After Covid-19, hospitalizations in psychiatric hospitals increase by 10%, heart patients by 17%

Even during 2023, the number of people hospitalized in public hospitals has increased compared to the previous year. According to the data of the Monitoring report of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, for the year 2023, the number of patients treated in services with beds is 307,808 patients or 11% more than the same period last year.

The highest levels continue to remain in patients with cardiac and neurological problems. The increasing trend of hospitalizations of patients in psychiatric hospitals has continued throughout the year 2023. Based on the data published by the Ministry of Health for the past year, the number of patients treated in psychiatric hospitals reached 1,647 patients. Compared to 2022, their number increased by 10%.

Psychiatrists from health centers confirmed to Monitor that with the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of patients suffering from anxiety continues to increase, as fear and anxiety were the main symptoms that appeared in patients with Covid-19 or experiencing when their family members were infected.

For the psychiatrists of the medical service, even the earthquake event in 2019 continues to have an effect on the increase of anxiety symptoms. They add that for these patients the effects are also given by temperature changes.

The number of patients treated by cardiology packages for 2023 reached 10,908. Compared to 2022, their number increased by 17%. So doctors warned that after the pandemic, there will be an increase in heart surgeries, due to post-Covid-19 problems that should be treated in time.

Even the emergency doctor at one of the private clinics, Ilir Allkja, claimed earlier that the main long-term consequences for the health of patients affected by Covid-19 are being felt in changes in breathing rhythm, in cardiological and neurological disorders.

"Pneumonia from Covid-19 can damage the alveoli (alveoli) in the lungs which can lead to long-term breathing problems, such as shortness of breath, frequent, intermittent breathing (apnea), etc. Neurological disorders are encountered in the vast majority of people who have had pneumonia from Covid-19.

Sleep disturbances and fatigue can further contribute to thinking problems, making daily life, work and activities more difficult. This infection has caused inflammation and permanent damage to the heart muscle. Such damages have also occurred in people who had mild symptoms of the virus", says doctor Allkja.

Screenings for women's cancer are reduced, radiotherapy sessions are increased

For the year 2023, the number of women screened for breast cancer (check that serves to identify or not the tumor) was 5,136 women who are checked. Compared to the previous year, the number of controls has increased by 5%.

While the number of women screened for cervical cancer was 9,232 women who are being checked. Their number has decreased by 11% compared to 2022.

Screening is done to catch or prevent a disease early. Cervical and breast cancer screening is performed by the Primary Service, then the cases detected by the primary service are treated by the oncology hospital. So the number of patients treated with radiotherapy for 2023 increased by 7% compared to 2022./ Monitor