Indirect impact of COVID-19 pandemic on health and wellbeing: a narrative review.

Teresa Valero-Gaspar, Cesar Garriga, Brigid Unim, Rodrigo Feteira-Santos, Luigi Palmieri, Asunción Díaz, Carmen Rodríguez-Blázquez, Maria João Forjaz

Journal: Annali dell'Istituto superiore di sanita 2026;62(1):53-66

PMID: 41867155

Free Full Text on Istituto Superiore di Sanita View on PubMed

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on global health, notably affecting patients with non-COVID-19 conditions, who faced substantial disruptions in their treatment and care. The aim of this narrative review was to identify the main indicators used in literature to evaluate the indirect impact of COVID-19 on health and wellbeing.

METHOD

A literature search was conducted using PubMed from January 2021 to November 2022. The indicators were categorized into five main groups: burden of disease (BoD), life expectancy (LE), health-related quality of life (HRQoL), cost of illness and mental health status and were retrieved from 20 scientific articles.

RESULTS

Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) revealed substantial health losses; a decrease in LE was observed, with inequalities across population subgroups; HRQoL showed impairments in physical functioning, daily activities and emotional well-being; productivity losses were economically relevant and varied by context and elevated symptoms of anxiety and depression were reported.

DISCUSSION

The compiled indicators may contribute to the development of sustainable pandemic mitigation policies.

Address: Research Group "Food Behaviour, Nutrition and Gastrointestinal Health (CoNuSaGa)", Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.; National Centre for Epidemiology and CIBERESP, Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain.; Dipartimento Malattie Cardiovascolari, Endocrino-Metaboliche e Invecchiamento, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.; Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.; National Centre for Epidemiology and CIBERINFEC, Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain.; National Centre for Epidemiology and CIBERNED, Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain.; National Centre for Epidemiology and RICAPPS, Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain.

DOI: 10.4415/ANN_26_01_08

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Full Text Sources:

https://doi.org/10.4415/ANN_26_01_08

Medical:

https://medlineplus.gov/covid19coronavirusdisease2...

MeSH Terms: Humans, COVID-19, Quality of Life, Mental Health, Pandemics, Cost of Illness, Life Expectancy, Health Status, SARS-CoV-2, Disability-Adjusted Life Years