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Tancredi S, van der Linden BWA, Chiolero A, Cullati S, Imboden M, Probst-Hensch N, Keidel D, Witzig M, Dratva J, Michel G, Harju E, Frank I, Lorthe E, Baysson H, Stringhini S, Kahlert CR, Bardoczi JB, Haller ML, Chocano-Bedoya PO, Rodondi N, Amati R, Albanese E, Corna L, Crivelli L, Kaufmann M, Frei A, von Wyl V. Socioeconomic Status and Adherence to Preventive Measures During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Switzerland: A Population Based Digital Cohort Analysis. Int J Public Health 2024; 69:1606861. [PMID: 39022447 PMCID: PMC11251880 DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2024.1606861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives To assess the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and self-reported adherence to preventive measures in Switzerland during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods 4,299 participants from a digital cohort were followed between September 2020 and November 2021. Baseline equivalised disposable income and education were used as SES proxies. Adherence was assessed over time. We investigated the association between SES and adherence using multivariable mixed logistic regression, stratifying by age (below/above 65 years) and two periods (before/after June 2021, to account for changes in vaccine coverage and epidemiological situation). Results Adherence was high across all SES strata before June 2021. After, participants with higher equivalised disposable income were less likely to adhere to preventive measures compared to participants in the first (low) quartile [second (Adj.OR, 95% CI) (0.56, 0.37-0.85), third (0.38, 0.23-0.64), fourth (0.60, 0.36-0.98)]. We observed similar results for education. Conclusion No differences by SES were found during the period with high SARS-CoV-2 incidence rates and stringent measures. Following the broad availability of vaccines, lower incidence, and eased measures, differences by SES started to emerge. Our study highlights the need for contextual interpretation when assessing SES impact on adherence to preventive measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Tancredi
- Population Health Laboratory (#PopHealthLab), University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | | | - Arnaud Chiolero
- Population Health Laboratory (#PopHealthLab), University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
- School of Population and Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Institute of Primary Healthcare (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stéphane Cullati
- Population Health Laboratory (#PopHealthLab), University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Quality of Care Service, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Medea Imboden
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nicole Probst-Hensch
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Dirk Keidel
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Melissa Witzig
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Julia Dratva
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland
| | - Gisela Michel
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
| | - Erika Harju
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
- School of Health Sciences, ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland
| | - Irene Frank
- Clinical Trial Unit, Cantonal Hospital Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
| | - Elsa Lorthe
- Unit of Population Epidemiology, Division of Primary Care Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
- Université Paris Cité, INSERM, INRAE, Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Statistics Paris (CRESS), Paris, France
| | - Hélène Baysson
- Unit of Population Epidemiology, Division of Primary Care Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Silvia Stringhini
- Unit of Population Epidemiology, Division of Primary Care Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- University Center of General Medicine and Public Health, Lausanne, Switzerland
- School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Christian R. Kahlert
- Cantonal Hospital St Gallen, Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, St Gallen, Switzerland
- Children’s Hospital of Eastern Switzerland, Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, St Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Julia B. Bardoczi
- Institute of Primary Healthcare (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Moa Lina Haller
- Institute of Primary Healthcare (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Nicolas Rodondi
- Institute of Primary Healthcare (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Rebecca Amati
- Institute of Public Health, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera italiana, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Emiliano Albanese
- Institute of Public Health, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera italiana, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Laurie Corna
- Department of Business Economics, Health and Social Care, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, Manno, Switzerland
| | - Luca Crivelli
- Institute of Public Health, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera italiana, Lugano, Switzerland
- Department of Business Economics, Health and Social Care, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, Manno, Switzerland
| | - Marco Kaufmann
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Anja Frei
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Viktor von Wyl
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute for Implementation Science in Health Care, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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2
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Reichmuth ML, Heron L, Beutels P, Hens N, Low N, Althaus CL. Social contacts in Switzerland during the COVID-19 pandemic: Insights from the CoMix study. Epidemics 2024; 47:100771. [PMID: 38821037 DOI: 10.1016/j.epidem.2024.100771] [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: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024] Open
Abstract
