The balance and challenges of epidemiology in the third year of the pandemic

When is the year of epidemiology? There are those who think that it has already happened. But those of us who have dedicated ourselves to this branch of science know that there will never be a special year, because everyone has their own desires and problems.

2022, like the previous two years, has been heavily marked by covid-19 and its implications for the rest of epidemiological activity as all efforts have been heavily driven by the pandemic.

Impact of covid-19

Covid-19 has had a profound effect on public health surveillance of all diseases, infectious or not. Mainly because the glut of the healthcare system has slowed notification and intervention for all of them.

Even preventive programs such as screening for early detection of cancer have been affected. These delays in diagnosis suggest an increase in the later stages of various diseases and therefore a worsening of survival.

Given the shortcomings that the Spanish national health system has shown in the face of this crisis, the creation of the State Public Health Agency is becoming an essential tool, although we still do not know where, how and when it will be implemented. It is important to speed up its implementation and to know what its structure and regulations will be.

Positive aspects

One positive was the recent release for the first time of preliminary mortality data for the first half of 2022, along with the final data for 2021, by the National Institute of Statistics, which also reduced the time frame. in diffusion. However, there is a need to continue to require the recording of data of interest to health, as well as statistics on deaths by cause of death. It is also necessary to introduce an electronic death certificate, which would make it possible to have this data more quickly.

Another good news for 2022 is the launch of the Acute Respiratory Infection Surveillance (SiVIRA) system for collaborative surveillance of influenza, covid-19 and respiratory syncytial virus infection in accordance with international recommendations.

Climate change is another challenge for epidemiology

One of the most serious current issues is climate change and its impact on health. For this reason, the Spanish Society of Epidemiology dedicated its annual scientific meeting in 2022 to her. Extreme weather events will become more frequent and their effects are already devastating. They have a pronounced effect on health, and also affect non-communicable diseases.

In turn, human alteration of biodiversity contributes to the transmission of infectious and parasitic diseases and entails the risk of the re-emergence of other diseases that we thought had already been eradicated, or the emergence of new agents that could affect health.

Extreme weather events also affect the movement of populations and the health of migrants. Faced with this complex panorama, public health services, like society, must be reorganized and strengthened with additional resources to meet this challenge.

Climate change is also exacerbating social inequalities, which are one of the main determinants of health. Its impact on food security will increase the incidence of malnutrition and diarrhea in under-resourced areas. Worse still, the combination of climate change and the pandemic is exacerbating vulnerabilities due to energy poverty.

And in 2023?

Of course, covid-19 will continue among us in the year that has just begun, hopefully with less incidence, although the current situation in China is worrying. But it will be necessary to limit its impact by controlling this and other possible causes of the pandemic.

In the coming months, the necessary foundations need to be laid to deal with health and welfare crises, on the assumption that the best preparation is to have a well-equipped, trained and comprehensive system in place before a crisis strikes.

Recognition of epidemiologists

In the past three years, epidemiology seems to have taken on a special urgency due to covid-19. But those involved in epidemiology also work and conduct research in other areas, such as cancer, addictions, social determinants of health, occupational health, or nutrition. And it is that the training of epidemiology is based on a wide variety of degrees, which require additional efforts in training and specialization, which must be recognized professionally and professionally.

The apparent appearance of epidemiology in recent years has not been accompanied by an improvement in working conditions. Equalization with other healthcare professionals is essential, requiring more jobs and technical resources, as well as greater dignity and stability in the workplace.

This is how the task is recognized. That which contributes to the improvement of people’s lives, by monitoring the health of the population and preventing disease. Something that also contributes to the health of society, always trying to provide reasonable and fair answers to the problems of collective health and influencing the development of policy and social change.

Oscar Zurriaga, professor. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health (UV). serv. Epidemiological research and statistics. Sanit. (Valencian general). Unit uh FISABIO-UVEG Rare Disease Mixed Trial. CIBER Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Valencia; Angela Dominguez Garcia, Professor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, CIBER Faculty of Medicine, Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Barcelona; Eduardo Briones Perez de la Blanca, epidemiologist, specialist in preventive medicine and public health, Junta of Andalusia; Federico Eduardo Arribas Monzón, Head of the Health Evaluation and Accreditation Service. General Directorate of Health, Department of Health of Aragon; Juan A. Cayla Buqueras, President of the Tuberculosis Research Foundation in Barcelona, Tuberculosis Research Unit in Barcelona (UITB); Maria Grau, University of Barcelona; Maria Isabel Portillo, coordinator of colorectal and prenatal cancer screening programs. Osakideza-Basque Health Service, Osakidetza – Basque Health Service; Maria Joao Forjaz, public health researcher, Carlos III Health Institute and Mario Fontan Vela, PhD student in epidemiology and public health, University of Alcala

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original.