treatment: results from the WHO World Mental Health surveys.

Background: To examine barriers to initiation and continuation of mental health treatment among individuals with common mental disorders.

Method: Data were from the World Health Organization (WHO) World Mental Health (WMH) surveys. Representative household samples were interviewed face to face in 24 countries.