To mitigate the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the Swiss government enacted restrictions on social contacts from 2020 to 2022. In addition, individuals changed their social contact behavior to limit the risk of COVID-19. In this study, we aimed to investigate the changes in social contact patterns of the Swiss population. As part of the CoMix study, we conducted a survey consisting of 24 survey waves from January 2021 to May 2022. We collected data on social contacts and constructed contact matrices for the age groups 0-4, 5-14, 15-29, 30-64, and 65 years and older. We estimated the change in contact numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic to a synthetic pre-pandemic contact matrix. We also investigated the association of the largest eigenvalue of the social contact and transmission matrices with the stringency of pandemic measures, the effective reproduction number (Re), and vaccination uptake. During the pandemic period, 7084 responders reported an average number of 4.5 contacts (95% confidence interval, CI: 4.5-4.6) per day overall, which varied by age and survey wave. Children aged 5-14 years had the highest number of contacts with 8.5 (95% CI: 8.1-8.9) contacts on average per day and participants that were 65 years and older reported the fewest (3.4, 95% CI: 3.2-3.5) per day. Compared with the pre-pandemic baseline, we found that the 15-29 and 30-64 year olds had the largest reduction in contacts. We did not find statistically significant associations between the largest eigenvalue of the social contact and transmission matrices and the stringency of measures, Re, or vaccination uptake. The number of social contacts in Switzerland fell during the COVID-19 pandemic and remained below pre-pandemic levels after contact restrictions were lifted. The collected social contact data will be critical in informing modeling studies on the transmission of respiratory infections in Switzerland and to guide pandemic preparedness efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina L Reichmuth
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Leonie Heron
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Philippe Beutels
- Centre for Health Economic Research and Modelling Infectious Diseases, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Niel Hens
- Centre for Health Economic Research and Modelling Infectious Diseases, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, Antwerp, Belgium; Data Science Institute, I-BioStat, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Nicola Low
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Christian L Althaus
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
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3
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Dones I, Ciobanu RO. Older adults' experiences of wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic: a comparative qualitative study in Italy and Switzerland. FRONTIERS IN SOCIOLOGY 2024; 9:1243760. [PMID: 38751995 PMCID: PMC11094362 DOI: 10.3389/fsoc.2024.1243760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Background Particularly at the beginning of the pandemic, adults aged 65 and older were portrayed as a homogeneously vulnerable population due to the elevated health risks associated with contracting the COVID-19 disease. This portrayal, combined with travel restrictions, closures of economic sectors, country-wide lockdowns, and suggestions by governmental authorities to limit social contact, had important implications for the wellbeing of older individuals. However, older adults are a heterogeneous population who relies on different resources to cope with stressful periods, like the COVID-19 pandemic. Simultaneously, countries also employed different measures to contain the virus. Research thus far has focused on the short-term consequences of the pandemic, but studies have yet to address its long-term consequences. Objectives We explore older adults' lived experiences nearly 2 years after the pandemic onset. Moreover, we focus on the bordering countries of Switzerland and Italy, who employed contrasting containment measures. This paper analyzes (1) How the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the experiences of wellbeing of older adults in these regions and (2) How older adults coped with the stressors brought about by the pandemic, in particular social distancing. Methods The paper draws on 31 semi-structured interviews with 11 Swiss natives residing in Switzerland, 10 Italian migrants residing in Switzerland, and 10 Italian natives residing in Italy. Interviews were conducted from December 2021 to March 2022. Results Coping mechanisms of the three groups related to acceptance, hobbies, cognitive reframing, telephone use, vaccine use and social distancing. However, results show heterogeneous experiences of wellbeing, with Swiss natives sharing more positive narratives than the other two groups. Moreover, Italian migrants and Italian natives expressed the long-term negative consequences of the pandemic on their experienced wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iuna Dones
- Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Swiss Center of Expertise in Life Course Research (LIVES), Geneva, Switzerland
- Faculty of Social Work, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland (HETSL/HES-SO), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ruxandra Oana Ciobanu
- Swiss Center of Expertise in Life Course Research (LIVES), Geneva, Switzerland
- Faculty of Social Work, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland (HETSL/HES-SO), Lausanne, Switzerland
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4
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Probst-Hensch N, Imboden M, Jeong A, Keidel D, Vermes T, Witzig M, Cullati S, Tancredi S, Noor N, Rodondi PY, Harju E, Michel G, Frank I, Kahlert C, Cusini A, Rodondi N, Chocano-Bedoya PO, Bardoczi JB, Stuber MJ, Vollrath F, Fehr J, Frei A, Kaufmann M, Geigges M, von Wyl V, Puhan MA, Albanese E, Crivelli L, Lovison GF. Long-term trajectories of densely reported depressive symptoms during an extended period of the COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland: Social worries matter. Compr Psychiatry 2024; 130:152457. [PMID: 38325041 DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2024.152457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Previous mental health trajectory studies were mostly limited to the months before access to vaccination. They are not informing on whether public mental health has adapted to the pandemic. The aim of this analysis was to 1) investigate trajectories of monthly reported depressive symptoms from July 2020 to December 2021 in Switzerland, 2) compare average growth trajectories across regions with