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Zhang D, Ge Y, Wang J, Liu H, Zhang WB, Wu X, B. M. Heuvelink G, Wu C, Yang J, Ruktanonchai NW, Qader SH, Ruktanonchai CW, Cleary E, Yao Y, Liu J, Nnanatu CC, Wesolowski A, Cummings DA, Tatem AJ, Lai S. Optimizing the detection of emerging infections using mobility-based spatial sampling. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED EARTH OBSERVATION AND GEOINFORMATION : ITC JOURNAL 2024; 131:103949. [PMID: 38993519 PMCID: PMC11234252 DOI: 10.1016/j.jag.2024.103949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
Timely and precise detection of emerging infections is imperative for effective outbreak management and disease control. Human mobility significantly influences the spatial transmission dynamics of infectious diseases. Spatial sampling, integrating the spatial structure of the target, holds promise as an approach for testing allocation in detecting infections, and leveraging information on individuals' movement and contact behavior can enhance targeting precision. This study introduces a spatial sampling framework informed by spatiotemporal analysis of human mobility data, aiming to optimize the allocation of testing resources for detecting emerging infections. Mobility patterns, derived from clustering point-of-interest and travel data, are integrated into four spatial sampling approaches at the community level. We evaluate the proposed mobility-based spatial sampling by analyzing both actual and simulated outbreaks, considering scenarios of transmissibility, intervention timing, and population density in cities. Results indicate that leveraging inter-community movement data and initial case locations, the proposed Case Flow Intensity (CFI) and Case Transmission Intensity (CTI)-informed spatial sampling enhances community-level testing efficiency by reducing the number of individuals screened while maintaining a high accuracy rate in infection identification. Furthermore, the prompt application of CFI and CTI within cities is crucial for effective detection, especially in highly contagious infections within densely populated areas. With the widespread use of human mobility data for infectious disease responses, the proposed theoretical framework extends spatiotemporal data analysis of mobility patterns into spatial sampling, providing a cost-effective solution to optimize testing resource deployment for containing emerging infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Die Zhang
- School of Geography and Environment, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, China
- State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographic Sciences & Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographic Sciences & Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Wetland and Watershed Research Ministry of Education, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jianghao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographic Sciences & Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Haiyan Liu
- Ocean Data Center, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, China
| | - Wen-Bin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographic Sciences & Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- WorldPop, School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Xilin Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographic Sciences & Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Gerard B. M. Heuvelink
- ISRIC - World Soil Information, Wageningen, the Netherlands
- Soil Geography and Landscape Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Chaoyang Wu
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- The Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Juan Yang
- School of Public Health, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Nick W. Ruktanonchai
- WorldPop, School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Population Health Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Sarchil H. Qader
- WorldPop, School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Natural Resources Department, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Sulaimani, Sulaimani 334, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
| | - Corrine W. Ruktanonchai
- WorldPop, School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Population Health Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Eimear Cleary
- WorldPop, School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Yongcheng Yao
- WorldPop, School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, Zhengzhou Normal University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jian Liu
- Ocean Data Center, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, China
| | - Chibuzor C. Nnanatu
- WorldPop, School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Amy Wesolowski
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Derek A.T. Cummings
- Department of Biology and Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Andrew J. Tatem
- WorldPop, School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Shengjie Lai
- WorldPop, School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
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Islam G, Gedge A, Ibrahim R, de Melo T, Lara-Jacobo L, Dlugosz T, Kirkwood AE, Simmons D, Desaulniers JP. The role of catchment population size, data normalization, and chronology of public health interventions on wastewater-based COVID-19 viral trends. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 937:173272. [PMID: 38763190 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic presented the most challenging global crisis in recent times. A pandemic caused by a novel pathogen such as SARS-CoV-2 necessitated the development of innovative techniques for the monitoring and surveillance of COVID-19 infections within communities. Wastewater surveillance (WWS) is recognized as a non-invasive, cost-effective, and valuable epidemiological tool to monitor the prevalence of COVID-19 infections in communities. Seven municipal wastewater sampling sites representing distinct sewershed communities were selected for the surveillance of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in Durham Region, Ontario, Canada over 8 months from March 2021 to October 2021. Viral RNA fragments of SARS-CoV-2 and the normalization target pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) were concentrated from wastewater influent using the PEG/NaCl superspeed centrifugation method and quantified using RT-qPCR. Strong significant correlations (Spearman's rs = 0.749 to 0.862, P < 0.001) were observed between SARS-CoV-2 gene copies/mL of wastewater and clinical cases reported in each delineated sewershed by onset date. Although raw wastewater offered higher correlation coefficients with clinical cases by onset date compared to PMMoV normalized data, only one site had a statistically significantly higher Spearman's correlation coefficient value for raw data than normalized data. Implementation of community stay-at-home orders and vaccinations over the course of the study period in 2021 were found to strongly correspond to decreasing SARS-CoV-2 wastewater trends in the wastewater treatment plants and upstream pumping stations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Golam Islam
- Faculty of Science, Ontario Tech University, 2000 Simcoe St N, Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5, Canada.
| | - Ashley Gedge
- Faculty of Science, Ontario Tech University, 2000 Simcoe St N, Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5, Canada
| | - Reeta Ibrahim
- Faculty of Science, Ontario Tech University, 2000 Simcoe St N, Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5, Canada
| | - Tomas de Melo
- Faculty of Science, Ontario Tech University, 2000 Simcoe St N, Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5, Canada
| | - Linda Lara-Jacobo
- Faculty of Science, Ontario Tech University, 2000 Simcoe St N, Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5, Canada
| | - Thomas Dlugosz
- Faculty of Science, Ontario Tech University, 2000 Simcoe St N, Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5, Canada
| | - Andrea E Kirkwood
- Faculty of Science, Ontario Tech University, 2000 Simcoe St N, Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5, Canada
| | - Denina Simmons
- Faculty of Science, Ontario Tech University, 2000 Simcoe St N, Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5, Canada
| | - Jean-Paul Desaulniers
- Faculty of Science, Ontario Tech University, 2000 Simcoe St N, Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5, Canada
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Pannipulath Venugopal V, Babu Saheer L, Maktabdar Oghaz M. COVID-19 lateral flow test image classification using deep CNN and StyleGAN2. Front Artif Intell 2024; 6:1235204. [PMID: 38348096 PMCID: PMC10860423 DOI: 10.3389/frai.2023.1235204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare can enhance clinical workflows and diagnoses, particularly in large-scale operations like COVID-19 mass testing. This study presents a deep Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model for automated COVID-19 RATD image classification. Methods To address the absence of a RATD image dataset, we crowdsourced 900 real-world images focusing on positive and negative cases. Rigorous data augmentation and StyleGAN2-ADA generated simulated images to overcome dataset limitations and class imbalances. Results The best CNN model achieved a 93% validation accuracy. Test accuracies were 88% for simulated datasets and 82% for real datasets. Augmenting simulated images during training did not significantly improve real-world test image performance but enhanced simulated test image performance. Discussion The findings of this study highlight the potential of the developed model in expediting COVID-19 testing processes and facilitating large-scale testing and tracking systems. The study also underscores the challenges in designing and developing such models, emphasizing the importance of addressing dataset limitations and class imbalances. Conclusion This research contributes to the deployment of large-scale testing and tracking systems, offering insights into the potential applications of AI in mitigating outbreaks similar to COVID-19. Future work could focus on refining the model and exploring its adaptability to other healthcare scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lakshmi Babu Saheer
- School of Computing and Information Science, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Zhang D, Ge Y, Wang J, Liu H, Zhang WB, Wu X, Heuvelink GBM, Wu C, Yang J, Ruktanonchai NW, Qader SH, Ruktanonchai CW, Cleary E, Yao Y, Liu J, Nnanatu CC, Wesolowski A, Cummings DA, Tatem AJ, Lai S. Optimizing the detection of emerging infections using mobility-based spatial sampling. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3597070. [PMID: 38014322 PMCID: PMC10680910 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3597070/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Background Timely and precise detection of emerging infections is crucial for effective outbreak management and disease control. Human mobility significantly influences infection risks and transmission dynamics, and spatial sampling is a valuable tool for pinpointing potential infections in specific areas. This study explored spatial sampling methods, informed by various mobility patterns, to optimize the allocation of testing resources for detecting emerging infections. Methods Mobility patterns, derived from clustering point-of-interest data and travel data, were integrated into four spatial sampling approaches to detect emerging infections at the community level. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed mobility-based spatial sampling, we conducted analyses using actual and simulated outbreaks under different scenarios of transmissibility, intervention timing, and population density in cities. Results By leveraging inter-community movement data and initial case locations, the proposed case flow intensity (CFI) and case transmission intensity (CTI)-informed sampling approaches could considerably reduce the number of tests required for both actual and simulated outbreaks. Nonetheless, the prompt use of CFI and CTI within communities is imperative for effective detection, particularly for highly contagious infections in densely populated areas. Conclusions The mobility-based spatial sampling approach can substantially improve the efficiency of community-level testing for detecting emerging infections. It achieves this by reducing the number of individuals screened while maintaining a high accuracy rate of infection identification. It represents a cost-effective solution to optimize the deployment of testing resources, when necessary, to contain emerging infectious diseases in diverse settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Die Zhang
- School of Geography and Environment, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, China
- State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographic Sciences & Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographic Sciences & Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Wetland and Watershed Research Ministry of Education, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jianghao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Wetland and Watershed Research Ministry of Education, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Haiyan Liu
- Ocean Data Center, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, China
| | - Wen-Bin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Wetland and Watershed Research Ministry of Education, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, China
- WorldPop, School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Xilin Wu
- Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Wetland and Watershed Research Ministry of Education, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Gerard B. M. Heuvelink
- ISRIC - World Soil Information, Wageningen, the Netherlands
- Soil Geography and Landscape Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Chaoyang Wu
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- The Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Juan Yang
- School of Public Health, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Nick W. Ruktanonchai
- WorldPop, School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Population Health Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Sarchil H. Qader
- WorldPop, School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Natural Resources Department, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Sulaimani; Sulaimani 334, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
| | - Corrine W. Ruktanonchai
- WorldPop, School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Population Health Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Eimear Cleary
- WorldPop, School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Yongcheng Yao
- WorldPop, School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, Zhengzhou Normal University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jian Liu
- Ocean Data Center, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, China
| | - Chibuzor C. Nnanatu
- WorldPop, School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Amy Wesolowski
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Derek A.T. Cummings
- Department of Biology and Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Andrew J. Tatem
- WorldPop, School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Shengjie Lai
- WorldPop, School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
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Grassi J, de Oliveira IB, Chiriboga LF, Maia AA, Attianezi M, Almeida ANP. Effects on communication due to face mask use: an integrative review. Rev Bras Enferm 2023; 76:e20220674. [PMID: 37820148 PMCID: PMC10561930 DOI: 10.1590/0034-7167-2022-0674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES to integrate evidence from studies on auditory perceptual and speech production effects in communication situations with face mask use. METHODS an integrative literature review, in MEDLINE, Cochrane Library and Embase databases. The guiding question was: what effects on communication (perceptual-auditory and speech production) occur with face mask use? RESULTS searches in electronic databases resulted in 1,478 studies and filtering resulted in 29 final studies. CONCLUSIONS mask use has effects on communication, both in perception and speech production, factors that are also related to quality of life, stress and socio-emotional factors. These data can impact on indicators and alerts in favor of adopting strategies to manage mask use, involving speech production and perception when wearing a mask in health services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Grassi
- Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo. Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Andréa Alves Maia
- Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo. Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
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Pires LBC, Salaroli LB, Lopes-Júnior LC. Effect of omega-3 supplementation on the nutritional status of patients with pancreatic cancer: A protocol for systematic review of clinical trials. Medicine (Baltimore) 2022; 101:e31262. [PMID: 36550825 PMCID: PMC9771200 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000031262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Globally, pancreatic cancer is the seventh most common cause of cancer-related death in both sexes, accounting for 466,003 deaths and 495,773 new cases in 2020. The purpose of this study was to synthesize and evaluate evidence on the effects of omega-3 supplementation on the nutritional status of patients with pancreatic cancer. METHODS This systematic review protocol will be guided by Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols. Five databases will be searched: MEDLINE/PubMed, CENTRAL Cochrane, EMBASE, Web of Science, and SCOPUS, with no restrictions on the publication date nor language. The internal validity and risk of bias of randomized controlled trials will be assessed using the revised Cochrane Risk-Of-Bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2), whereas the risk of bias in non-randomized studies of interventions will be evaluated using the ROBINS-I. The heterogeneity among the studies will be assessed using the I2 statistic. Based on the results of this test, we will verify whether the meta-analysis would be feasible. If feasibility would be confirmed, a random-effect model analysis will be performed. For data analysis, the calculation of the pooled effect estimates will have a 95% confidence interval, while the alpha will be set to 0.05 using the R statistical software version 4.0.4. All methodological steps of this review will be performed independently by two reviewers and will be conducted and managed in the EPPI-Reviewer Software™. RESULTS This review may be of particular interest to researchers and clinicians, given the low survival and overall burden of patients with pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, the results of this systematic review may contribute to the development of new nutritional interventions in these patients. CONCLUSION To the best of our knowledge, this will be the first study to critically assess the scientific evidence and estimate the effect of omega-3 supplementation on the nutritional status of patients with pancreatic cancer. The review will perform a rigorous approach, adhering to the PRISMA Statement 2020 using a comprehensive and systematic search strategy in five databases and additional sources with no time period nor language restrictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana Bicalho Cevolani Pires
- Graduate Program in Nutrition and Health, Health Sciences Center at the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitória, Brazil
| | - Luciane Bresciani Salaroli
- Graduate Program in Nutrition and Health, Health Sciences Center at the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitória, Brazil
| | - Luís Carlos Lopes-Júnior
- Graduate Program in Nutrition and Health, Health Sciences Center at the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitória, Brazil
- * Correspondence: Luís Carlos Lopes-Júnior, Graduate Program in Public Health at the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Av. Marechal Campos, 1468 – Maruípe, Vitória, ES 29.043-900, Brazil (e-mail: )
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Moyazzem Hossain M, Abdulla F, Rahman A. Challenges and difficulties faced in low- and middle-income countries during COVID-19. HEALTH POLICY OPEN 2022; 3:100082. [PMID: 36405972 PMCID: PMC9642028 DOI: 10.1016/j.hpopen.2022.100082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, caused by a novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has created a severe threat to global human health. We are extremely lucky because within the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists developed a number of vaccines against COVID-19. In this paper, the authors discuss the difficulties and challenges faced in different low-and middle-income countries due to the ongoing pandemic. Study design and methods This research is primarily based on secondary data and existing literature reviews. The authors use maps and graphical representations to show information about vaccination coverage. Results The lacking vaccination coverage and insufficient supply of oxygen tanks in hospitals of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) raise the likelihood of death of the critical COVID-19 patients. Developed countries vaccinate their citizens more quickly than LMICs. In comparison to wealthy countries, LMICs usually lack the resources and capacity to obtain the required vaccination doses. Conclusion It is frequently observed that hospitals in low- and middle-income nations with a dearth of oxygen tanks result in increased suffering and mortality. To avoid a worldwide disaster, LMICs urgently require COVID-19 vaccinations since viruses have no borders, and no one is safe until every one is protected in our interconnected world. Therefore, more national and international collaborative supports are urgently necessary for LMICs in this regard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md. Moyazzem Hossain
- Department of Statistics, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka 1342, Bangladesh,Corresponding author
| | - Faruq Abdulla
- Department of Applied Health and Nutrition, RTM Al-Kabir Technical University, Sylhet 3100, Bangladesh
| | - Azizur Rahman
- School of Computing, Mathematics and Engineering, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia
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Lucindo Zucoloto M, Meneghini AC, Zangiacomi Martinez E. Panorama of COVID-19, risk perception and vaccine confidence in São Paulo State population, Southeast Brazil. HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY 2022; 30:e4662-e4672. [PMID: 35689448 PMCID: PMC9349625 DOI: 10.1111/hsc.13872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic remained uncontrolled in Brazil, with more than 17.6 million cases diagnosed and more than a half a million deaths in total. It is known that an accurate risk perception by populations and a consequent adherence to preventive measures can increase the effectiveness of policies to contain the transmission of infectious diseases. The objective of this study was to draw a panorama of COVID-19 in São Paulo State and investigate the population's risk perception about the new coronavirus, attitudes regarding preventive measures and vaccine confidence through an open web survey. A total of 1111 individuals participated (71.6% females). Of those, 15% declared themselves unemployed, almost 6% lost their jobs during the pandemic, and more than 30% suffered a decrease in their monthly income. As for the COVID-19, almost 32% of the participants were tested sometime in 2020, and 11.3% reported a confirmed diagnosis for a level of hospitalisation of 5%. As for the risk perception, it was observed that situations with crowds of people were more frequently considered as of high risk and cause of greater concern with contamination of family members than with themselves. Almost 23% of the participants questioned whether they would take the vaccine when available and do not know if the COVID-19 vaccine will be safe for the population. Almost 70% disagreed with the statement that the actions of the country's health authorities are effective in combating COVID-19. Considering the Cramer's V coefficient, these variables were not associated with gender or educational level.
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Dell’Antonio LS, Leite FMC, Dell’Antonio CSDS, de Souza CB, Garbin JRT, dos Santos APB, de Medeiros Junior NF, Lopes-Júnior LC. COVID-19 Mortality in Public Hospitals in a Brazilian State: An Analysis of the Three Waves of the Pandemic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:14077. [PMID: 36360974 PMCID: PMC9653571 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192114077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To analyze COVID-19 deaths in public hospitals in a Brazilian state, stratified by the three waves of the pandemic, and to test their association with socio-clinical variables. METHODS Observational analytical study, where 5436 deaths by COVID-19 occurred in hospitals of the public network of Espírito Santo, between 1 April 2020, and 31 August 2021, stratified by the three waves of the pandemic, were analyzed. For the bivariate analyses, the Pearson's chi-square, Fisher's Exact or Friedman's tests were performed depending on the Gaussian or non-Gaussian distribution of the data. For the relationship between time from diagnosis to death in each wave, quantile regression was used, and multinomial regression for multiple analyses. RESULTS The mean time between diagnosis and death was 18.5 days in the first wave, 20.5 days in the second wave, and 21.4 days in the third wave. In the first wave, deaths in public hospitals were associated with the following variables: immunodeficiency, obesity, neoplasia, and origin. In the second wave, deaths were associated with education, O2 saturation < 95%, chronic neurological disease, and origin. In the third wave, deaths were associated with race/color, education, difficulty breathing, nasal or conjunctival congestion, irritability or confusion, adynamia or weakness, chronic cardiovascular disease, neoplasms, and diabetes mellitus. Origin was associated with the outcome in the three waves of the pandemic, in the same way that education was in the second and third waves (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION The time interval between diagnosis and death can be impacted by several factors, such as: plasticity of the health system, improved clinical management of patients, and the start of vaccination at the end of January 2021, which covered the age group with the higher incidence of deaths. The deaths occurring in public hospitals were associated with socio-clinical characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Soares Dell’Antonio
- Secretaria de Estado da Saúde do Espírito Santo, Special Epidemiological Surveillance Nucleus, Instituto Capixaba de Ensino, Pesquisa e Inovação (ICEPi), Vitória 29010-120, ES, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Public Health, Federal University of Espírito Santo (U.F.E.S.), Vitoria 29047-105, ES, Brazil
| | | | - Cristiano Soares da Silva Dell’Antonio
- Secretaria de Estado da Saúde do Espírito Santo, Special Epidemiological Surveillance Nucleus, Instituto Capixaba de Ensino, Pesquisa e Inovação (ICEPi), Vitória 29010-120, ES, Brazil
- Hospital Sírio-Libanês, Instituto de Ensino e Pesquisa, São Paulo 01308-060, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Juliana Rodrigues Tovar Garbin
- Secretaria de Estado da Saúde do Espírito Santo, Special Epidemiological Surveillance Nucleus, Instituto Capixaba de Ensino, Pesquisa e Inovação (ICEPi), Vitória 29010-120, ES, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Brioschi dos Santos
- Secretaria de Estado da Saúde do Espírito Santo, Special Epidemiological Surveillance Nucleus, Instituto Capixaba de Ensino, Pesquisa e Inovação (ICEPi), Vitória 29010-120, ES, Brazil
| | - Nésio Fernandes de Medeiros Junior
- Secretaria de Estado da Saúde do Espírito Santo, Special Epidemiological Surveillance Nucleus, Instituto Capixaba de Ensino, Pesquisa e Inovação (ICEPi), Vitória 29010-120, ES, Brazil
| | - Luís Carlos Lopes-Júnior
- Graduate Program in Public Health, Federal University of Espírito Santo (U.F.E.S.), Vitoria 29047-105, ES, Brazil
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Lopes-Júnior LC, Ferrarini T, Pires LBC, Rodrigues JG, Salaroli LB, Nunes KZ. Cancer symptom clusters in adult patients undergoing chemotherapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0273411. [PMID: 36067147 PMCID: PMC9447873 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In oncology, the prevalence of symptoms is preferentially analyzed in isolation instead of being considered in clusters. However, clinical practice shows that symptoms rarely occur separately but rather form clusters that share common underlying mechanisms in terms of intensity and severity, creating a synergistic effect among them, which can even help predict the development of future symptoms. OBJECTIVE To identify and gather evidence on the prevalence, composition, severity, and predictors of cancer symptom clusters in adult cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. METHODS This systematic review and meta-analysis protocol was developed in compliance with PRISMA-P. Observational and experimental study designs will be included. MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, LILACS, clinical trials.gov-NIH, the British Library, Google Scholar, and preprints [medRXiv] will be searched with no restrictions on idioms, dates, or settings. Two investigators will independently select the studies, perform data extraction, and critically appraise the risk of bias of the included studies. Heterogeneity among the studies will be assessed using the I2 statistic. If meta-analysis was feasible, a random-effect model analysis will be carried out. For data analysis, the pooled effect will be estimated considering 95% confidence interval and α = 5%. In addition, the certainty of evidence will be rated based on Cochrane methods in accordance with the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). DISCUSSION To the best of our knowledge, this systematic review and meta-analysis will be the first to identify and critically assess evidence regarding the prevalence, composition, severity, and predictors of cancer symptom clusters in adult cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. We intend to provide health professionals with subsidies to reflect on a better understanding of symptom clusters in adult cancer patients, with the aim of contributing to the development of evidence-based therapeutic interventions and success in clinical practice. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER CRD42021248406.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luís Carlos Lopes-Júnior
- Health Sciences Center at the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitoria, Espírito Santo, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Nutrition and Health at the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitoria, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Taiani Ferrarini
- Health Sciences Center at the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitoria, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Luciana Bicalho Cevolani Pires
- Graduate Program in Nutrition and Health at the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitoria, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Jonathan Grassi Rodrigues
- Graduate Program in Public Health at the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitoria, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Luciane Bresciani Salaroli
- Graduate Program in Nutrition and Health at the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitoria, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Karolini Zuqui Nunes
- Health Sciences Center at the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitoria, Espírito Santo, Brazil
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Benchmarking of COVID-19 testing facilities: a case in the Philippines. JOURNAL OF MODELLING IN MANAGEMENT 2022. [DOI: 10.1108/jm2-01-2021-0029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Purpose
With the aggressive movement towards testing for COVID-19 across the globe, this study aims to shed light on how testing facilities perform in an operational perspective.
