Ministry for Health

Important questions remain regarding differences in geographical and age-specific mortality patterns as the COVID-19 pandemic evolved in consecutive waves, and how COVID-19 mortality compares to seasonal influenza. In a pandemic situation, excess all-cause mortality provides a more complete and robust measure than cause-specific mortality. Data submitted by 26 countries participating in the European Mortality Monitoring (EuroMOMO) network between 2020 and 2023 was analysed to quantify excess all-cause mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Excess mortality from this period was compared to previous influenza seasons from 2014 to 2019. Pooled estimates of excess mortality showed four main waves during the COVID-19 pandemic period, most markedly in people aged 65 years and above, with timing and magnitude that varied between countries. Here we show that prior to implementation of control measures and COVID-19 vaccination, excess mortality greatly exceeded typical seasonal influenza mortality, but later during the pandemic was at levels comparable to influenza.

Background: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a highly prevalent condition that frequently co-occurs with chronic medical illnesses, creating a synergistic burden that worsens quality of life, impairs treatment adherence, and increases mortality. The relationship is bidirectional, with medical illness increasing depression risk and depression contributing to the onset and progression of somatic disease. Aim: This article aims to review the multidisciplinary management of depression in medically ill patients, integrating psychological, pharmacological, nursing, social, and digital health approaches to improve detection and treatment outcomes. Methods: The review synthesizes epidemiological data, pathophysiological mechanisms (including shared genetics, inflammation, and neurobiological pathways), and evidence from clinical trials and meta-analyses. It evaluates diagnostic challenges, screening tools, and a range of management strategies, including pharmacotherapy (with attention to drug-disease interactions), psychotherapy, neuromodulation, and collaborative care models. Results: Depression is prevalent across chronic conditions like cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, with rates often exceeding 20%. Effective management requires an integrated, etiology-driven approach. Antidepressants and adapted psychotherapies demonstrate efficacy, but success depends on careful agent selection to avoid adverse interactions. Collaborative care models, which systematize screening and combine a care manager with psychiatric oversight, consistently yield the best functional and symptomatic outcomes. Conclusion: A multifaceted, patient-centered strategy that coordinates medical and mental healthcare is essential. Success hinges on moving beyond simple screening to embed management within a structured, multidisciplinary framework that addresses the complex biological, psychological, and social interplay between depression and physical illness.

Abstract Background This study targeted undergraduates at a public Turkish university, aiming to raise health-seeking behavior (HSB) for food-poisoning problems and to validate an HSB-for-food-poisoning scale. A short, narrative, serious game was utilized as the intervention and as a live data-collection platform. Methods A serverless single-page app (ASP.NET 9/C#) ran on Azure App Service, and every write to Azure Database for PostgreSQL used serializable transactions, preventing duplicates and partial saves. The system streamed pre-/post-test scores and demographics to the database with < 200 ms median latency. 199 students completed demographics, a 27-item pre-test, six interactive vignettes, and the identical post-test. Exploratory factor analysis extracted seven latent dimensions; Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests showed non-normality, so Wilcoxon signed-rank statistics were applied. Results According to explanatory factor analysis results; the game produced significant gains in five dimensions: emergency-symptom recognition (Z = -4.86, r = .35), skepticism toward informal digital advice (Z = -3.67, r = .26), preference for authoritative sources (Z = -7.32, r = .52), evidence-based fluid management (Z = -6.22, r = .44), and appropriate pharmacologic response (Z = -4.18, r = .30), all p < 0.001. Symptom-attribution errors and passive self-care did not change. Statistically significant improvements emerged for five of the seven factors. Backend logs showed full data capture and <0.2s round-trip at peak. Conclusions A 15-minute gamified micro-learning module, delivered via a resilient cloud information system architecture, can generate medium-to-large improvements in five core HSB competencies for food-poisoning problems while ensuring high-integrity, low-latency data handling. Persistent misconceptions may need longitudinal or scaffolded reinforcement; future randomized trials with behavioral end-points are recommended to establish durability and real-world impact. Key messages • This study develops and validates a serious game to promote health-seeking behavior for food poisoning, providing an engaging tool for health education. • This study designs and validates a survey to measure knowledge on health-seeking behavior in food poisoning, supporting future educational and behavioral interventions.

We estimated COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) against PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 hospitalisation in patients ≥60 years with severe acute respiratory infection, using a multicentre, test-negative case-control study across six European countries between September 2024 and May 2025. We included 352 cases (115 vaccinated; 33%) and 9 980 controls (5 024 vaccinated; 50%). VE was 42% (95%CI:15;61) 14–59 days post-vaccination, 32% (95%CI: -1;54) at 60–119 days, and 36% (95%CI: 2;60) at 120–179 days, and no effect thereafter. Among adults aged 60–79 and ≥80 years, we observed moderate VE against COVID-19 hospitalisation for up to 2 and 4 months, respectively.