different stringency phases, and 3) explore the relative impact of self-reported worries related to health, economic and social domains as well as socio-economic indicators on growth trajectories. As part of the population-based Corona Immunitas program of regional, but harmonized, adult cohorts studying the pandemic course and impact, participants repeatedly reported online to the DASS-21 instrument on depressive symptomatology. Trajectories of depressive symptoms were estimated using a latent growth model, specified as a generalised linear mixed model. The time effect was modelled parametrically through a polynomial allowing to estimate trajectories for participants' missing time points. In all regions level and shape of the trajectories mirrored those of the KOF Stringency-Plus Index, which quantifies regional Covid-19 policy stringency. The higher level of average depression in trajectories of those expressing specific worries was most noticeable for the social domain. Younger age, female gender, and low household income went along with higher mean depression score trajectories throughout follow-up. Interventions to promote long-term resilience are an important part of pandemic preparedness, given the observed lack of an adaptation in mental health response to the pandemic even after the availability of vaccines in this high-income context.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Probst-Hensch
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; Department of Public Health, University of Basel, Switzerland.
| | - M Imboden
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; Department of Public Health, University of Basel, Switzerland
| | - A Jeong
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; Department of Public Health, University of Basel, Switzerland
| | - D Keidel
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; Department of Public Health, University of Basel, Switzerland
| | - T Vermes
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; Department of Public Health, University of Basel, Switzerland
| | - M Witzig
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; Department of Public Health, University of Basel, Switzerland
| | - S Cullati
- Population Health Laboratory (#PopHealthLab), University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland; Department of Readaptation and Geriatrics, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - S Tancredi
- Population Health Laboratory (#PopHealthLab), University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - N Noor
- Population Health Laboratory (#PopHealthLab), University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - P-Y Rodondi
- Institute of Family Medicine (IMF), University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - E Harju
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Alpenquai 4, 6005 Luzern, Switzerland.; ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland
| | - G Michel
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Alpenquai 4, 6005 Luzern, Switzerland
| | - I Frank
- Clinical Trial Unit, Cantonal Hospital Luzern, Luzern, Switzerland
| | - C Kahlert
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland; Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, Children's Hospital of Eastern Switzerland, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - A Cusini
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Cantonal Hospital of Grisons, Chur, Switzerland
| | - N Rodondi
- Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Department of General Internal Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - P O Chocano-Bedoya
- Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - J B Bardoczi
- Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Department of General Internal Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - M J Stuber
- Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Department of General Internal Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - F Vollrath
- Corona Immunitas Program Management Group, Swiss School of Public Health, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - J Fehr
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - A Frei
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - M Kaufmann
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - M Geigges
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - V von Wyl
- Institute for Implementation Science in Health Care, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - M A Puhan
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - E Albanese
- Institute of Public Health, Faculty of BioMedicine, Università Della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - L Crivelli
- Institute of Public Health, Faculty of BioMedicine, Università Della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, Switzerland; Department of Business Economics, Health and Social Care, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - G F Lovison
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; Department of Public Health, University of Basel, Switzerland
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5
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Anderes M, Pichler S. Mental health effects of social distancing in Switzerland. ECONOMICS AND HUMAN BIOLOGY 2023; 51:101302. [PMID: 37659211 DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2023.101302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
This analysis examines the effect of COVID-19 on public mental health in Switzerland. Following an event-study framework, we compare helpline call volume and duration before and after the outbreak of the first and second wave. The use of administrative phone-level data allows us to i) decompose the total effects into an intensive and extensive margin and ii) calculate a measure of unmet need. For the first wave, our results show that callers with a history of helpline contacts increase calls substantially. We also identify capacity constraints leading to unmet need for psychological counseling. Finally, we find no effects in the second wave, which might be explained by a number of factors including the absence of a lockdown and less restrictive social distancing measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Anderes
- ETH Zurich, KOF Swiss Economic Institute, Zurich, 8092, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Pichler
- University of Groningen, Department of Economics, Econometrics and Finance, Nettelbosje 2, 9747AE, Groningen, Netherlands.