Design/methodology/approach
With 102 testing facilities in the Philippines, the relative efficiencies of each facility are quantified using a data envelopment analysis technique. Afterwards, a best-worst method was conducted to assign priority weights to each testing facility.
Findings
Results show that the proposed approach effectively prioritizes testing facilities that most likely have high utilization.
Research limitations/implications
The findings in this study would be significant to the literature in a number of respects. For one, it reveals results that would stimulate the interest among scholars in a wide variety of disciplines such as management, data mining, policymaking, decision science and epidemiology, among others.
Originality/value
This study differs from previous works in a number of respects, particularly, in that to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to examine the relative efficiencies of COVID-19 testing facilities.
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Pessanha RM, Schuab SIPDC, Nunes KZ, Lopes-Júnior LC. Use of family history taking for hereditary neoplastic syndromes screening in primary health care: A systematic review protocol. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0271286. [PMID: 35877607 PMCID: PMC9312395 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Although most neoplasms result from complex interactions between the individual’s genome and the environment, a percentage of cases is particularly due to inherited alterations that confer a greater predisposition to the development of tumors. Hereditary Neoplastic Syndromes have a high psychosocial and economic burden, in addition to being characterized by an increased risk for one or more types of cancer, onset of malignancy at a young age, high risk of secondary malignancies, and occurrence in successive generations of the family. Personal and family history, as well as pedigree, may be useful resources to estimate the risk for developing cancer, especially in Primary Health Care settings. Objective To identify and evaluate the evidence regarding the impact of using family history as a genomic technology for Hereditary Neoplastic Syndromes screening at Primary Health Care. Methods This systematic review protocol was elaborated in compliance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P). We will include all observational as well as experimental study designs published up to end of July 2022, and studies covering the impact of family history on screening for Hereditary Neoplastic Syndromes in primary health care. Qualitative studies, as well as guidelines, reviews, and studies undertaken in hospitals, outpatient clinic, or medical environments will be excluded. Five databases will be searched, including MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science, and LILACS. Additional sources will also be retrieved, including Clinical trials.gov-NIH, The British Library, and Google Scholar. No restriction to language or date will be employed in the search strategy. Three investigators will select studies independently, perform data extraction, and conduct the critical appraisal of the risk of bias and overall quality of the selected studies according to their designs. Regarding data synthesis, the study characteristics will be summarized and presented in tables and results will be presented according to the study design. A qualitative synthesis of data will also be provided in this systematic review. Discussion To the best of our knowledge, this systematic review will be the first to identify and critically assess evidence regarding the impact of using family history as a genomic technology for Hereditary Neoplastic Syndromes screening in Primary Health Care settings worldwide. This study is expected to provide consistent evidence that will aid the primary care decision-makers regarding hereditary cancer screening, thus helping individuals and families at risk for cancer. PROSPERO registration number CRD42020166211.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphael Manhães Pessanha
- Graduate Program in Public Health-PPGSC, Health Sciences Center at the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitoria, ES, Brazil
| | | | - Karolini Zuqui Nunes
- Health Sciences Center at the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitoria, ES, Brazil
| | - Luís Carlos Lopes-Júnior
- Graduate Program in Public Health-PPGSC, Health Sciences Center at the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitoria, ES, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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Garbin JRT, Leite FMC, Lopes-Júnior LC, Dell’Antonio CSDS, Dell’Antonio LS, dos Santos APB. Analysis of Survival of Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19 in Espírito Santo, Brazil. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:8709. [PMID: 35886560 PMCID: PMC9315540 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19148709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Objective: To analyze the survival of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and its associated factors. Methods: Retrospective study of survival analysis in individuals notified and hospitalized with COVID-19 in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. As data source, the reports of hospitalized patients in the period from 1 March 2020, to 31 July 2021 were used. The Cox regression analysis plus the proportional risk assessment (assumption) were used to compare hospitalization time until the occurrence of the event (death from COVID-19) associated with possible risk factors. Results: The sample comprised 9806 notifications of cases, with the occurrence of 1885 deaths from the disease (19.22%). The mean age of the group was 58 years (SD ± 18.3) and the mean hospital length of stay was 10.5 days (SD ± 11.8). The factors that presented a higher risk of death from COVID-19, associated with a lower survival rate, were non-work-related infection (HR = 4.33; p < 0.001), age group 60−79 years (HR: 1.62; p < 0.001) and 80 years or older (HR = 2.56; p < 0.001), presence of chronic cardiovascular disease (HR = 1.18; p = 0.028), chronic kidney disease (HR = 1.5; p = 0.004), smoking (HR = 1.41; p < 0.001), obesity (HR = 2.28; p < 0.001), neoplasms (HR = 1.81; p < 0.001) and chronic neurological disease (HR = 1.68; p < 0.001). Conclusion: It was concluded that non-work-related infection, age group above or equal to 60 years, presence of chronic cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic neurological disease, smoking, obesity and neoplasms were associated with a higher risk of death, and, therefore, a lower survival in Brazilian patients hospitalized with COVID-19. The identification of priority groups is crucial for Health Surveillance and can guide prevention, control, monitoring, and intervention strategies against the new coronavirus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Rodrigues Tovar Garbin
- Secretaria de Estado da Saúde do Espírito Santo, Special Epidemiological Surveillance Nucleus, Vitoria 29050-625, ES, Brazil; (L.S.D.); (A.P.B.d.S.)
| | | | - Luís Carlos Lopes-Júnior
- Graduate Program in Public Health, Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitoria 29047-105, ES, Brazil;
| | | | - Larissa Soares Dell’Antonio
- Secretaria de Estado da Saúde do Espírito Santo, Special Epidemiological Surveillance Nucleus, Vitoria 29050-625, ES, Brazil; (L.S.D.); (A.P.B.d.S.)
| | - Ana Paula Brioschi dos Santos
- Secretaria de Estado da Saúde do Espírito Santo, Special Epidemiological Surveillance Nucleus, Vitoria 29050-625, ES, Brazil; (L.S.D.); (A.P.B.d.S.)
