The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the incidence of diseases and the provision of primary care: A registry-based study

Abstract

Introduction The Covid-19 pandemic had a tremendous impact on healthcare but uncertainty remains about the extent to which primary care provision was affected. Therefore, this paper aims to assess the impact on primary care provision and the evolution of the incidence of disease during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic in Flanders (Belgium). Methods Care provision was defined as the number of new entries added to a patient’s medical history. Pre-pandemic care provision (February 1, 2018–January 31, 2020) was compared with care provision during the pandemic (February 1, 2020-January 31, 2021). A large morbidity registry (Intego) was used. Regression models compared the effect of demographic characteristics on care provision and on acute and chronic diagnoses incidence both prior and during the pandemic. Results During the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic, overall care provision increased with 9.1% (95%CI 8.5%;9.6%). There was an increase in acute diagnoses of 5.1% (95%CI 4.2%;6.0%) and a decrease in the selected chronic diagnoses of 12.8% (95% CI 7.0%;18.4%). Obesity was an exception with an overall incidence increase. The pandemic led to strong fluctuations in care provision that were not the same for all types of care and all demographic groups in Flanders. Relative to other groups in the population, the pandemic caused a reduction in care provision for children aged 0–17 year and patients from a lower socio-economic situation. Conclusion This paper strengthened the claim that Covid-19 should be considered as a syndemic instead of a pandemic. During the first Covid-19 year, overall care provision and the incidence of acute diagnoses increased, whereas chronic diseases’ incidence decreased, except for obesity diagnoses which increased. More granular, care provision and chronic diseases’ incidence decreased during the lockdowns, especially for people with a lower socio-economic status. After the lockdowns they both returned to baseline.

The Incidence of Myasthenia Gravis in the Province of Ferrara, Italy, in the Period of 2008–2022: An Update on a 40-Year Observation and the Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…This interpretation is further supported by the fact that, in 2022, there was a previously unprecedented peak in incidence, which can probably be attributed not only to the incidence of new MG cases, but also to the diagnoses that had not been made in the previous two years. For example, the group of Van den Bulck [ 56 ] observed that, following the pandemic, the incidence of chronic diseases in Flanders decreased and returned to baseline values at the end of the emergency, and this could also be the case for the changes observed by our group. Despite these considerable limitations, interestingly, the prevalence of non-thymoma MG and LOMG is also confirmed in this period; they are significantly more frequent than thymoma MG cases ( n = 2, 6.9% of new cases in the period) and EOMG ( n = 1, 3.4% of new cases in the period).…”

Lessons on integrated chronic care organisation of primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic: case study analyses in Cambodia, Slovenia, and Belgium

“…COVID-19 was prioritised in all countries and developments in the eld of chronic care were halted or pushed back. International research (29), as well as country-speci c reports (30,31) support the nding that care for patients with chronic diseases was substantially affected during the pandemic.…”

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Mortality and Hospitalization during the COVID-19 Pandemic Compared with before the Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Additionally, addressing concerns from patients about accessing healthcare during a pandemic is crucial, and effective risk communication strategies and infection control measures should be implemented in healthcare settings. Risk communication can inform and educate patients about the benefits and risks of seeking care, the availability and accessibility of services, and the safety protocols in place to prevent COVID-19 transmission [ 53 ]. Infection control measures can include screening, triage, isolation, personal protective equipment, ventilation, and disinfection [ 51 , 54 ].…”