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Murphy C, Lim WW, Mills C, Wong JY, Chen D, Xie Y, Li M, Gould S, Xin H, Cheung JK, Bhatt S, Cowling BJ, Donnelly CA. Effectiveness of social distancing measures and lockdowns for reducing transmission of COVID-19 in non-healthcare, community-based settings. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. SERIES A, MATHEMATICAL, PHYSICAL, AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES 2023; 381:20230132. [PMID: 37611629 PMCID: PMC10446910 DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2023.0132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Social distancing measures (SDMs) are community-level interventions that aim to reduce person-to-person contacts in the community. SDMs were a major part of the responses first to contain, then to mitigate, the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the community. Common SDMs included limiting the size of gatherings, closing schools and/or workplaces, implementing work-from-home arrangements, or more stringent restrictions such as lockdowns. This systematic review summarized the evidence for the effectiveness of nine SDMs. Almost all of the studies included were observational in nature, which meant that there were intrinsic risks of bias that could have been avoided were conditions randomly assigned to study participants. There were no instances where only one form of SDM had been in place in a particular setting during the study period, making it challenging to estimate the separate effect of each intervention. The more stringent SDMs such as stay-at-home orders, restrictions on mass gatherings and closures were estimated to be most effective at reducing SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Most studies included in this review suggested that combinations of SDMs successfully slowed or even stopped SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the community. However, individual effects and optimal combinations of interventions, as well as the optimal timing for particular measures, require further investigation. This article is part of the theme issue 'The effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions on the COVID-19 pandemic: the evidence'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitriona Murphy
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Wey Wen Lim
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Cathal Mills
- Department of Statistics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jessica Y. Wong
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Dongxuan Chen
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, New Territories, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanmy Xie
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingwei Li
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, New Territories, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Susan Gould
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
- Tropical and Infectious Disease Unit, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - Hualei Xin
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Justin K. Cheung
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Samir Bhatt
- Section of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Kobenhavn, Denmark
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Benjamin J. Cowling
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, New Territories, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Christl A. Donnelly
- Department of Statistics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Pandemic Sciences Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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7
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Jubin J, Delmas P, Gilles I, Oulevey Bachmann A, Ortoleva Bucher C. Factors protecting Swiss nurses' health during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal study. BMC Nurs 2023; 22:306. [PMID: 37674166 PMCID: PMC10483854 DOI: 10.1186/s12912-023-01468-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic reached Europe in early 2020 and impacted nurses over a prolonged period, notably causing heavy work overloads. Exposure to sources of stress in such situations is inevitable, which can put nurses' health at risk. The present study took a salutogenic approach to investigating nurses' health and the principal factors protecting it found in the literature (i.e., resilience, post-traumatic growth, social support, and certain organizational factors), as well as how those elements evolved from February 2021 to September 2022. METHODS All nurses working at eight French-speaking Swiss hospitals who accepted to disseminate the study to their employees were invited to complete an online questionnaire at four time points (February 2021, September 2021, March 2022, and September 2022: T0, T1, T2, and T3, respectively) and respond to items measuring their health, factors protecting their health, and their perceived stress levels. Data were analyzed using random-intercept linear regression models. RESULTS A cumulated total of 1013 responses were collected over all measurement points (625 responses at T0; 153 at T1; 146 at T2; 89 at T3). Results revealed that nurses' health had not changed significantly between measurements. However, their perceived stress levels, feelings of being supported by their management hierarchies, and belief that they had the means to deliver a high quality of work all diminished. At every measurement point, nurses' health was negatively associated with perceived stress and positively associated with resilience, perceived social support, and the belief that they were provided with the means to deliver a high quality of work. CONCLUSION Despite the difficult conditions caused by the pandemic, the factors recognized as protective of nurses' health played their role. The lack of improvements in nurses' health in periods when the pandemic's effects lessened suggests that the pressure they were experiencing did not drop during these moments. This phenomenon may have been due to the need to clear backlogs in scheduled surgery and the work overloads caused by prolonged staff absences and nurses quitting the profession. Monitoring changes in nurses' health is thus crucial, as is establishing measures that promote factors protective of their health. Organizational factors influencing nurses' working conditions are also key and should not be neglected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Jubin
- La Source School of Nursing, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Av. Vinet 30, Lausanne, 1004, Switzerland.
