Hospital medical care and the COVID-19 mortality in METEOR partner countries (the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, and Poland)

• Authors: Małgorzata Kowalska , Peter de Winter , Lode Godderis , Anke Boone , Szymon Szemik

Abstracts

EN

Objectives Healthcare systems in European countries, including METEOR partner countries, are faced with the aging population, an increase in costs for innovative technologies and medication, a shortage of health professionals, and inequality in access to healthcare. Presented paper aimed to recognize and compare the functioning of healthcare systems between METEOR partner countries and simultaneously check if the current epidemiological situation of COVID-19 has some relationship with the number of medical staff, yearly gross domestic product, or documented percentage of fully vaccinated people. Material and Methods In the model of descriptive epidemiological study, available demographic, socioeconomic, and healthcare organizational data in the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, and Poland were compared to the epidemiological situation of the COVID-19 pandemic (percentage of fully vaccinated people, incidence, and mortality) in all mentioned countries. Results Obtained data confirmed that the lowest number of physicians, as well as the life expectancy and gross domestic product per capita, is in Poland. Simultaneously, the lower number of medical staff and lower gross domestic product (GDP) correspond to higher mortality due to COVID-19. The percentage of fully vaccinated with the last dose of the primary series was also the lowest in Poland. Conclusions Obtained results confirmed that higher mortality due to COVID-19 in METEOR participants’ countries is related to a lower number of medical staff and weaker GDP. The worse situation was noted in Poland, a country with problems in the functioning healthcare system, including hospital care and a serious shortage of practicing medical staff.

Keywords

EN

epidemiologic studies; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; medical staff; mortality rate; healthcare systems

• Publisher: Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. dra Jerzego Nofera w Łodzi
• Journal: International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
• Year: 2023
• Volume: 36
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 417-427

Dates

published

2023

Contributors

author

Małgorzata Kowalska

• The Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland (Department of Epidemiology, School of Medical Sciences in Katowice)

author

Peter de Winter

• Spaarne Gasthuis, Haarlem and Hoofddorp, The Netherlands (Department of Pediatrics)
• KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium (Leuven Child and Health Institute)
• KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium (Department of Development and Regeneration)

author

Lode Godderis

• KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium (Centre for Environment and Health)
• IDEWE, External Service for Prevention and Protection at Work, Leuven, Belgium

author

Anke Boone

• KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium (Centre for Environment and Health)

author

Szymon Szemik

• The Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland (Department of Epidemiology, School of Medical Sciences in Katowice)

Identifiers

DOI

10.13075/ijomeh.1896.02187

Biblioteka Nauki

21375684