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Niu Q, Liu W, Wang F, Tian L, Dong Y. The Utility of Cognitive Screening in Asian Patients With Heart Failure: A Systematic Review. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:930121. [PMID: 35911251 PMCID: PMC9329604 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.930121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The prevalence of undiagnosed cognitive impairment in patients with heart failure is alarmingly high in Asia. There is still no consensus on cognitive screening tools to detect cognitive impairment in the Asian heart failure population. The clinical implications based on our systematic review may help to improve cognitive screening practice for patients with heart failure in Asia. Methods This review is registered in the PROSPERO (CRD42021264288). Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) approach, we searched PubMed, Embase, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Scopus, the Web of Science, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang Data in English and Chinese literatures concerning heart failure and cognitive impairment. Results The search yielded 21 eligible studies. Only in five studies, cognitive brief tests, including the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and the Mini-Cog, were used as cognitive screening tools for Asian patients with heart failure. In the rest 16 studies, brief cognitive tests were used as screening tools for global cognition. Only one study validated screening tests against a gold standard formal neuropsychological assessment test battery. Among these studies, patients with heart failure tended to perform worse than patients without heart failure. The presence of cognitive impairment in patients with heart failure is associated with poorer self-care, quality of life, and hospital readmission. Conclusion Brief cognitive tests have been used in Asian patients with heart failure and these tests are frequently used as a measure of global cognitive function for cognitive screening. However, validating brief cognitive tests against a gold standard formal neuropsychological assessment in Asian patients with heart failure is lacking. Future studies need to address methodological issues to validate cognitive screening measures in a larger population of Asian patients with heart failure.Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Niu
- School of Nursing, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Taian, China
| | - WeiHua Liu
- School of Nursing, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Taian, China
| | | | - LiYa Tian
- School of Nursing, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Taian, China
| | - YanHong Dong
- School of Nursing, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Taian, China
- Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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15
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Ha S, Yangchen S, Assan A. COVID-19 Testing: A Qualitative Study Exploring Enablers and Barriers in the Greater Accra Region, Ghana. Front Public Health 2022; 10:908410. [PMID: 35903391 PMCID: PMC9322666 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.908410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic is a global crisis and has reaffirmed that extensive testing along with effective tracing is still crucial to slowing transmission of the COVID-19 virus despite the rolling out of vaccines. This study explored enablers and barriers to COVID-19 testing in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. We envision lessons learned from this study could serve as a road map to strengthen the current response to COVID-19 and preparedness for future outbreaks, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.MethodsA qualitative design was undertaken to explore the phenomenon. Data collection methods included in-depth interviews with key informants with a purposively selected sample of 20 participants. Interviews were conducted using flexible semi-structured interview guides. Depending on the participant's position and involvement in COVID-19 testing, the guides were modified, and key elements were drawn from a tailored version of the WHO Health System Framework, incorporating the Essential Public Health Functions (EPHF). The interview findings were augmented by reviewing published literature.ResultsBetter health governance through political leadership, community participation, multisectoral collaboration, effective resource management, and information systems played a crucial role in catalyzing COVID-19 testing. The primary barriers to testing were mainly COVID-19 infodemic, inadequacy of material resources to meet growing health needs, and a lack of opportunities to have equal and easy access to testing services. Furthermore, although human resources were adequate, they were unevenly distributed across settings.ConclusionDespite rolling out vaccines against COVID-19, testing remains an important measure to control the virus. To effectively be prepared for extensive COVID-19 testing and respond to future outbreaks, the following are recommended: there should be improved political commitments, coordination, and communication with diverse actors to ensure even distribution of all resources across the country; empowerment of community members should be encouraged to develop community-oriented pandemic preparedness and management of COVID-19 infodemic; investment in strengthening capacity of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP); incorporation of health policy and systems research (HPSR) into the post-COVID-19 pandemic recovery process and future pandemic preparedness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solip Ha
- Seoul National University Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul, South Korea
- *Correspondence: Solip Ha
| | | | - Abraham Assan
- Global Policy and Advocacy Network (GLOOPLAN), Accra, Ghana
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Casemiro LKDDS, Lopes-Júnior LC, Jardim FA, Sulino MC, de Lima RAG. Telehealth in outpatient care for children and adolescents with chronic conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping review protocol. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0269821. [PMID: 35687557 PMCID: PMC9187091 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Outpatient care for children and adolescents with chronic conditions needs to be continuous and programmed, encompassing comprehensive care, with periodically scheduled consultations, exams, and procedures, to promote quality of life and reduce mortality. In the context of the new coronavirus pandemic, however, outpatient care for children and adolescents with chronic conditions, in person, was hampered in favor of social isolation, a necessary sanitary measure to reduce and prevent the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019. In response to this need, studies suggest telehealth in pediatrics as a fertile and expanding field especially in times of pandemics. Here, we aimed to map the evidence related to telehealth in outpatient care for children and adolescents with chronic conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic, to identify which strategies were implemented and their impacts on the continuity of care. Methods A scoping review protocol is reported and guided by the Scoping Reviews Manual of the Joanna Briggs Institute. The search for evidence will cover the following databases: MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Libary; Embase; Web of Science; Scopus; Cinahl and PsycINFO, plus additional sources, such as The British Library, Google Scholar, and Preprints [medRXiv]. No date or language restrictions will be employed in this scoping review. Two independent researchers will conduct the search strategy, study selection, data charting, and data synthesis. Results The findings will be presented through tables, charts, narrative summaries, and assessed based on the type of data charted as well as outcomes. Additionally, the meaning of these findings will be considered as they relate to the guiding question, the characterization and measurement of the impact of different telehealth modalities used in outpatient care for children and adolescents with chronic conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the implications for practice and further research. Discussion To the best of our knowledge, this will be the first scoping review to look specifically at the telehealth modalities to be used in outpatient care for children and adolescents with chronic conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. We expect that our results will be of interest to practitioners as well as researchers concerned with this particular emerging issue in the pandemic context. Also, the plans for the dissemination of this study comprise peer-reviewed publication and conference presentations. trial registration Open Science Framework Registration:osf.io/5pqgu.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Fabrine Aguilar Jardim
- University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Mariane Caetano Sulino
- University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
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Cheshmehzangi A, Zou T. Discourse on COVID-19 Mass Testing vs. Rapid Testing Processing. Front Public Health 2022; 10:883490. [PMID: 35619817 PMCID: PMC9127137 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.883490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ali Cheshmehzangi
- Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability (NERPS), Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.,Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo, China
| | - Tong Zou
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo, China
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Islam G, Gedge A, Lara-Jacobo L, Kirkwood A, Simmons D, Desaulniers JP. Pasteurization, storage conditions and viral concentration methods influence RT-qPCR detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 821:153228. [PMID: 35090920 PMCID: PMC8788100 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic presents many public health challenges including the tracking of infected individuals from local to regional scales. Wastewater surveillance of viral RNA has emerged as a complementary approach to track and monitor the presence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus in a variety of communities of different land use and population size. In the present study, we investigate how five different parameters (pasteurization, storage temperature, storage time, polyethylene glycol (PEG) concentration, and pellet mass) affect the detection of the SARS-CoV-2 N gene and fecal abundance indicator pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) gene. Pre-treatment of 24-h composite wastewater samples (n = 14) by pasteurization at 60 °C resulted in a significant reduction of total RNA concentration and copies of the SARS-CoV-2 N gene copies/L (paired Student's t-test, P < 0.05). Comparing the wastewater samples collected from 6 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) for a storage period of 7 and 14 days at 4 °C, -20 °C and -80 °C, demonstrated a decrease in SARS-CoV-2 N gene copies/L when samples were stored for 14 days at -20 °C. Polyethylene glycol-NaCl for purification and concentration of viral particles from the wastewater samples demonstrated that a short PEG incubation of 2 h during centrifugation at 4 °C was sufficient for the consistent detection of the SARS-CoV-2 N gene from a 30 mL sample volume. Combined, this paper presents method recommendations for developing a reliable, accurate, sensitive, and reproducible estimation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in diverse domestic wastewater samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Golam Islam
- Faculty of Science, Ontario Tech University, 2000 Simcoe St N, Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5, Canada.
| | - Ashley Gedge
- Faculty of Science, Ontario Tech University, 2000 Simcoe St N, Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5, Canada
| | - Linda Lara-Jacobo
- Faculty of Science, Ontario Tech University, 2000 Simcoe St N, Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5, Canada
| | - Andrea Kirkwood
- Faculty of Science, Ontario Tech University, 2000 Simcoe St N, Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5, Canada
| | - Denina Simmons
- Faculty of Science, Ontario Tech University, 2000 Simcoe St N, Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5, Canada
| | - Jean-Paul Desaulniers
- Faculty of Science, Ontario Tech University, 2000 Simcoe St N, Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5, Canada
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Huber D, Frank R, Crevenna R. The impact of lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic on work-related accidents in Austria in 2020. Wien Klin Wochenschr 2022; 134:391-398. [PMID: 35412051 PMCID: PMC9003159 DOI: 10.1007/s00508-022-02013-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aims to investigate the impact of the lockdowns during the COVID-19 (Corona-Virus-Disease 19) pandemic in Austria on work-related accidents in the year 2020. Apart from the lockdowns, multiple work-related measures were introduced in 2020, such as the new law on short-term work and regulation on accidents during home-office. Their combined effects on work-related accidents are unknown and a secondary parameter of this study. METHODS Daily data on the number of accepted and rejected cases of work-related accidents from the Allgemeine Unfallversicherungsanstalt were obtained for the years 2019 and 2020. Based on data provided by the World Health Organization and government publications, the beginning and end dates of national hard and soft lockdown periods were derived. From this database, a difference-in-differences regression analysis on the absolute number of daily work-related accidents was conducted. RESULTS On average 272.3 work-related accidents per day were registered in 2019 and 199.4 in 2020, a statistically significant reduction of 72.9 accidents per day and total decrease of 26,164 less accidents compared to 2019. Both lockdowns had a statistically highly significant effect on work-related accidents: The hard lockdown reduced the average number of daily registered work-related accidents by 40%. The light lockdown phases reduced this number by an average of 51%. Weekends and holidays had the greatest impact on work-related accidents with a reduction of 69% and 73%, respectively. CONCLUSION Both lockdown qualities during the COVID-19 pandemic in Austria led to a significant reduction in work-related accidents for their duration. These findings merit further investigation with more detailed data on sectors and injury-quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominikus Huber
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Roland Frank
- Allgemeine Unfallversicherungsanstalt Österreich AUVA, Vienna, Austria
| | - Richard Crevenna
- Department of Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation and Occupational Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