| | - Philippe Delmas
- La Source School of Nursing, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Av. Vinet 30, Lausanne, 1004, Switzerland
| | - Ingrid Gilles
- Lausanne University Hospital, Rue de Bugnon 21, Lausanne, CH-1011, Switzerland
| | - Annie Oulevey Bachmann
- La Source School of Nursing, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Av. Vinet 30, Lausanne, 1004, Switzerland
| | - Claudia Ortoleva Bucher
- La Source School of Nursing, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Av. Vinet 30, Lausanne, 1004, Switzerland
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8
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Fink G, Förtsch K, Felder S. Subjective burden of government-imposed Covid-19 restrictions in Switzerland: Evidence from the 2022 LINK Covid-19 survey. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0283524. [PMID: 37498827 PMCID: PMC10374048 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0283524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND While a large literature has quantified the health and economic impact of COVID-19, estimates on the subjective losses in quality of life due to government imposed restrictions remain scarce. METHODS We conducted a nationally representative online survey in Switzerland in February 2022 to measure average self-reported quality of life with government restrictions. We used a discrete choice experiment to compute average willingness to pay for avoiding specific restrictions and time-trade-off questions to quantify the relative quality of life under restrictions. RESULTS A total of 1299 Swiss residents completed the online survey between February 9th and 15th, 2022. On average, respondents valued life under severe restrictions at 39% of their usual life (estimated relative utility 0.39 [0.37, 0.42]). Willingness to pay for avoiding restrictions was lowest for masks (CHF 663 [319, 1007]), and highest for schools and daycares (CHF 4123 [3443, 4803]) as well as private parties (CHF 4520 [3811, 5229]). We estimate that between March 2020 and February 2022 a total of 5.7 Million QALYs were lost due to light, moderate and severe restrictions imposed by the governments. CONCLUSIONS The quality of life losses due to government restrictions are substantial, particularly when it comes to the closure of schools and daycares, as well as the prohibition of private gatherings. Future policies should weigh these costs against the health benefits achievable with specific measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Günther Fink
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
| | | | - Stefan Felder
- Department of Economics, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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9
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Rachamin Y, Jäger L, Schweighoffer R, Signorell A, Bähler C, Huber CA, Blozik E, Seifritz E, Grischott T, Senn O. The Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Healthcare Utilization in Switzerland Was Strongest Among Young Females-Retrospective Study in 2018-2020. Int J Public Health 2023; 68:1605839. [PMID: 37273771 PMCID: PMC10235482 DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2023.1605839] [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: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives: To provide a thorough assessment of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the utilization of inpatient and outpatient mental healthcare in Switzerland. Methods: Retrospective cohort study using nationwide hospital data (n > 8 million) and claims data from a large Swiss health insurer (n > 1 million) in 2018-2020. Incidence proportions of different types of psychiatric inpatient admissions, psychiatric consultations, and psychotropic medication claims were analyzed using interrupted time series models for the general population and for the vulnerable subgroup of young people. Results: Inpatient psychiatric admissions in the general population decreased by 16.2% (95% confidence interval: -19.2% to -13.2%) during the first and by 3.9% (-6.7% to -0.2%) during the second pandemic shutdown, whereas outpatient mental healthcare utilization was not substantially affected. We observed distinct patterns for young people, most strikingly, an increase in mental healthcare utilization among females aged <20 years. Conclusion: Mental healthcare provision for the majority of the population was largely maintained, but special attention should be paid to young people. Our findings highlight the importance of monitoring mental healthcare utilization among different populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yael Rachamin
- Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Campus Stiftung Lindenhof Bern (SLB), Bern, Switzerland
| | - Levy Jäger
- Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Reka Schweighoffer
- Institute for Clinical Research, Department of Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Andri Signorell
- Department of Health Sciences, Helsana Group, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Caroline Bähler
- Department of Health Sciences, Helsana Group, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Carola A. Huber
- Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Health Sciences, Helsana Group, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Eva Blozik
- Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- SWICA Health Services Research, Winterthur, Switzerland
| | - Erich Seifritz
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Grischott
- Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Oliver Senn
- Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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10
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Probst-Hensch N, Jeong A, Keidel D, Imboden M, Lovison G. Depression trajectories during the COVID-19 pandemic in the high-quality health care setting of Switzerland: the COVCO-Basel cohort. Public Health 2023; 217:65-73. [PMID: 36854252 PMCID: PMC9841075 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2023.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES During the pandemic, Switzerland avoided stringent lockdowns and provided funds to stabilize the economy. To assess whether and in what subgroups the pandemic impacted on depressive symptoms in this specific Swiss context, we derived depression trajectories over an extended pandemic period in a Swiss cohort and related them to individuals' sociodemographic characteristics. STUDY DESIGN This was a population-based cohort study. METHODS The population-based COVCO-Basel cohort in North-Western Switzerland invited 112,848 adult residents of whom 12,724 participated at baseline. Between July 2020 and December 2021, 6396 participants answered to additional 18 monthly online questionnaires. Depression symptoms were repeatedly measured by the DASS-21 scale. Group-based Trajectory Models methods were applied to identify clusters of similar depression trajectories. Trajectory clusters were characterized descriptively and with a Multinomial response model. RESULTS Three distinct trajectories were identified. The 'Highly affected' trajectory (13%) had a larger presence of younger and female participants with lower average income, higher levels of past depression, and living alone. A majority of individuals in the 'Unaffected' trajectory (52%) were of medium or high average income, older average age, without previous depression symptoms, and not living alone. The 'Moderately affected' trajectory (35%) had a composition intermediate between the two opposite 'extreme' trajectories. CONCLUSIONS This study is among few studies investigating depression trajectories up to the time when COVID-19 vaccination was readily available to the entire population. During these 18 months of the pandemic, depressive symptoms increased in a substantial percentage of participants. Economic support, high-quality health care system, and moderate containment measures did not sufficiently protect all population subgroups from adverse, potentially long-term psychological pandemic impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- N. Probst-Hensch
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland,Department of Public Health, University of Basel, Switzerland,Corresponding author. Head Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
| | - A. Jeong
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland,Department of Public Health, University of Basel, Switzerland
| | - D. Keidel
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland,Department of Public Health, University of Basel, Switzerland
| | - M. Imboden
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland,Department of Public Health, University of Basel, Switzerland
| | - G. Lovison
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland,Department of Public Health, University of Basel, Switzerland,Department of Economics, Business and Statistics, University of Palermo, Italy
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11
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Barbeito I, Precioso D, Sierra MJ, Vegas-Azcárate S, Fernández Balbuena S, Vitoriano B, Goméz-Ullate D, Cao R, Monge S. Effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions in nine fields of activity to decrease SARS-CoV-2 transmission (Spain, September 2020-May 2021). Front Public Health 2023; 11:1061331. [PMID: 37124826 PMCID: PMC10131688 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1061331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background We estimated the association between the level of restriction in nine different fields of activity and SARS-CoV-2 transmissibility in Spain, from 15 September 2020 to 9 May 2021. Methods A stringency index (0-1) was created for each Spanish province (n = 50) daily. A hierarchical multiplicative model was fitted. The median of coefficients across provinces (95% bootstrap confidence intervals) quantified the effect of increasing one standard deviation in the stringency index over the logarithmic return of the weekly percentage variation of the 7-days SARS-CoV-2 cumulative incidence, lagged 12 days. Results Overall, increasing restrictions reduced SARS-CoV-2 transmission by 22% (RR = 0.78; one-sided 95%CI: 0, 0.82) in 1 week, with highest effects for culture and leisure 14% (0.86; 0, 0.98), social distancing 13% (0.87; 0, 0.95), indoor restaurants 10% (0.90; 0, 0.95) and indoor sports 6% (0.94; 0, 0.98). In a reduced model with seven fields, culture and leisure no longer had a significant effect while ceremonies decreased transmission by 5% (0.95; 0, 0.96). Models R 2 was around 70%. Conclusion Increased restrictions decreased COVID-19 transmission. Limitations include remaining collinearity between fields, and somewhat artificial quantification of qualitative restrictions, so the exact attribution of the effect to specific areas must be done with caution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inés Barbeito
- Research Centre for Communication and Information Technology (CITIC), University of A Coruña (UDC), Galicia, Spain
| | - Daniel Precioso
- Department of Informatics Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Cádiz, Andalusia, Spain
