A year of Covid-19: experiences and lessons learnt by small European island states-Cyprus, Iceland and Malta.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 became a global pandemic within weeks, as every country including small states and islands experienced a surge in cases. Small islands are known to face several challenges in the quest to curb the viral spread, but with the absence of land boarders and small population size, these factors should have played to their advantage to minimize the spread. The aim of this article was to compare and contrast the COVID-19 situation, restrictions, preparedness, management and the healthcare systems between the small population island states of Cyprus, Iceland and Malta. METHODS: Data were obtained from Ministry of Health websites and COVID dashboards of the three respective Island states in Europe. Comparisons were made between the reported cases, deaths, excess deaths, years of life lost, swabbing rates, restrictive measures, vaccination roll-out and healthcare system structures. RESULTS: Cyprus and Malta contained the COVID-19 spread better than Iceland during the first wave. However, a significantly higher viral spread and mortality rates were observed in Malta during the second waves. Similar healthcare preparedness and services, restrictions and relaxation measures were implemented across the three islands with some exceptions. Covid-19 vaccination has initiated across all Islands with Malta leading the vaccination roll-out. CONCLUSION: The small population size and island status proved to be an asset during the first wave of COVID-19, but different governance approaches led to a different COVID-19 outcomes, including high mortality rates during the transition phases and the subsequent waves.

Components for providing person-centred palliative healthcare: An umbrella review.

BACKGROUND: Person-centred palliative healthcare is an important approach to maintaining and improving patients' quality of life living with a chronic non-communicable disease and their partners. Such an approach can reduce unnecessary hospitalisation, holistically address the patient and their partners' needs, and help develop an advance care plan. OBJECTIVES: Assess, analyse, and synthesise the currently existing international guidelines for providing person-centred palliative care and identify the key components for providing a high-quality approach. METHODS: An umbrella review methodology of systematic reviews with the method of examination, analysis and synthesis of literature and the compilation method. Relevant systematic reviews of guidelines for providing person-centred palliative care in English, German and/or Slovenian language in PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases, until November 2020. RESULTS: Out of 3,910 records, we included seven reviews for thematic synthesis. We identified four key elements of flourishing in person-centred palliative healthcare: (i) Healthcare staff prerequisites and traits; (ii) Palliative healthcare environment; (iii) Palliative healthcare processes; and (iv) Palliative healthcare outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that person-centred palliative healthcare plays an important role in the comprehensive treatment of patients living with a non-communicable disease accompanied by disturbing symptoms. Therefore, it is necessary to raise awareness amongst healthcare professionals and especially general practitioners about the possibilities of including patients with a non-communicable disease in early person-centred palliative healthcare. Tweetable Abstract: #UmbrellaReview of components for providing #personcentredpalliative #healthcare. Components provide healthcare professionals and interdisciplinary #palliative teams with the steps on how to give #personcentredpalliative #healthcare to #patient and #support to #carepartners.

Mapping the burden of diabetes in five small countries in Europe and setting the agenda for health policy and strategic action.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is a global epidemic affecting every country. Small countries, however, face distinctive challenges related to their health system governance and their ability to implement effective health systems' reforms. The aim of this research was to perform a comparative assessment of existing diabetes management practices at the population level and explore governmental-related policy for Cyprus, Iceland, Luxembourg, Malta and Montenegro. This is the first time that such an evidence-based review study has been performed in the field of diabetes. The overall purpose was to set the agenda for health policy and inform strategic actions for small countries that can benefit from dealing with the diabetes epidemic at a country level. METHODS: We collected data and synthesized the evidence on dealing with diabetes for each of the five small European countries according to the (1) epidemiology of diabetes and other related metabolic abnormalities, (2) burden of diabetes status and (3) diabetes registers and national plans. We collected data by contacting Ministry representatives and other bodies in each state, and by searching through publicly available information from the respective Ministry of Health website on strategies and policies. RESULTS: Diabetes rates were highest in Cyprus and Malta. National diabetes registers are present in Cyprus and Montenegro, while national diabetes plans and diabetes-specific strategies have been established in Cyprus, Malta and Montenegro. These three countries also offer a free holistic healthcare service to their diabetes population. CONCLUSIONS: Multistakeholder, national diabetes plans and public health strategies are important means to provide direction on diabetes management and health service provision at the population level. However, political support is not always present, as seen for Iceland. The absence of evidence-based strategies, lack of funding for conducting regular health examination surveys, omission of monitoring practices and capacity scarcity are among the greatest challenges faced by small countries to effectively measure health outcomes. Nevertheless, we identified means of how these can be overcome. For example, the creation of public interdisciplinary repositories enables easily accessible data that can be used for health policy and strategic planning. Health policy-makers, funders and practitioners can consider the use of regular health examination surveys and other tools to effectively manage diabetes at the population level.

