The COVID-19 pandemic has had many impacts on global health beyond those caused by the COVID-19 disease itself. It has led to a reduction in hospital visits for other reasons. There have been 38 per cent fewer hospital visits for heart attack symptoms in the United States and 40 per cent fewer in Spain.[1] The head of cardiology at the University of Arizona said, "My worry is some of these people are dying at home because they're too scared to go to the hospital."[2] There is also concern that people with strokes and appendicitis are not seeking timely treatment.[2]Shortages of medical supplies have impacted people with various conditions.[3]
In several countries there has been a marked reduction of spread of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS, attributable to COVID-19 quarantines, social distancing measures, and recommendations to not engage in casual sex.[4][5][6] Similarly, in some places, rates of transmission of influenza and other respiratory viruses significantly decreased during the pandemic.[7][8][9] In addition, the B/Yamagata lineage of influenza B might have become extinct in 2020/2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic measures,[10][11] and there have been no naturally occurring cases confirmed since March 2020.[12][13] In 2023, the World Health Organization concluded that protection against the Yamagata lineage was no longer necessary in the seasonal flu vaccine, reducing the number of lineages targeted by the vaccine from four to three.[12][13]
The pandemic has also negatively impacted mental health globally, including increased loneliness resulting from social distancing[14] and depression and domestic violence from lockdowns.[15] As of June 2020, 40% of U.S. adults were experiencing adverse mental health symptoms, with 11% having seriously considered to attempt suicide.[16] The research data suggest that the pandemic has negative effects on both weight loss and food health monitoring but the effects were short lived results.[17]
Paying attention and taking measures to prevent mental health problems and post-traumatic stress syndrome, particularly in women, is already a need.[18]