How COVID-19 Pandemic Increased Mental Health Issues, Malaria, and Heart Disease
Disruptions in healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic led to significant increases in illness and death from non-COVID causes such as mental health conditions, malaria in young children, and cardiovascular disease in older adults, according to a new study published in The BMJ.
During the pandemic, many healthcare systems were strained or shut down, interrupting routine care and management for chronic and infectious diseases. To better understand the global fallout, researchers in China analyzed data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. They simulated the burden of 174 health conditions across 204 countries and territories for the years 2020 and 2021, focusing on measures such as incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs).
Mental health disorders saw one of the sharpest increases. New cases of depressive disorders rose by 23% in 5-14 year-olds, the study found. DALY rates for depressive and anxiety disorders increased by 12% and 14% respectively, with particularly high rates among females. Similarly, age-standardised incidence and prevalence rates for depressive disorders rose by 14% and 10%, while anxiety disorders saw a 15% rise.
Malaria deaths among children under five surged by 14%, and overall age-standardised DALY rates for malaria increased by 12%. Cardiovascular conditions such as ischaemic heart disease and stroke also recorded significant increases, particularly among those aged 70 and above.
The researchers noted that their findings may be limited by inconsistent data quality, underreporting, and diagnostic delays. Nonetheless, the breadth of the analysis offers crucial insights into the pandemic’s broader impact.
They concluded: “These findings underscore the urgent need to strengthen health system resilience, enhance integrated surveillance, and adopt syndemic-informed strategies to support equitable preparedness for future public health emergencies.”
Check full updates on Medical Dialogues
Also check out –
Medical Dialogues Academy, a renowned academic wing of Medical Dialogues – India’s premier health and news online portal, proudly presents this comprehensive course tailored for healthcare professionals eager to delve into the realm of medical journalism.
🔗 Enroll Today: https://academy.medicaldialogues.in/courses/certificate-course-in-medical-journalism/
📚 Explore More With Us:
📌 Medical Content Writing: https://academy.medicaldialogues.in/courses/medical-content-writing/
📌 Certificate Course in Pharmaceutical Medico-Marketing: https://academy.medicaldialogues.in/courses/certificate-course-in-pharmaceutical-medico-marketing/
Join us on this enlightening journey and become a part of a community pushing the boundaries of healthcare communication and reporting.
Get the latest medical and health news at medicaldialogues.in
Follow us on
Twitter: https://twitter.com/medicaldialogs
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/medicaldialogues/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/medicaldialogues
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/medical-dialogues
Website: https://medicaldialogues.in/