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Qaqish B, Sallam M, Al-Khateeb M, Reisdorf E, Mahafzah A. Assessment of COVID-19 Molecular Testing Capacity in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Study at the Country Level. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:909. [PMID: 35453957 PMCID: PMC9024853 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12040909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic control measures rely on the accurate and timely diagnosis of infected individuals. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) remains the gold-standard method for laboratory diagnosis of the disease. Delayed diagnosis due to challenges that face laboratories performing COVID-19 testing can hinder public health control measures. Such challenges may be related to shortages in staff, equipment or materials, improper inventory management, flawed workflow, or long turnaround time (TAT). The aim of the current study was to assess the overall COVID-19 molecular testing capacity in Jordan as of April 2021. In addition, the study’s objectives included the identification of potential defects that could comprise the utility of the COVID-19 molecular testing capacity in the country. All laboratories certified by the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Jordan to conduct molecular testing for SARS-CoV-2 were invited to participate in this study. Data were obtained from the participating laboratories (those which agreed to participate) by either telephone interviews or a self-reported written questionnaire with items assessing the key aspects of COVID-19 molecular testing. The full molecular testing capacity in each laboratory was self-reported considering 24 working hours. The total number of participating laboratories was 51 out of 77 (66.2%), with the majority being affiliated with MoH (n = 17) and private laboratories (n = 20). The total molecular COVID-19 testing capacity among the participating laboratories was estimated at 574,441 tests per week, while the actual highest number of tests performed over a single week was 310,047 (54.0%, reported in March 2021). Laboratories affiliated with the MoH were operating at a level closer to their maximum capacity (87.2% of their estimated full capacity for COVID-19 testing) compared to private hospital laboratories (41.3%, p = 0.004), private laboratories (20.8%, p < 0.001), and academic/research laboratories (14.7%, p < 0.001, ANOVA). The national average daily COVID-19 molecular testing was 349.2 tests per 100,000 people in April 2021. The average TAT over the first week of April 2021 for COVID-19 testing was 932 min among the participating laboratories, with the longest TAT among MoH laboratories (mean: 1959 min) compared to private laboratories (mean: 333 min, p < 0.001). Molecular COVID-19 testing potential in Jordan has not been fully utilized, particularly for private laboratories and those belonging to academic/research centers. Supply-chain challenges and shortages in staff were identified as potential obstacles hindering the exploitation of full molecular testing capacity for COVID-19 in the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bara’a Qaqish
- Abt Associates, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Funded Local Health System Sustainability Project (LHSS), Amman 11822, Jordan;
| | - Malik Sallam
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
- Department of Clinical Laboratories and Forensic Medicine, Jordan University Hospital, Amman 11942, Jordan
- Department of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, 22184 Malmo, Sweden
| | | | - Erik Reisdorf
- Infectious Disease Detection and Surveillance (IDDS), Rockville, MD 20894, USA;
| | - Azmi Mahafzah
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
- Department of Clinical Laboratories and Forensic Medicine, Jordan University Hospital, Amman 11942, Jordan
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21
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Gomez-Gonzalez E, Barriga-Rivera A, Fernandez-Muñoz B, Navas-Garcia JM, Fernandez-Lizaranzu I, Munoz-Gonzalez FJ, Parrilla-Giraldez R, Requena-Lancharro D, Gil-Gamboa P, Rosell-Valle C, Gomez-Gonzalez C, Mayorga-Buiza MJ, Martin-Lopez M, Muñoz O, Gomez-Martin JC, Relimpio-Lopez MI, Aceituno-Castro J, Perales-Esteve MA, Puppo-Moreno A, Garcia-Cozar FJ, Olvera-Collantes L, Gomez-Diaz R, de Los Santos-Trigo S, Huguet-Carrasco M, Rey M, Gomez E, Sanchez-Pernaute R, Padillo-Ruiz J, Marquez-Rivas J. Optical imaging spectroscopy for rapid, primary screening of SARS-CoV-2: a proof of concept. Sci Rep 2022; 12:2356. [PMID: 35181702 PMCID: PMC8857323 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06393-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Effective testing is essential to control the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission. Here we report a-proof-of-concept study on hyperspectral image analysis in the visible and near-infrared range for primary screening at the point-of-care of SARS-CoV-2. We apply spectral feature descriptors, partial least square-discriminant analysis, and artificial intelligence to extract information from optical diffuse reflectance measurements from 5 µL fluid samples at pixel, droplet, and patient levels. We discern preparations of engineered lentiviral particles pseudotyped with the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 from those with the G protein of the vesicular stomatitis virus in saline solution and artificial saliva. We report a quantitative analysis of 72 samples of nasopharyngeal exudate in a range of SARS-CoV-2 viral loads, and a descriptive study of another 32 fresh human saliva samples. Sensitivity for classification of exudates was 100% with peak specificity of 87.5% for discernment from PCR-negative but symptomatic cases. Proposed technology is reagent-free, fast, and scalable, and could substantially reduce the number of molecular tests currently required for COVID-19 mass screening strategies even in resource-limited settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilio Gomez-Gonzalez
- Department of Applied Physics III, ETSI School of Engineering, Universidad de Sevilla, Camino de los Descubrimientos s/n, 41092, Sevilla, Spain. .,Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), 41013, Sevilla, Spain.
| | - Alejandro Barriga-Rivera
- Department of Applied Physics III, ETSI School of Engineering, Universidad de Sevilla, Camino de los Descubrimientos s/n, 41092, Sevilla, Spain.,School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Beatriz Fernandez-Muñoz
- Unidad de Producción y Reprogramación Celular (UPRC), Red Andaluza de Diseño y Traslación de Terapias Avanzadas, Consejería de Salud y Familias, Junta de Andalucía, 41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | | | - Isabel Fernandez-Lizaranzu
- Department of Applied Physics III, ETSI School of Engineering, Universidad de Sevilla, Camino de los Descubrimientos s/n, 41092, Sevilla, Spain.,Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), 41013, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Francisco Javier Munoz-Gonzalez
- Department of Applied Physics III, ETSI School of Engineering, Universidad de Sevilla, Camino de los Descubrimientos s/n, 41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | | | - Desiree Requena-Lancharro
- Department of Applied Physics III, ETSI School of Engineering, Universidad de Sevilla, Camino de los Descubrimientos s/n, 41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Pedro Gil-Gamboa
- Department of Applied Physics III, ETSI School of Engineering, Universidad de Sevilla, Camino de los Descubrimientos s/n, 41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Cristina Rosell-Valle
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), 41013, Sevilla, Spain.,Unidad de Producción y Reprogramación Celular (UPRC), Red Andaluza de Diseño y Traslación de Terapias Avanzadas, Consejería de Salud y Familias, Junta de Andalucía, 41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Carmen Gomez-Gonzalez
- Service of Intensive Care, University Hospital 'Virgen del Rocio', 41013, Sevilla, Spain.,Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Universidad de Sevilla, 41009, Seville, Spain
| | - Maria Jose Mayorga-Buiza
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), 41013, Sevilla, Spain.,Service of Anesthesiology, University Hospital 'Virgen del Rocio', 41013, Sevilla, Spain.,Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Universidad de Sevilla, 41009, Seville, Spain
| | - Maria Martin-Lopez
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), 41013, Sevilla, Spain.,Unidad de Producción y Reprogramación Celular (UPRC), Red Andaluza de Diseño y Traslación de Terapias Avanzadas, Consejería de Salud y Familias, Junta de Andalucía, 41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Olga Muñoz
- Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, CSIC, 18008, Granada, Spain
| | | | - Maria Isabel Relimpio-Lopez
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Universidad de Sevilla, 41009, Seville, Spain.,Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital 'Virgen Macarena', 41009, Sevilla, Spain.,OftaRed, Institute of Health 'Carlos III', 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesus Aceituno-Castro
- Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, CSIC, 18008, Granada, Spain.,Centro Astronomico Hispano Alemán, 04550, Almeria, Spain
| | - Manuel A Perales-Esteve
- Department of Electronic Engineering, ETSI School of Engineering, Universidad de Sevilla, 41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Antonio Puppo-Moreno
- Service of Intensive Care, University Hospital 'Virgen del Rocio', 41013, Sevilla, Spain.,Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Universidad de Sevilla, 41009, Seville, Spain
| | | | - Lucia Olvera-Collantes
- Instituto de Investigación e Innovación Biomedica de Cádiz (INIBICA), 11009, Cadiz, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | - Emilia Gomez
- Joint Research Centre, European Commission, 41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Rosario Sanchez-Pernaute
- Unidad de Producción y Reprogramación Celular (UPRC), Red Andaluza de Diseño y Traslación de Terapias Avanzadas, Consejería de Salud y Familias, Junta de Andalucía, 41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Javier Padillo-Ruiz
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), 41013, Sevilla, Spain.,Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Universidad de Sevilla, 41009, Seville, Spain.,Department of General Surgery, University Hospital 'Virgen del Rocío', 41013, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Javier Marquez-Rivas
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), 41013, Sevilla, Spain.,Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Universidad de Sevilla, 41009, Seville, Spain.,Service of Neurosurgery, University Hospital 'Virgen del Rocío', 41013, Sevilla, Spain.,Centre for Advanced Neurology, 41013, Sevilla, Spain
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22
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Watson D, Baralle NL, Alagil J, Anil K, Ciccognani S, Dewar-Haggart R, Fearn S, Groot J, Knowles K, Meagher C, McGrath C, Muir S, Musgrove J, Glyn-Owen K, Woods-Townsend K, Mortimore A, Roderick P, Baird J, Inskip H, Godfrey K, Barker M. How do we engage people in testing for COVID-19? A rapid qualitative evaluation of a testing programme in schools, GP surgeries and a university. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:305. [PMID: 35164728 PMCID: PMC8842975 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-12657-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The UK Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) emphasises the need for high levels of engagement with communities and individuals to ensure the effectiveness of any COVID-19 testing programme. A novel pilot health surveillance programme to assess the feasibility of weekly community RT-LAMP (Reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification) testing for the SARS-CoV-2 virus using saliva samples collected at home was developed and piloted by the University of Southampton and Southampton City Council. METHODS Rapid qualitative evaluation was conducted to explore experiences of those who took part in the programme, of those who declined and of those in the educational and healthcare organisations involved in the pilot testing who were responsible for roll-out. This included 77 interviews and 20 focus groups with 223 staff, students, pupils and household members from four schools, one university, and one community healthcare NHS trust. The insights generated and informed the design and modification of the Southampton COVID-19 Saliva Testing Programme and the next phase of community-testing. RESULTS Discussions revealed that high levels of communication, trust and convenience were necessary to ensure people's engagement with the programme. Participants felt reassured by and pride in taking part in this novel programme. They suggested modifications to reduce the programme's environmental impact and overcome cultural barriers to participation. CONCLUSIONS Participants' and stakeholders' motivations, challenges and concerns need to be understood and these insights used to modify the programme in a continuous, real-time process to ensure and sustain engagement with testing over the extended period necessary. Community leaders and stakeholder organisations should be involved throughout programme development and implementation to optimise engagement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniella Watson
- School of Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, Global Health Research Institute, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
| | - Natalia Laverty Baralle
- School of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Jawahr Alagil
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- College of Applied Medical Sciences, Health Rehabilitation Department, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Krithika Anil
- School of Health Professions, Faculty of Health and Human Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Sandy Ciccognani
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel Dewar-Haggart
- School of Primary Care, Population Sciences and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Fearn
- School of Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Julia Groot
- Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - Kathryn Knowles
- School of Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Claire Meagher
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Carmel McGrath
- School of Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Muir
- School of Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Jo Musgrove
- School of Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Kate Glyn-Owen
- School of Primary Care, Population Sciences and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Kath Woods-Townsend
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, United Kingdom
- Southampton Education School, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Mortimore
- School of Primary Care, Population Sciences and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Roderick
- School of Primary Care, Population Sciences and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Janis Baird
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, United Kingdom
- MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Hazel Inskip
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, United Kingdom
- MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Keith Godfrey
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, United Kingdom
- MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Mary Barker
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, United Kingdom
- MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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23
