Changes in Cardiovascular and Mental Disorder Case Burden Over Time (2019–2025) from the perspective of the First Lviv Medical Union | Ukrainian Medical Journal

The relationship between mental disorders and cardiovascular diseases constitutes an important issue in healthcare. Warfare is undoubtedly a significant factor causing an increase in mental health problems. This may result in an augmented workload for cardiology and cardiac surgery departments. The aim of the study was to determine whether there is a correlation between the number of hospitalizations with a clinical diagnosis of mental health problems in the period preceding and during the war, and the workload of cardiology and cardiac surgery wards in our large regional medical center. Methods. We analyzed annual inpatient aggregates (2019–2025) from Saint Panteleimon Hospital. Cardiovascular burden was represented by combined admissions to the Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery wards (workload proxy). Psychiatric burden was measured as ICD-10 Group F case counts by specific diagnosis code. Trends were described over time and the association between cardiovascular workload and Group F volume was explored using year-level correlation. Results. Total admissions increased after a dip in 2020. Cardiovascular workload showed a non-linear pattern with a rebound in 2021, relative stability through 2022–2024, and a modest decrease in 2025. In contrast, Group F diagnoses rose sharply after 2021 and peaked in 2025, driven predominantly by stress- and trauma-related disorders (F43.*). Conclusion. Mental health diagnoses expanded rapidly, while cardiovascular ward workload remained broadly stable after 2021. Year-level parallel movement between the two was limited.

The publication was created within the framework of the project «Polish — Ukrainian Transborder Health Care Collaboration», implemented under the «Interreg NEXT Poland — Ukraine 2021–2027» Programme and funded by the European Union in partnership with the Regional Hospital named after Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński in Łomża.

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