Background/Objectives: Childhood obesity is a global epidemic. Addressing the modifiable risk factors with effective policies is crucial for both prevention and intervention. This scoping review aims to provide a situational analysis of childhood obesity in Greece by mapping the available evidence on the prevalence of obesity among Greek children and adolescents and exploring the existing policies implemented to address this issue. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted on 15 September 2023, using the PubMed, Scopus, and IATROTEK-online databases to identify studies related to childhood obesity and policies in Greece. Keyword groups were developed for "childhood obesity," "Greece," and either "prevalence" or "policies". Additional sources, including Google and Google Scholar, were screened to ensure comprehensiveness. Results: A total of 66 studies were included: 61 on obesity prevalence (≤18 years of age) and 5 on existing policies tackling childhood obesity, all in Greece. The collective prevalence was observed to lie within the subsequent range of values: 2.8-21.2%. Regarding both genders, the observed prevalence ranged from 2.8% to 26.7% in males, and between 1.3% and 33.7% in females. The policies adopted in Greece cover various domains (healthy nutrition, public preferences, physical activity, school policies, and programs related to childhood obesity). Conclusions: Childhood obesity in Greece is a major challenge. Greece currently uses some policies and strategies to combat childhood obesity. There is still work to be done: policies play a pivotal role as a key tool to influence lifestyle habits on a broad scale and exert a considerable impact on the reduction in this prevalent health concern.

The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, is currently the most widespread invasive mosquito species in the world. It poses a significant threat to human health, as it is a vector for several arboviruses. We used a SNP chip to genotype 748 Ae. albopictus mosquitoes from 41 localities across Europe, 28 localities in the native range in Asia, and 4 in the Americas. Using multiple algorithms, we examined population genetic structure and differentiation within Europe and across our global dataset to gain insight into the origin of the invasive European populations. We also compared results from our SNP data to those obtained using genotypes from 11 microsatellite loci (N = 637 mosquitoes from 25 European localities) to explore how sampling effort and the type of genetic marker used may influence conclusions about Ae. albopictus population structure. While some analyses detected more than 20 clusters worldwide, we found mosquitoes could be grouped into 7 distinct genetic clusters, with most European populations originating in East Asia (Japan or China). Interestingly, some populations in Eastern Europe did not share genetic ancestry with any populations from the native range or Americas, indicating that these populations originated from areas not sampled in this study. The SNP and microsatellite datasets found similar patterns of genetic differentiation in Europe, but the microsatellite dataset could not detect the more subtle genetic structure revealed using SNPs. Overall, data from the SNP chip offered a higher resolution for detecting the genetic structure and the potential origins of invasions.

ABSTRACTBackgroundCongenital ocular anomalies (COA) are among the most common causes of visual impairment in children in high‐income countries. The aim of the study is to describe the prevalence of the various COA recorded in European population‐based registries of CA (EUROCAT) participating in the EUROmediCAT consortium.MethodsData from 19 EUROmediCAT registries and one healthcare database (EFEMERIS) were included in this descriptive epidemiological study. Cases of COA included live births, FD from 20 weeks gestational age (GA), and termination of pregnancy for fetal anomaly.ResultsThe prevalence of total COA was 3.47/10,000 births (95% CI [3.61–3.82]), ranging from 1.41 to 13.46/10,000 depending on the registry. Among COA cases, congenital lens anomalies were the most frequent anomalies (31%), of which over half were single ocular anomalies (presenting with only one ocular anomaly). An/microphthalmia was the second most frequent COA (24%) of which three‐quarters were multiply malformed (associated to extraocular major anomalies). Among single COA cases, 58 were prenatally diagnosed (4%), of which, 58% were diagnosed in the second trimester. Known genetic causes of COA explained 2.5%–25% of COA depending on their class.ConclusionsThis is the first European study describing COA. The detailed prevalence data offered in this study could improve screening and early diagnosis of different classes of COA. As COA are rare, epidemiological surveillance of large populations and accurate clinical descriptions are essential.

Paediatric radiology is a fascinating and diverse field of medicine with many opportunities to gain expertise in a range of imaging modalities and body areas. Working with children makes imaging both rewarding and challenging, due to the wide range of patient ages encountered and the inherent variation in developmental needs. This requires a patient-focussed approach to manage their anxiety and ensure cooperation of the patient and their carers. Several approaches to dealing with children have been developed including recognising individual needs, empathising with the child and carers, and involving the use of play and a range of age-relevant preparation materials. All of these make the radiology imaging environment and encounter a more effective and collaborative process. The purpose of this manuscript is to present a practical guide to overcoming these challenges, by making the child the focus of their radiological examination.