Insight into the Occurrence of Common Non-communicable Diseases at a Population Level and the Potential Impact During the Coronavirus Pandemic — a Need for a Syndemic Healthcare Approach?

Abstract

People suffering from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are at an increased risk for severe Covid-19. The aim was to determine the burden of common NCDs at a population level, assess Covid-19 impact while exploring whether a syndemic approach is merited to deal with NCDs and Covid-19. Baseline data from a Malta national representative survey. Individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), hypertension, cardiovascular disease, dyslipidaemia and overweight-obese status were considered. Prevalence for single disease and multimorbidity were used to estimate population burden. Covid-19 impact at a population level was estimated through local Covid-19 infectivity rates. Years of life lost (YLL) and mortality rate were calculated using Covid-19 data and compared to corresponding NCDs data reported by global burden of disease (GBD) study. Half the study population ( n = 3947) had a single NCD while a third had multimorbidity. Of these, 6.55% were estimated to be at risk of Covid-19 and require admission. Covid-19 YLL over 12 months was 5228.54 years, which is higher than the estimated YLL for hypertension and T2DM by GBD study for Malta. Health systems and policies should be re-focused to accommodate both Covid-19 and NCDs simultaneously through a targeted syndemic approach with primary healthcare playing a central role. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42399-021-01064-2.

Post-Traumatic Growth in Professionals Caring for People with Intellectual Disabilities during COVID-19: A Psychological Intervention

“…The results of our research have important clinical and practical implications, since again it was observed that vulnerable populations, such as people with ID, suffer many consequences from critical situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic [ 12 , 57 , 58 , 59 ]. In fact, the study by Cuschieri and Grech [ 57 ] observed that those with non-communicable diseases had a 6.55% higher risk of COVID-19 infection and often required hospital admission, mainly because of their vulnerability.…”

“…The results of our research have important clinical and practical implications, since again it was observed that vulnerable populations, such as people with ID, suffer many consequences from critical situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic [ 12 , 57 , 58 , 59 ]. In fact, the study by Cuschieri and Grech [ 57 ] observed that those with non-communicable diseases had a 6.55% higher risk of COVID-19 infection and often required hospital admission, mainly because of their vulnerability. Therefore, the COVID-19 pandemic offers us the opportunity to promote health and social policies in vulnerable groups through interdisciplinary and biopsychosocial approaches, and indeed international collaboration, and the opportunity to understand where to act and what to modify.…”

“…Therefore, the COVID-19 pandemic offers us the opportunity to promote health and social policies in vulnerable groups through interdisciplinary and biopsychosocial approaches, and indeed international collaboration, and the opportunity to understand where to act and what to modify. As a result, these vulnerable people will not be more affected in future critical situations because of their challenging conditions, diagnoses, or chronic diseases [ 57 , 58 , 59 ].…”

The Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Orthodontic Treatments: A Survey Analysis

“…However, based on the results we have seen during the pandemic, those who decided to accept the possible risks of being close to other people, including their orthodontists, were the ones who decided to receive orthodontic treatment. The same patients reported unchanged or increased availability of their orthodontist during the pandemic [ 20 , 21 , 22 ].…”

Re-engineering the Cypriot General Healthcare System for Syndemics

“…Syndemics have been defined as the clustering of two or more diseases and the dynamic relationship between the biological and social elements that are at play ( 7 ) while the cumulative vs. multiplicative effects of such syndemics (between COVID-19 and NCDs) on the healthcare system strategy are yet to be explored ( 8 ). As context matters ( 9 ), recognizing failures and thinking of a syndemogenesis from a strategic perspective, achieving the envisioned patient-centric healthcare delivery could also be linked to a politico-economic response in shielding GeSy.…”