ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS IN THE STRUCTURE OF RESPIRATORY DISEASES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS: EPIDEMIOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS

Background. Respiratory diseases, particularly acute respiratory infections (ARIs), represent a significant medical and social problem. During the COVID-19 pandemic, notable changes were observed in their structure, prevalence, and economic impact. Objective. To assess the dynamics and proportion of ARIs in the overall structure of respiratory diseases among the adult population of Belarus and calculate the economic burden of a single ARI case during the pandemic period. Material and Methods. The study utilized official health statistics from 2020-2023, clinical-economic data on treatment costs and duration, and estimates of direct and indirect losses. Statistical processing included one-way ANOVA analysis. Results. ARIs accounted for up to 79.5% of respiratory morbidity in 2022, with statistically significant regional variations. The economic burden of a single ARI case varied depending on treatment type and patient status, reaching up to 2,773 USD in inpatient settings. Conclusion. The findings highlight the importance of ongoing ARI surveillance and economic evaluation as tools for healthcare system optimization, including the development of predictive models.