| | - María José Sierra
- Centre for the Coordination of Health Alerts and Emergencies, Ministry of Health, Madrid, Spain
- CIBER Infectious Diseases, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Begoña Vitoriano
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Mathematics, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
| | - David Goméz-Ullate
- Department of Informatics Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Cádiz, Andalusia, Spain
- School of Science and Technology, IE University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ricardo Cao
- Research Centre for Communication and Information Technology (CITIC), University of A Coruña (UDC), Galicia, Spain
| | - Susana Monge
- CIBER Infectious Diseases, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Communicable Diseases, National Centre of Epidemiology, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- *Correspondence: Susana Monge,
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12
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Reichmuth ML, Hodcroft EB, Riou J, Neher RA, Hens N, Althaus CL. Impact of cross-border-associated cases on the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Switzerland during summer 2020 and 2021. Epidemics 2022; 41:100654. [PMID: 36444785 PMCID: PMC9671612 DOI: 10.1016/j.epidem.2022.100654] [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: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
During the summers of 2020 and 2021, the number of confirmed cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections in Switzerland remained at relatively low levels, but grew steadily over time. It remains unclear to what extent epidemic growth during these periods was a result of the relaxation of local control measures or increased traveling and subsequent importation of cases. A better understanding of the role of cross-border-associated cases (imports) on the local epidemic dynamics will help to inform future surveillance strategies. We analyzed routine surveillance data of confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 in Switzerland from 1 June to 30 September 2020 and 2021. We used a stochastic branching process model that accounts for superspreading of SARS-CoV-2 to simulate epidemic trajectories in absence and in presence of imports during summer 2020 and 2021. The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health reported 22,919 and 145,840 confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 from 1 June to 30 September 2020 and 2021, respectively. Among cases with known place of exposure, 27% (3,276 of 12,088) and 25% (1,110 of 4,368) reported an exposure abroad in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Without considering the impact of imported cases, the steady growth of confirmed cases during summer periods would be consistent with a value of Re that is significantly above the critical threshold of 1. In contrast, we estimated Re at 0.84 (95% credible interval, CrI: 0.78-0.90) in 2020 and 0.82 (95% CrI: 0.74-0.90) in 2021 when imported cases were taken into account, indicating that the local Re was below the critical threshold of 1 during summer. In Switzerland, cross-border-associated SARS-CoV-2 cases had a considerable impact on the local transmission dynamics and can explain the steady growth of the epidemic during the summers of 2020 and 2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina L. Reichmuth
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland,Correspondence to: Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Mittelstrasse 43, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Emma B. Hodcroft
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland,Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Julien Riou
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland,Federal Office of Public Health, Liebefeld, Switzerland
| | - Richard A. Neher
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland,Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Niel Hens
- Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and statistical Bioinformatics, Data Science Institute, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium,Centre for Health Economics Research and Modelling Infectious Diseases, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Christian L. Althaus
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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13
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Rachamin Y, Meyer MR, Rosemann T, Grischott T. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Elective and Emergency Inpatient Procedure Volumes in Switzerland - A Retrospective Study Based on Insurance Claims Data. Int J Health Policy Manag 2022; 12:6932. [PMID: 36243943 PMCID: PMC10125178 DOI: 10.34172/ijhpm.2022.6932] [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: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) pandemic forced hospitals to redistribute resources for the treatment of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), yet the impact on elective and emergency inpatient procedure volumes is unclear. METHODS We analyzed anonymized data on 234 921 hospitalizations in 2017-2020 (55.9% elective) from a big Swiss health insurer. We used linear regression models to predict, based on pre-pandemic data, the expected weekly numbers of procedures in 2020 in the absence of a pandemic and compared these to the observed numbers in 2020. Compensation effects were investigated by discretely integrating the difference between the two numbers over