COVID-19 as an additional risk factor for major non-communicable diseases in adults: A retrospective analytic descriptive study

Background. In recent years, major non-communicable diseases have become the focus of increased attention from domestic and foreign researchers. The problem of the spread of these diseases exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic represents a serious medical and social problem to public health. The variety of systemic lesions and various disorders, as well as multisystemic disorders in patients who have undergone COVID-19, requires careful analysis. One of the key preventive measures taken by medical organizations includes conducting a health check-up of the population, including those who have undergone coronavirus infection. This measure provides important information on the spread of non-communicable diseases and makes it possible to assess the extent to which citizens are engaged in the program and committed to a healthy lifestyle.
Objectives. Examine the spread of non-communicable diseases in the population before, during, and after the pandemic.
Methods. A retrospective analytical descriptive study of primary disease and overall incidences of the major non-communicable diseases in the population of the Republic of Bashkortostan was carried out in dynamics for the period from 2013 to 2023 using the state statistics: data on the population number of the Republic of Bashkortostan of the corresponding years; data from the No. 131/o sectoral statistical reporting “Data on the health check-up of certain groups of the adult population”; data contained in the No. 12 forms of federal statistical monitoring “Data on the disease incidence registered in patients living in the service area of the medical organization”. The dynamics of the incidence of chronic non-communicable diseases was assessed using the data on population seeking medical treatment and the results of preventive medical examinations and health check-ups. The main indicators of the study were: the overall incidence per 100,000 population and the primary disease incidence per 100,000 population (both seeking medical treatment); the proportion of the population who underwent a health check-up; the visibility indicator; incidence dynamics; the rate of increase (decrease) in incidence for all classes of diseases and major non-communicable diseases, such as neoplasms, circulatory diseases, respiratory diseases, and endocrine diseases. The results of health check-ups were assessed by detected circulatory diseases per 100,000 population and primary detected circulatory diseases per 100,000 population. In this study, the method of statistical analysis of dynamic series was used. Statistical processing of the results was carried out using Microsoft Office Excel 2021 (Microsoft, USA).
Results. An increase in the number of pathologies of the cardiovascular system detected during health check-ups was observed in the population of the Republic of Bashkortostan from 2013 to 2023. In the early post-COVID-19 period of 2021–2023, the share of first-time detected circulatory diseases increased, and the rate of increase amounted to +197.6%. Based on the statistics, analysis of all cases of non-communicable diseases registered from 2017 to 2022 made it possible to conclude that the overall incidence of the adult population during the studied period increased in all classes of diseases with an increase rate of +20.1%. The primary disease incidence of non-communicable diseases increased, and the rate of increase amounted to +32.6%. In most cases, patients sought medical treatment for respiratory diseases (the rate of increase amounted to +35.5%). The number of first-time detected respiratory diseases increased (the rate of increase amounted to +43.8%). The overall incidence of circulatory diseases increased with the rate of increase of +32.2% and the primary disease incidence increased with the rate of increase of +22.0%. The early post-COVID-19 period saw an increase in the share of the population seeking medical treatment for neoplasms, including primary medical treatment (the rate of increase amounted to +21.2%). An increase in primary medical treatment for endocrine diseases was also determined (the rate of increase amounted to +19.6%).
Conclusion. A new coronavirus infection represents an additional risk factor for major non-communicable diseases in the adult population and encourages their rapid spread. Post-COVID-19 changes can affect the population regardless of the severity of the previous diseases, including those individuals who haven’t been ill before.

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