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Choudhury PR, Saha T, Goel S, Shah JM, Ganjewala D. Cross-species virus transmission and its pandemic potential. BULLETIN OF THE NATIONAL RESEARCH CENTRE 2022; 46:18. [PMID: 35095263 PMCID: PMC8787036 DOI: 10.1186/s42269-022-00701-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The majority of pandemics are known to be a result of either bacteria or viruses out of which viruses seem to be an entity of growing concern due to the sheer number of yet unidentified and potentially threatening viruses, their ability to quickly evolve and transform, their ability to transfer and change from one host organism to another and the difficulty in creating safe vaccines on time. MAIN BODY The present review attempts to bring forth the potential risks, prevention and its impact on the global society in terms of sociological and economic parameters. Taking hindsight from previously as well as ongoing current viral epidemics, this article aims to draw a concrete correlation between these viruses in terms of their origin, spread and attempts to compare how much they can affect the population. The study also assesses the worst-case scenarios and the amount of preparedness, required to fight against such pandemics and compares the required amount of preparedness to the current precautions and measures by different governments all across the world. SHORT CONCLUSION Learning from the current pandemic, we can implement certain measures to prevent the adverse effects of pandemics in the future and through severe preparedness can combat the challenges brought about by the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Ray Choudhury
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Noida, Sector 125, Noida, 201303 India
| | - Tapoja Saha
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Noida, Sector 125, Noida, 201303 India
| | - Sachin Goel
- Department of Biotechnology, Noida Institute of Engineering and Technology, 19, Knowledge Park-II, Institutional Area, Greater Noida, 201306 India
| | - Janvi Manish Shah
- Department of Biotechnology, Thadomal Shahani Engineering College, Mumbai, 400050 India
| | - Deepak Ganjewala
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Noida, Sector 125, Noida, 201303 India
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24
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Duma Z, Chuturgoon AA, Ramsuran V, Edward V, Naidoo P, Mpaka-Mbatha MN, Bhengu KN, Nembe N, Pillay R, Singh R, Mkhize-Kwitshana ZL. The challenges of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing in low-middle income countries and possible cost-effective measures in resource-limited settings. Global Health 2022; 18:5. [PMID: 35065670 PMCID: PMC8783193 DOI: 10.1186/s12992-022-00796-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Diagnostic testing for the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection remains a challenge around the world, especially in low-middle-income countries (LMICs) with poor socio-economic backgrounds. From the beginning of the pandemic in December 2019 to August 2021, a total of approximately 3.4 billion tests were performed globally. The majority of these tests were restricted to high income countries. Reagents for diagnostic testing became a premium, LMICs either cannot afford or find manufacturers unwilling to supply them with expensive analytical reagents and equipment. From March to December 2020 obtaining testing kits for SARS-CoV-2 testing was a challenge. As the number of SARS-CoV-2 infection cases increases globally, large-scale testing still remains a challenge in LMICs. The aim of this review paper is to compare the total number and frequencies of SARS-CoV-2 testing in LMICs and high-income countries (HICs) using publicly available data from Worldometer COVID-19, as well as discussing possible interventions and cost-effective measures to increase testing capability in LMICs. In summary, HICs conducted more SARS-CoV-2 testing (USA: 192%, Australia: 146%, Switzerland: 124% and Canada: 113%) compared to middle-income countries (MICs) (Vietnam: 43%, South Africa: 29%, Brazil: 27% and Venezuela: 12%) and low-income countries (LICs) (Bangladesh: 6%, Uganda: 4% and Nigeria: 1%). Some of the cost-effective solutions to counteract the aforementioned problems includes using saliva instead of oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal swabs, sample pooling, and testing high-priority groups to increase the number of mass testing in LMICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zamathombeni Duma
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Laboratory Medicine & Medical Sciences, Howard College, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Glenwood, Durban, 4041, South Africa.
- Division of Research Capacity Development, South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), Tygerberg, Cape Town, 7505, South Africa.
| | - Anil A Chuturgoon
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Laboratory Medicine & Medical Sciences, Howard College, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Glenwood, Durban, 4041, South Africa
| | - Veron Ramsuran
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Laboratory Medicine & Medical Sciences, Howard College, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Glenwood, Durban, 4041, South Africa
| | - Vinodh Edward
- The Aurum Institute, Parktown, Johannesburg, 2194, South Africa
| | - Pragalathan Naidoo
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Laboratory Medicine & Medical Sciences, Howard College, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Glenwood, Durban, 4041, South Africa
- Division of Research Capacity Development, South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), Tygerberg, Cape Town, 7505, South Africa
| | - Miranda N Mpaka-Mbatha
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Laboratory Medicine & Medical Sciences, Howard College, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Glenwood, Durban, 4041, South Africa
- Division of Research Capacity Development, South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), Tygerberg, Cape Town, 7505, South Africa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Mangosuthu University of Technology, Umlazi, Durban, 4031, South Africa
| | - Khethiwe N Bhengu
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Laboratory Medicine & Medical Sciences, Howard College, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Glenwood, Durban, 4041, South Africa
- Division of Research Capacity Development, South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), Tygerberg, Cape Town, 7505, South Africa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Mangosuthu University of Technology, Umlazi, Durban, 4031, South Africa
| | - Nomzamo Nembe
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Laboratory Medicine & Medical Sciences, Howard College, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Glenwood, Durban, 4041, South Africa
- Division of Research Capacity Development, South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), Tygerberg, Cape Town, 7505, South Africa
| | - Roxanne Pillay
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Laboratory Medicine & Medical Sciences, Howard College, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Glenwood, Durban, 4041, South Africa
- Division of Research Capacity Development, South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), Tygerberg, Cape Town, 7505, South Africa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Mangosuthu University of Technology, Umlazi, Durban, 4031, South Africa
| | - Ravesh Singh
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Laboratory Medicine & Medical Sciences, Howard College, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Glenwood, Durban, 4041, South Africa
| | - Zilungile L Mkhize-Kwitshana
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Laboratory Medicine & Medical Sciences, Howard College, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Glenwood, Durban, 4041, South Africa
- Division of Research Capacity Development, South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), Tygerberg, Cape Town, 7505, South Africa
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25
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Pessoa-E-Silva R, Oliveira PSSD, Gonçalves SMC, Guarines KM, Carvalho LVDN, Correia MAB, Rosa MMD, Rêgo MJBDM, Pitta MGDR, Pereira MC. Enhanced rapid commercial DNA extraction kit for the molecular detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2: Easy adaptation to current protocols. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2021; 54:e0270. [PMID: 34787260 PMCID: PMC8582969 DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0270-2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Herein, the authors describe a simple enhancement to a commercial rapid DNA extraction kit based on simple viral lysis for detecting COVID-19 via RT-qPCR. METHODS After testing several different modifications, the adapted protocol with the best results in preliminary experiments was statistically evaluated in comparison with an automated robotic protocol. RESULTS Processing and testing of 119 nasopharyngeal samples ultimately yielded near-perfect agreement with the automated protocol (κ = 0.981 [95% confidence interval 0.943-1.000]). CONCLUSIONS The low cost and rapidity of the enhanced protocol makes it suitable for adoption in laboratories diagnosing COVID-19, especially those with high demand for examinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rômulo Pessoa-E-Silva
- Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Inovação Terapêutica - Suely Galdino, Recife, PE, Brasil
| | | | | | - Klarissa Miranda Guarines
- Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Inovação Terapêutica - Suely Galdino, Recife, PE, Brasil
| | | | | | - Michelle Melgarejo da Rosa
- Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Inovação Terapêutica - Suely Galdino, Recife, PE, Brasil.,Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Departamento de Bioquímica, Recife, PE, Brasil
| | - Moacyr Jesus Barreto de Melo Rêgo
- Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Inovação Terapêutica - Suely Galdino, Recife, PE, Brasil.,Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Departamento de Bioquímica, Recife, PE, Brasil
| | - Maira Galdino da Rocha Pitta
- Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Inovação Terapêutica - Suely Galdino, Recife, PE, Brasil.,Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Departamento de Bioquímica, Recife, PE, Brasil
| | - Michelly Cristiny Pereira
- Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Inovação Terapêutica - Suely Galdino, Recife, PE, Brasil.,Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Recife, PE, Brasil
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26
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Lopes-Júnior LC, Siqueira PC, Maciel ELN. School reopening and risks accelerating the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260189. [PMID: 34788344 PMCID: PMC8598030 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND One of the most recent concerns of this pandemic regards the role of schools reopening in disease transmission, as well as the impact of keeping schools closed. While school reopening seems critical for the education and mental health of children, adolescents, and adults, so far the literature has not systematically reached a consensus whether to recommend the return to schools in a way that would be safe for students and staff. OBJECTIVE To synthesize and critically evaluate the scientific evidence on the potential risk of accelerating the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic among children, adolescents, young adults, and adults with school reopening. METHODS This systematic review and meta-analysis protocol was elaborated following the PRISMA-P. We will include all observational study designs, which report on the potential risk of accelerating the COVID-2019 pandemic with school reopening. Electronic databases included were MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science, SCOPUS and CNKI. Additional sources will be also retrieved, including Clinical trials.gov-NIH, The British Library, Pro Quest Dissertations Database, Public Health Gray Literature Sources and Health Evidence, Google Scholar, and pre-prints [medRXiv]. No restriction to language or date will be used as search strategy. In an independently manner, two investigators will select studies, perform data extraction, as well as perform a critical appraisal of the risk of bias and overall quality of the selected observational studies, based on their designs. The heterogeneity among the studies will be assessed using the I2 statistic test. According to the results of this test, we will verify whether a meta-analysis is feasible. If feasibility is confirmed, a random-effect model analysis will be carried out. For data analysis, the calculation of the pooled effect estimates will consider a 95% CI and alpha will be set in 0.05 using the R statistical software, v.4.0.4. In addition, we will rate the certainty of evidence based on Cochrane methods and in accordance with the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). EXPECTED RESULTS This systematic review and meta-analysis will provide better insights into safety in the return to school in the context of the COVID-2019 pandemic, at a time when vaccination advances unevenly in several countries around the world. Hence, consistent data and robust evidence will be provided to help decision-makers and stakeholders in the current pandemic scenario. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER CRD42021265283; https://clinicaltrials.gov.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luís Carlos Lopes-Júnior
- Health Sciences Center at the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitoria, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | | | - Ethel Leonor Noia Maciel
- Health Sciences Center at the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitoria, Espírito Santo, Brazil
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27
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Padmanabhan R, Abed HS, Meskin N, Khattab T, Shraim M, Al-Hitmi MA. A review of mathematical model-based scenario analysis and interventions for COVID-19. COMPUTER METHODS AND PROGRAMS IN BIOMEDICINE 2021; 209:106301. [PMID: 34392001 PMCID: PMC8314871 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2021.106301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Mathematical model-based analysis has proven its potential as a critical tool in the battle against COVID-19 by enabling better understanding of the disease transmission dynamics, deeper analysis of the cost-effectiveness of various scenarios, and more accurate forecast of the trends with and without interventions. However, due to the outpouring of information and disparity between reported mathematical models, there exists a need for a more concise and unified discussion pertaining to the mathematical modeling of COVID-19 to overcome related skepticism. Towards this goal, this paper presents a review of mathematical model-based scenario analysis and interventions for COVID-19 with the main objectives of (1) including a brief overview of the existing reviews on mathematical models, (2) providing an integrated framework to unify models, (3) investigating various mitigation strategies and model parameters that reflect the effect of interventions, (4) discussing different mathematical models used to conduct scenario-based analysis, and (5) surveying active control methods used to combat COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hadeel S Abed
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Qatar University, Qatar.
