Objective:

To quantify the association between COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) and the incidence changes of 17 notifiable infectious diseases in Poland from 2014 to 2022, emphasizing the retrospective nature of the study.

Key Findings:

• NPIs implemented in Poland likely led to a decrease in the transmission of notifiable infectious diseases.
• The study observed significant changes in disease incidence during the pandemic years compared to pre-pandemic levels, indicating a notable impact of NPIs.
• Different categories of diseases (respiratory, gastrointestinal, etc.) exhibited varying responses to NPIs.

Interpretation:

The findings suggest that NPIs not only impacted COVID-19 transmission but also significantly influenced the incidence of other infectious diseases, highlighting the interconnectedness of disease transmission dynamics and the broader implications for public health.

Limitations:

• The study relies on reported cases, which may be subject to underreporting or misclassification, particularly in the context of changing public health policies.
• Changes in public health policies and societal behavior over time, such as increased awareness or changes in healthcare access, may confound results.

Conclusion:

The study provides insights into the long-term effects of NPIs on infectious disease incidence, which can inform future public health strategies aimed at managing both COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.