Musculoskeletal Health from Regular Statistical Sources in Slovenia for the Period from 2017 to 2021

Abstract

Musculoskeletal and connective tissue diseases which include around 150 different diseases represent a growing public health problem. This large group of diseases is often associated with the onset of mental illness, other chronic diseases and increased mortality. During the COVID-19 pandemic patients with musculoskeletal diseases were facing several challenges, such as medicine shortages, poor access to regular health services, particularly in developing countries. The present paper provides an overview of the situation in the field of musculoskeletal health of the population in Slovenia, based on data from regular health statistics, for a 5-year period, from 2017 to 2021. The retrospective-observational research was performed on the basis of data collected at the Slovenian National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) and the Institute for Health Insurance (ZZZS). The COVID-19 pandemic, which marked the studied 5-year period, undoubtedly had an impact on musculoskeletal health in Slovenia. The results of our study showed a decrease in the rate of curative visits due to musculoskeletal diseases, both at the primary and secondary level of health care, a decrease in the number of issued prescriptions for medicines for the treatment of musculoskeletal diseases, a decrease in the rate of hospital treatment and longer sick leave.