| | - Nader Meskin
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Qatar University, Qatar.
| | - Tamer Khattab
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Qatar University, Qatar.
| | - Mujahed Shraim
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Qatar.
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d'Arqom A, Sawitri B, Nasution Z, Lazuardi R. "Anti-COVID-19" Medications, Supplements, and Mental Health Status in Indonesian Mothers with School-Age Children. Int J Womens Health 2021; 13:699-709. [PMID: 34285594 PMCID: PMC8286101 DOI: 10.2147/ijwh.s316417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The COVID-19 pandemic affects all aspects of life and might cause stress for vulnerable groups such as mothers with school-age children, both housewives and working mothers. With the uncontrolled circulating information about medications, supplements, and herbs that are believed to treat COVID-19, self-medication and misused might escalate. Therefore, this study aims to determine the consumption of "anti-COVID" agents and the mental health of mothers with school-age children in Indonesia. Methods Online questionnaires regarding medications/supplements for COVID-19 prevention and treatment of "anti-COVID" consumption behavior and mental health using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS-21) were distributed among Indonesian mothers with school-age children. Data (n = 610) were analyzed; descriptive and association between sociodemographic factors, "anti-COVID" medications consumption, and mental health were presented. Results A quarter of the respondents were categorized as having mental disorders, with higher scores of DASS-21 was higher in the housewives' group. The incidence associated with age, family expenses, and marital status in the working mothers' group, and only with family expense in the housewives' group. Moreover, the result showed 80% of the respondents consumed "anti-COVID" medications or supplements to prevent COVID-19, with 75% did self-medication without consulting with a healthcare professional. Friends/family and social media were two primary sources of information regarding the "anti-COVID" products. In the housewives' group, their consumption behavior was influenced by education. Meanwhile in the working mothers' group, the consumption behavior was influenced by age, family income, and family expense. In addition, there was no association between the usage of medications/supplements with the respondents' mental health status. Conclusion This study showed the importance of controlling information and expanding the mother's knowledge to find the correct information to minimize the unwanted effect in the post COVID-19 pandemic. Increasing awareness of mental health issues in the community, especially in the vulnerable population such as mother with school-age children, is necessary to avoid detrimental effects that might occur in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annette d'Arqom
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Anatomy, Histology, and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia.,Translational Medicine and Therapeutic Research Group, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Brihastami Sawitri
- Translational Medicine and Therapeutic Research Group, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia.,Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Zamal Nasution
- Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
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Hu Y, Guo J, Li G, Lu X, Li X, Zhang Y, Cong L, Kang Y, Jia X, Shi X, Xie G, Zhang L. Role of efficient testing and contact tracing in mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic: a network modelling study. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e045886. [PMID: 34233974 PMCID: PMC8266432 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study quantified how the efficiency of testing and contact tracing impacts the spread of COVID-19. The average time interval between infection and quarantine, whether asymptomatic cases are tested or not, and initial delays to beginning a testing and tracing programme were investigated. SETTING We developed a novel individual-level network model, called CoTECT (Testing Efficiency and Contact Tracing model for COVID-19), using key parameters from recent studies to quantify the impacts of testing and tracing efficiency. The model distinguishes infection from confirmation by integrating a 'T' compartment, which represents infections confirmed by testing and quarantine. The compartments of presymptomatic (E), asymptomatic (I), symptomatic (Is), and death with (F) or without (f) test confirmation were also included in the model. Three scenarios were evaluated in a closed population of 3000 individuals to mimic community-level dynamics. Real-world data from four Nordic countries were also analysed. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES Simulation result: total/peak daily infections and confirmed cases, total deaths (confirmed/unconfirmed by testing), fatalities and the case fatality rate. Real-world analysis: confirmed cases and deaths per million people. RESULTS (1) Shortening the duration between Is and T from 12 to 4 days reduces infections by 85.2% and deaths by 88.8%. (2) Testing and tracing regardless of symptoms reduce infections by 35.7% and deaths by 46.2% compared with testing only symptomatic cases. (3) Reducing the delay to implementing a testing and tracing programme from 50 to 10 days reduces infections by 35.2% and deaths by 44.6%. These results were robust to sensitivity analysis. An analysis of real-world data showed that tests per case early in the pandemic are critical for reducing confirmed cases and the fatality rate. CONCLUSIONS Reducing testing delays will help to contain outbreaks. These results provide policymakers with quantitative evidence of efficiency as a critical value in developing testing and contact tracing strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiying Hu
- Ping An Healthcare Technology, Ping An Insurance Group Company of China, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jianying Guo
- Ping An Healthcare Technology, Ping An Insurance Group Company of China, Shenzhen, China
| | - Guanqiao Li
- School of Medicine and Vanke School of Public Health Beijing, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua Clinical Research Institute (TCRI), School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xi Lu
- School of Medicine and Vanke School of Public Health Beijing, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiang Li
- Ping An Healthcare Technology, Ping An Insurance Group Company of China, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yuan Zhang
- Ping An Healthcare Technology, Ping An Insurance Group Company of China, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lin Cong
- Ping An Healthcare Technology, Ping An Insurance Group Company of China, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yanni Kang
- Ping An Healthcare Technology, Ping An Insurance Group Company of China, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaoyu Jia
- Ping An Healthcare Technology, Ping An Insurance Group Company of China, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xuanling Shi
- School of Medicine and Vanke School of Public Health Beijing, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Guotong Xie
- Ping An Healthcare Technology, Ping An Insurance Group Company of China, Shenzhen, China
- Ping An Health Cloud Company, Ping An Insurance Group Company of China, Shenzhen, China
- Ping An International Smart City Technology Co., Ltd, Ping An Insurance Group Company of China, Shenzhen, China
| | - Linqi Zhang
- School of Medicine and Vanke School of Public Health Beijing, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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Thron C, Mbazumutima V, Tamayo LV, Todjihounde L. Cost effective reproduction number based strategies for reducing deaths from COVID-19. JOURNAL OF MATHEMATICS IN INDUSTRY 2021; 11:11. [PMID: 34221823 PMCID: PMC8237561 DOI: 10.1186/s13362-021-00107-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
In epidemiology, the effective reproduction number R e is used to characterize the growth rate of an epidemic outbreak. If R e > 1 , the epidemic worsens, and if R e < 1 , then it subsides and eventually dies out. In this paper, we investigate properties of R e for a modified SEIR model of COVID-19 in the city of Houston, TX USA, in which the population is divided into low-risk and high-risk subpopulations. The response of R e to two types of control measures (testing and distancing) applied to the two different subpopulations is characterized. A nonlinear cost model is used for control measures, to include the effects of diminishing returns. Lowest-cost control combinations for reducing instantaneous R e to a given value are computed. We propose three types of heuristic strategies for mitigating COVID-19 that are targeted at reducing R e , and we exhibit the tradeoffs between strategy implementation costs and number of deaths. We also consider two variants of each type of strategy: basic strategies, which consider only the effects of controls on R e , without regard to subpopulation; and high-risk prioritizing strategies, which maximize control of the high-risk subpopulation. Results showed that of the three heuristic strategy types, the most cost-effective involved setting a target value for R e and applying sufficient controls to attain that target value. This heuristic led to strategies that begin with strict distancing of the entire population, later followed by increased testing. Strategies that maximize control on high-risk individuals were less cost-effective than basic strategies that emphasize reduction of the rate of spreading of the disease. The model shows that delaying the start of control measures past a certain point greatly worsens strategy outcomes. We conclude that the effective reproduction can be a valuable real-time indicator in determining cost-effective control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Thron
- Department of Sciences and Mathematics, Texas A&M University-Central Texas, Killeen, TX 76549 USA
| | - Vianney Mbazumutima
- Institute of Mathematics and Physical Sciences, IMSP-Bénin, Abomey Calavi University, Porto-Novo, Bénin
| | - Luis V. Tamayo
- Department of Sciences and Mathematics, Texas A&M University-Central Texas, Killeen, TX 76549 USA
| | - Léonard Todjihounde
- Institute of Mathematics and Physical Sciences, IMSP-Bénin, Abomey Calavi University, Porto-Novo, Bénin
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Das R, Hasan MR, Daria S, Islam MR. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health among general Bangladeshi population: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e045727. [PMID: 33837107 PMCID: PMC8042595 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Mental health problems significantly increased worldwide during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. At the early stage of the outbreak, the government of Bangladesh imposed lockdown and quarantine approaches to prevent the spread of the virus, which impacted people's daily life and health. The COVID-19 pandemic has also affected people's economic status, healthcare facilities and other lifestyle factors in Bangladesh. We aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health among the Bangladeshi population. METHODS We conducted an online cross-sectional survey among 672 Bangladeshi people aged between 15 and 65 years all over the country from 15 April to 10 May 2020. After obtaining electronic consent, we conducted a survey assessing people's sociodemographic profiles and psychometric measures. We used The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness Scale-8, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to assess loneliness, depression, anxiety and sleep disturbance, respectively. RESULTS The prevalence of loneliness, depression, anxiety and sleep disturbance was estimated at 71% (mild: 32%, moderate: 29%, severe: 10%), 38% (mild: 24%, moderate: 11%, severe: 3%), 64% (mild: 30%, moderate: 17%, severe: 17%) and 73% (mild: 50%, moderate: 18%, severe: 5%), respectively. In Bangladesh, the key factors associated with poor mental health during COVID-19 were female sex, unemployment, being a student, obesity and living without a family. The present study also identified statistically significant interrelationships among the measured mental health issues. CONCLUSIONS A large portion of respondents reported mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh. The present study suggests longitudinal assessments of mental health among Bangladeshi people to determine the gravity of this issue during and after the pandemic. Appropriate supportive programmes and interventional approaches would address mental health problems in Bangladesh during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajesh Das