WITHDRAWN: Dealing with COVID-19 in small European island states: Cyprus, Iceland and Malta.

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[Diabetes is a challenge: A ten year follow up of people with diabetes].

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes is a chronic disease often with serious and costly complications. Therefore well organised diabetes care is needed. The purpose was to research outcome of treatment on biological parameters in people with type one and two diabetes in one primary care over ten years and compare with international guidelines. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective cohort study, information was gathered from medical records at Sudurnes Health Center, in the years 2005, 2010 and 2015. The sample was persons listed in diabetes unit in beginning of 2005. One measurement for every participant each of the three years was used (n=113). Biological parameters were analysed and compared to international guidelines and attendance to clinic examined. RESULTS: HbA1c level was 7.22% in 2005 but increased significantly to 7.56% in 2015. Diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly to 2015. Most achieved international guidelines in HbA1c goals in 2005 (51%), HDL in 2010 (43.8%), LDL in 2015 (41.9%) TG, in 2010 (79.8%), BMI in 2015 (44.2%), systolic blood pressure in 2010 (63.4%) and diastolic blood pressure in 2015 (74.2%). BMI was around 32 kg/m² in all three years. In 2015, association was found between neuropathic symptoms and higher HbA1c level. Documentation regarding diabetes complications became much better in 2015 when a new form for electronic documentation was launched. CONCLUSION: Tighter blood glucose control is needed to lessen risk of complications, as well as to reduce lipid and bloodpressure leves closer to international guidelines. Improving documentation is important.

[Prevalence of diabetes as well as general health status of Icelandic nursing home residents 2003-2012]. / Algengi sykursýki og heilsufar íbúa á íslenskum hjúkrunarheimilum 2003-2012.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes is an increasing problem among old people as well as being a contributing factor in their need for institutional care. Comorbidity and use of medication is often greater among people with than without diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of diabetes in Icelandic nursing homes over the period 2003-2012. Additionally we compared health, functioning, medication use and medical diagnoses of residents with diabetes to those without diabetes, living in nursing homes in 2012. MATERIAL: Retrospective study of 16.169 Minimum Data Set 2.0 assessments, further analysis conducted for data from the year 2012 (n=2337). RESULTS: Mean age from 82.3 (SD 9.1) to 85.0 years (SD 8.4) and women were 65.5% to 68.0%. Number of residents with diabetes increased from 10.3% in the year 2003 to 14.2% in 2012 (p≤0,001). Mean age of residents with diabetes in the year 2012 was 82.7 compared to 85 years for others. Residents with diabetes had more skin problems, used more medication, their cognitive performance was better and their involvement in activities greater. They were more likely to have hypertension, arteriosclerotic heart disease, stroke, renal failure, manic depressive disorder, diabetic retinopathy or amputation. They were however, less likely to have an anxiety disorder, Alzheimer's disease or osteoporosis. CONCLUSION: Residents with diabetes are younger than other residents and their cognitive performance is better, their care and treatment may however be complicated and needs to be adapted to each individual. Diabetes is an increasing problem in nursing homes and therefore an area where more knowledge among staff is needed.