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Healthcare
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Prevention and Treatment: Focus More on People with Chronic Illness
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Prevention and Treatment: Focus More on People with Chronic Illness

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Preventive Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2025 | Viewed by 970

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Liliana Streba

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Oncology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
Interests: medical oncology; chemotherapy; immunotherapy; radiotherapy; internal medicine; palliative care
Prof. Dr. Cristin Constantin Vere

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craova, Romania
Interests: neuroendocrine system; systemic immune response; liver; gut microbiota; neuro-immune-modulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Cosmin Vasile Obleaga

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
Interests: digestive cancer; surgical oncology; surgical resection; liver cancer; laparoscopy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue entitled “Prevention and Treatment: Focus More on People with Chronic Illness” aims to address the pressing need for comprehensive strategies in managing chronic diseases. Chronic illnesses, such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and chronic respiratory conditions, represent a significant burden on global health systems, contributing to high morbidity and mortality rates.

We are pleased to invite you to present original, innovative research and case studies that align with the aims and scope of the journal.

This Special Issue aims to explore innovative approaches in regard to both prevention and treatment, emphasizing the importance of patient-centered care. By bringing together research from diverse disciplines, the publication aims to foster a holistic understanding of chronic illness management and to promote interdisciplinary collaboration.

Through this collection of articles, we hope to provide valuable insights and practical solutions that can be implemented in clinical practice and public health initiatives. Ultimately, our goal is to enhance the quality of life for people living with chronic illnesses and to reduce the overall burden of these conditions on society. It also highlights the role of healthcare policies and community-based interventions in improving health outcomes for individuals with chronic conditions.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but not limited to) the following: early detection and intervention strategies, lifestyle modifications, and the integration of technology in chronic disease management. We will also try to highlight the role of healthcare policies and community-based interventions in improving health outcomes for individuals with chronic conditions.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Liliana Streba
Prof. Dr. Cristin Constantin Constantin Vere
Dr. Cosmin Vasile Obleaga
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • chronic illness management
  • patient-centered care
  • prevention strategies
  • innovative treatments
  • health policy interventions
  • early detection
  • lifestyle modifications
  • technology integration
  • community-based interventions
  • quality of life improvement

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  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 284 KiB  
Article
The Role of Direct-Acting Antivirals in Enhancing Quality of Life Among Individuals with Chronic Hepatitis C
by Mihail Cristian Pirlog, Claudia Monica Danilescu, Dragos Ovidiu Alexandru, Costin Teodor Streba and Ion Rogoveanu
Healthcare 2025, 13(8), 878; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13080878 - 11 Apr 2025
Viewed by 262
Abstract
Background: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection significantly impairs health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and poses a substantial global health concern. Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies have revolutionized HCV treatment, but their impact on HRQoL, particularly considering clinical and psychological factors, requires further investigation. [...] Read more.
Background: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection significantly impairs health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and poses a substantial global health concern. Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies have revolutionized HCV treatment, but their impact on HRQoL, particularly considering clinical and psychological factors, requires further investigation. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of DAA therapy on HRQoL in Romanian patients with chronic HCV infection, analyzing the effects of treatment on HRQoL and the role of associated factors. Methods: A prospective, single-center study was conducted on 90 HCV-infected patients treated with a 12-week DAA regimen (Ombitasvir/Paritaprevir/Ritonavir/Dasabuvir). HRQoL was assessed at baseline (BSL), end of treatment (EOT), and 12 weeks post-treatment (SVR) using the WHOQOL BREF questionnaire. Clinical data, including fibrosis degree, prior PegIFN treatment, and psychological assessments (HADS, PSS), were collected. Statistical analyses examined HRQoL trends and associations with clinical and psychological parameters. Results: Significant improvements in HRQoL were observed across all domains over time (p < 0.0001). Gender and residence did not significantly influence HRQoL changes. Fibrosis severity and prior PegIFN treatment had no significant impact on HRQoL progression. However, comorbidities such as anemia and chronic kidney disease moderated improvements in specific HRQoL domains. Anxiety also affected HRQoL, while perceived stress and depression did not show significant effects. Conclusions: DAA therapy significantly enhances HRQoL in HCV-infected patients. While clinical and treatment-related factors had limited influence, comorbidities and anxiety played a moderating role. These findings underscore the importance of personalized care and integrated mental health assessments in HCV management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevention and Treatment: Focus More on People with Chronic Illness)
20 pages, 1050 KiB  
Article
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Gut Cancer Admissions and Management: A Comparative Study of Two Pandemic Years to a Similar Pre-Pandemic Period
by Sergiu Marian Cazacu, Ion Rogoveanu, Adina Turcu-Stiolica, Alexandru Marian Vieru, Anca Gabroveanu, Petrică Popa, Mircea Pirscoveanu, Dan Cartu and Liliana Streba
Healthcare 2025, 13(7), 805; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13070805 - 3 Apr 2025
Viewed by 484
Abstract
Background/Objective: Gastrointestinal tract cancers may have been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The limitations of digestive endoscopy, the fear effect, and restrictions on hospital admissions during the pandemic may have delayed the presentation of patients to hospitals and surgical procedures and [...] Read more.
Background/Objective: Gastrointestinal tract cancers may have been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The limitations of digestive endoscopy, the fear effect, and restrictions on hospital admissions during the pandemic may have delayed the presentation of patients to hospitals and surgical procedures and may have impacted overall survival. Methods: We conducted an observational, cross-sectional study of esophageal, gastric, small bowel, and colorectal cancer patients admitted to our hospital between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2021. We analyzed the hospitalization rates, pathological type, the onset by complications, staging, and surgery during the pandemic compared to a pre-pandemic period (January 2018–December 2019). Results: During 2018–2021, 1613 patients with malignant gut tumors were admitted to our hospital (112 esophageal and eso-cardial tumors, 419 gastric tumors, 34 small bowel tumors, and 1058 colorectal tumors). Admission was reduced by 30.3% for esophageal and eso-cardial malignant tumors, 27.6% for gastric tumors, and 17.3% for malignant colorectal tumors. For esophageal and eso-cardial tumors, a higher frequency of stenosing tumors and palliative gastrostomies was noted. More stage III gastric cancers and a lower rate of vascular invasion were recorded during the pandemic. No differences regarding small bowel tumors were noted. In colorectal tumors, slightly more stage II cancers and more stenosing tumors were recorded, but occlusive, bleeding, and perforated tumors were similar; also, surgical rates were similar, with a two-fold higher perioperative mortality. The overall survival of gastric and colorectal carcinoma was higher during the pandemic (but with no statistical significance), although a clear explanation has not emerged. Conclusions: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on gut cancer included a significantly lower rate of newly diagnosed admissions, more stage II colorectal and stage III gastric carcinomas, a two-fold higher perioperative mortality for colorectal carcinoma, and a trend for a surprisingly higher overall survival for gastric and colorectal tumors (but without statistical significance). Future research is necessary for assessing long-term impact. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevention and Treatment: Focus More on People with Chronic Illness)
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