Epidemiological features and changes in the occurrence of infectious diseases in Poland from 2015 to 2020 in the context of the emerging novel SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic

Abstract

Introduction. The novel emerging infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a global public health concern. The ongoing pandemic outbreak in Poland makes a great impact on the diagnosis and treatment of other conditions including cancer and non-neoplastic diseases such as other infectious diseases. Research design. This study aimed to analyze trends in morbidity of selected infectious diseases in Poland over the last 6 years and assess the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic on the incidence of other infectious diseases from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020, compared to the same period in 2019. Results. No clear trend in the total number of cases of infectious diseases in Poland in the years 2015–2019 was observed. During the period from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020, a total of 1 273 155 SARS-CoV-2 infections were recorded in Poland; they represented the second most common disease entity in the analyzed period (after flu and suspected flu). At the same time, there was a decrease in morbidity for almost all disease entities for which at least one case had been reported in 2019. The mean hospitalization rate for COVID-19 amounted to 250.2 cases per 100 000 inhabitants. Conclusions. The lack of a clear trend in data for the years 2015–2019 makes it difficult to measure the impact of COVID-19 disease on the occurrence of other infectious diseases in Poland. The latest data indicate a significant reduction in the number of cases reported in 2020 vs. 2019. The question remains, whether this reduction results from limitations in interpersonal contacts forced by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, or is it a matter of underreporting of other diseases.