time. RESULTS During the first COVID-19 wave in spring 2020, elective procedure numbers decreased by 52.9% (95% confidence interval -64.5% to -42.5%), with cardiovascular and orthopedic elective procedure numbers specifically decreasing by 45.5% and 72.4%. Elective procedure numbers normalized during summer with some compensation of postponed procedures, leaving a deficit of -9.9% (-15.8% to -4.5%) for the whole year 2020. Emergency procedure numbers also decreased by 17.1% (-23.7% to -9.8%) during the first wave, but over the whole year 2020, net emergency procedure volumes were similar to control years. CONCLUSION Inpatient procedure volumes in Switzerland decreased considerably in the beginning of the pandemic but recovered quickly after the first wave. Still, there was a net deficit in procedures at the end of the year. Health system leaders must work to ensure that adequate access to non-COVID-19 related care is maintained during future pandemic phases in order to prevent negative health consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yael Rachamin
- Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Matthias R. Meyer
- Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Division of Cardiology, Cantonal Hospital Graubuenden, Chur, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Rosemann
- Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Grischott
- Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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14
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Aebi NJ, Fink G, Wyss K, Schwenkglenks M, Baenteli I, Caviezel S, Studer A, Trost S, Tschudin S, Schaefert R, Meinlschmidt G. Association of Different Restriction Levels With COVID-19-Related Distress and Mental Health in Somatic Inpatients: A Secondary Analysis of Swiss General Hospital Data. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:872116. [PMID: 35592378 PMCID: PMC9113023 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.872116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and related countermeasures hinder health care access and affect mental wellbeing of non-COVID-19 patients. There is lack of evidence on distress and mental health of patients hospitalized due to other reasons than COVID-19-a vulnerable population group in two ways: First, given their risk for physical diseases, they are at increased risk for severe courses and death related to COVID-19. Second, they may struggle particularly with COVID-19 restrictions due to their dependence on social support. Therefore, we investigated the association of intensity of COVID-19 restrictions with levels of COVID-19-related distress, mental health (depression, anxiety, somatic symptom disorder, and mental quality of life), and perceived social support among Swiss general hospital non-COVID-19 inpatients. METHODS We analyzed distress of 873 hospital inpatients not admitted for COVID-19, recruited from internal medicine, gynecology, rheumatology, rehabilitation, acute geriatrics, and geriatric rehabilitation wards of three hospitals. We assessed distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and four indicators of mental health: depressive and anxiety symptom severity, psychological distress associated with somatic symptoms, and the mental component of health-related quality of life; additionally, we assessed social support. The data collection period was divided into modest (June 9 to October 18, 2020) and strong (October 19, 2020, to April 17, 2021) COVID-19 restrictions, based on the Oxford Stringency Index for Switzerland. RESULTS An additional 13% (95%-Confidence Interval 4-21%) and 9% (1-16%) of hospital inpatients reported distress related to leisure time and loneliness, respectively, during strong COVID-19 restrictions compared to times of modest restrictions. There was no evidence for changes in mental health or social support. CONCLUSIONS Focusing on the vulnerable population of general hospital inpatients not admitted for COVID-19, our results suggest that tightening of COVID-19 restrictions in October 2020 was associated with increased COVID-19-related distress regarding leisure time and loneliness, with no evidence for a related decrease in mental health. If this association was causal, safe measures to increase social interaction (e.g., virtual encounters and outdoor activities) are highly warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT04269005.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Julia Aebi
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Günther Fink
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Kaspar Wyss
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Iris Baenteli
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Seraina Caviezel
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Anja Studer
- Department of Health Canton Basel-Stadt, Division of Prevention, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sarah Trost
- Department of Geriatric Medicine FELIX PLATTER, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sibil Tschudin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Rainer Schaefert
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Gunther Meinlschmidt
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Division of Clinical Psychology and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, International Psychoanalytic University Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Division of Clinical Psychology and Epidemiology, Department of Psychology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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