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Asia Pacific, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Rakib Hasan
- Department of Pharmacy, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Bangladesh
| | - Sohel Daria
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Asia Pacific, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Rabiul Islam
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Asia Pacific, Dhaka, Bangladesh
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Pecoraro F, Luzi D, Clemente F. Analysis of the Different Approaches Adopted in the Italian Regions to Care for Patients Affected by COVID-19. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:848. [PMID: 33498155 PMCID: PMC7908106 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18030848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
As the Italian health system is regionally based, COVID-19 emergency actions are based on a general lockdown imposed by national authority and then management at local level by 21 regional authorities. Therefore, the pandemic response plan developed by each region led to different approaches. The aim of this paper is to analyze whether differences in patient management may have influenced the local course of the epidemic. The analysis on the 21 Italian regions considers the strategies adopted in terms of hospitalization, treatment in the ICU and at home. Moreover, an in-depth analysis was carried out on: Lombardia, which adopted a hospitalization approach; Veneto, which tended to confine patients at home; and Emilia Romagna, which adopted a mixed hospitalization-home based approach. The majority of regions implemented a home-based approach, while the hospital approach was followed in three regions (Lombardia, Piemonte, and Lazio), mainly limited to the first period of the outbreak. All regions in the later phases tended to reduce hospitalization, preferring to confine patients at home. This comparison, highlighting the different phases of the pandemic, outlined that the adoption of home-based practices contributed to limiting infection rates among patients and health professionals as well as decreasing the number of deaths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Pecoraro
- Institute for Research on Population and Social Policies, National Research Council, Via Palestro, 32, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Daniela Luzi
- Institute for Research on Population and Social Policies, National Research Council, Via Palestro, 32, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Fabrizio Clemente
- Institute of Crystallography, National Research Council, Via Salaria Km 29300, 00016 Monterotondo, Rome, Italy;
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Lopes-Júnior LC, Bomfim E, Olson K, Neves ET, Silveira DSC, Nunes MDR, Nascimento LC, Pereira-da-Silva G, Lima RAG. Effectiveness of hospital clowns for symptom management in paediatrics: systematic review of randomised and non-randomised controlled trials. BMJ 2020; 371:m4290. [PMID: 33328164 PMCID: PMC7737653 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.m4290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate evidence from randomised controlled trials and non-randomised controlled trials on the effectiveness of hospital clowns for a range of symptom clusters in children and adolescents admitted to hospital with acute and chronic conditions. DESIGN Systematic review of randomised and non-randomised controlled trials. DATA SOURCES Medline, ISI of Knowledge, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Science Direct, Scopus, American Psychological Association PsycINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature. STUDY SELECTION Randomised and non-randomised controlled trials were peer reviewed using the following eligibility criteria: children and adolescents who were admitted to hospital for acute conditions or chronic disorders, studies comparing use of hospital clowns with standard care, and studies evaluating the effect of hospital clowns on symptom management of inpatient children and adolescents as a primary outcome. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS Two investigators independently screened studies, extracted data, and appraised the risk of bias. Methodological appraisal was assessed by two investigators independently using the Jadad scale, the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomised controlled trials (RoB 2), and the risk of bias in non-randomised studies (ROBINS-I) tool for non-randomised controlled trials. RESULTS 24 studies (n=1612) met the inclusion criteria for data extraction and analysis. Most studies were randomised controlled trials (n=13). Anxiety was the most frequently analysed symptom (n=13), followed by pain (n=9), psychological and emotional responses and perceived wellbeing (n=4), stress (n=4), cancer related fatigue (n=3), and crying (n=2). Five studies used biomarkers, mainly cortisol, to assess stress or fatigue outcome following hospital clowns. Most of the randomised controlled trials (n=11; 85%) were rated as showing some concerns, and two trials were rated with a high risk of bias. Most non-randomised controlled trials (n=6; 55%) were rated with a moderate risk of bias according to ROBINS-I tool. Studies showed that children and adolescents who were in the presence of hospital clowns, either with or without a parent present, reported significantly less anxiety during a range of medical procedures, as well as improved psychological adjustment (P<0.05). Three studies that evaluated chronic conditions showed favourable results for the intervention of hospital clowns with significant reduction in stress, fatigue, pain, and distress (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that the presence of hospital clowns during medical procedures, induction of anaesthesia in the preoperative room, and as part of routine care for chronic conditions might be a beneficial strategy to manage some symptom clusters. Furthermore, hospital clowns might help improve psychological wellbeing in admitted children and adolescents with acute and chronic disorders, compared with those who received only standard care. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION PROSPERO CRD42018107099.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luís Carlos Lopes-Júnior
- Federal University of Espírito Santo, Avenida Marechal Campus, 1468 Maruípe, Vitória, 29.043-900, ES, Brazil
| | - Emiliana Bomfim
- University of Saskatchewan, College of Medicine, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
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White ER, Hébert-Dufresne L. State-level variation of initial COVID-19 dynamics in the United States. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0240648. [PMID: 33048967 PMCID: PMC7553297 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
During an epidemic, metrics such as R0, doubling time, and case fatality rates are important in understanding and predicting the course of an epidemic. However, if collected over country or regional scales, these metrics hide important smaller-scale, local dynamics. We examine how commonly used epidemiological metrics differ for each individual state within the United States during the initial COVID-19 outbreak. We found that the detected case number and trajectory of early detected cases differ considerably between states. We then test for correlations with testing protocols, interventions and population characteristics. We find that epidemic dynamics were most strongly associated with non-pharmaceutical government actions during the early phase of the epidemic. In particular, early social distancing restrictions, particularly on restaurant operations, was correlated with increased doubling times. Interestingly, we also found that states with little tolerance for deviance from enforced rules saw faster early epidemic growth. Together with other correlates such as population density, our results highlight the different factors involved in the heterogeneity in the early spread of COVID-19 throughout the United States. Although individual states are clearly not independent, they can serve as small, natural experiments in how different demographic patterns and government responses can impact the course of an epidemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Easton R. White
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States of America
- Gund Institute for Environment, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States of America
| | - Laurent Hébert-Dufresne
- Department of Computer Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States of America
- Vermont Complex Systems Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States of America
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Bolina AF, Bomfim E, Lopes-Júnior LC. Frontline Nursing Care: The COVID-19 Pandemic and the Brazilian Health System. SAGE Open Nurs 2020; 6:2377960820963771. [PMID: 33415303 PMCID: PMC7774425 DOI: 10.1177/2377960820963771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging and reemerging infectious diseases are constant challenges for global public health. After the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020, the spread of SARS-CoV-2 has been the focus of attention for scientists, governments and populations worldwide. In Brazil, the first case of COVID-19 was identified on February 26 2020, being the first country in Latin America to have affected patients. Almost four months later, more than one million confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been identified in the country, and the virus has spread across all 27 states and is responsible for at least 48,954 deaths until June 19, 2020. In addition, a global outbreak requires the active participation of the nursing workforce in clinical care, education, and sharing of accurate information of public health and policies. This year is particularly important for Nursing, as 2020 is the international year for Nursing and Midwifery Professionals. Nursing professionals corresponds to more than half of the health workforce in the country, being crucial in implementing public health policies and programs. Nurses and frontline health care workers have a critical role in the COVID-19 prevention and response, not only by providing direct assistance to patients and communities, but also in the implementation of health promotion and prevention strategies. Hence, we provide a reflection on the strengths and weaknesses of how the nursing profession is engaged with the COVID-19 response in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emiliana Bomfim
- College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Luís Carlos Lopes-Júnior
- Department of Nursing, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Espirito Santo, Vitória, Brazil
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Abstract
During an epidemic, metrics such as R0, doubling time, and case fatality rates are important in understanding and predicting the course of an epidemic. However, if collected over country or regional scales, these metrics hide important smaller-scale, local dynamics. We examine how commonly used epidemiological metrics differ for each individual state within the United States during the initial COVID-19 outbreak. We found that the detected case number and trajectory of early detected cases differ considerably between states. We then test for correlations with testing protocols, interventions and population characteristics. We find that epidemic dynamics were most strongly associated with non-pharmaceutical government actions during the early phase of the epidemic. In particular, early social distancing restrictions, particularly on restaurant operations, was correlated with increased doubling times. Interestingly, we also found that states with little tolerance for deviance from enforced rules saw faster early epidemic growth. Together with other correlates such as population density, our results highlight the different factors involved in the heterogeneity in the early spread of COVID-19 throughout the United States. Although individual states are clearly not independent, they can serve as small, natural experiments in how different demographic patterns and government responses can impact the course of an epidemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Easton R White
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States of America
- Gund Institute for Environment, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States of America
| | - Laurent Hébert-Dufresne
- Department of Computer Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States of America
- Vermont Complex Systems Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States of America
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