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Comunale BA, Hsu YJ, Larson RJ, Singh A, Jackson-Ward E, Engineer LD. Vitamin D Supplementation and Prior Oral Poliovirus Vaccination Decrease Odds of COVID-19 Outcomes among Adults Recently Inoculated with Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:121. [PMID: 38400105 PMCID: PMC10892023 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12020121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Structural and functional commonalities between poliovirus and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) suggest that poliovirus inoculation may induce antibodies that mitigate the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). No known studies have evaluated COVID-19 risk factors in adults recently vaccinated against poliovirus. STUDY OBJECTIVE Among adults with no history of COVID-19 infection or vaccination, who recently received an inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV), we sought to determine which biological factors and social determinants of health (SDOH) may be associated with (1) testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, (2) experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, and (3) a longer duration of COVID-19 symptoms. METHODS The influence of biological factors and SDOH on SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 symptoms were evaluated among 282 adults recently inoculated with IPV. Participant-reported surveys were analyzed over 12 months post-enrollment. Bivariate and multivariate linear and logistic regression models identified associations between variables and COVID-19 outcomes. RESULTS Adjusting for COVID-19 vaccinations, variants, and other SDOH, secondary analyses revealed that underlying conditions, employment, vitamin D, education, and the oral poliovirus vaccination (OPV) were associated with COVID-19 outcomes. The odds of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 and experiencing symptoms were significantly reduced among participants who took vitamin D (OR 0.12 and OR 0.09, respectively). Unemployed or part-time working participants were 72% less likely to test positive compared with full-time workers. No prior dose of OPV was one of the strongest predictors of SARS-CoV-2 infection (OR 4.36) and COVID-19 symptoms (OR 6.95). CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that prophylactic measures and mucosal immunity may mitigate the risk and severity of COVID-19 outcomes. Larger-scale studies may inform future policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany A. Comunale
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Yea-Jen Hsu
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Robin J. Larson
- Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
- Department of Palliative Medicine, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA
| | - Aditi Singh
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92161, USA
| | - Erin Jackson-Ward
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Lilly D. Engineer
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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Wypych-Ślusarska A, Krupa-Kotara K, Oleksiuk K, Głogowska-Ligus J, Słowiński J, Niewiadomska E. Socioeconomic and Health Determinants of the Prevalence of COVID-19 in a Population of Children with Respiratory Diseases and Symptoms. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 11:88. [PMID: 38255401 PMCID: PMC10814875 DOI: 10.3390/children11010088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most epidemiological studies indicate that bronchial asthma is not a risk factor for COVID-19, but previous analyses have not additionally focused on the socioeconomic determinants of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children with asthma, bronchitis, and respiratory symptoms. AIMS This research aimed to investigate the correlation between the socioeconomic status of families and the prevalence of respiratory conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, and respiratory symptoms in children, in addition to exploring their association with the prevalence of COVID-19. The study involved a cross-sectional epidemiological investigation conducted in 2022, encompassing 2454 students from elementary schools in Poland. The parents of the students completed a questionnaire modeled after the International Study on Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Socioeconomic status (SES) indicators were determined based on parental education, self-reported economic status, and housing conditions. To assess the impact of social factors and health on the occurrence of COVID-19, odds ratios (ORs) were calculated. The findings revealed several COVID-19 risk factors, including higher maternal (OR 2.2; 95%CI: 1.3-3.0) and paternal education (OR 1.9; 95%CI: 1.3-2.4), urban residence (OR 1.7; 95%CI: 1.3-2.1), the presence of mold in residences (OR 1.7; 95%CI: 1.0-2.3), bronchitis (OR 1.5; 95%CI: 1.2-2.0), and chronic cough (OR 1.8; 95%CI: 1.3-2.4). Further analysis, stratifying children based on their baseline health status (i.e., presence or absence of asthma, bronchitis, and chronic cough), indicated that higher parental education increased the risk of COVID-19 solely for children without pre-existing conditions. The occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 infections was found to be notably associated with mold exposure in children who did not have bronchial asthma. Rigorous multivariate analyses substantiated the collective impact of factors such as residential environment, the existence of mold and moisture, and a history of bronchitis. This study's conclusions highlight a higher frequency of SARS-CoV-2 infections in cases where bronchitis had been diagnosed previously and chronic cough was prevalent. Interestingly, the initially hypothesized higher prevalence of COVID-19 among children with bronchial asthma did not receive confirmation in our findings. This study highlights the importance of urban residence, exposure to mold or dampness, and higher parental education in the incidence of COVID-19. Higher parental education was a significant factor in increasing the risk of COVID-19 among children without bronchitis, chronic cough, and asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agata Wypych-Ślusarska
- Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 41-902 Katowice, Poland; (A.W.-Ś.); (K.O.); (J.G.-L.); (J.S.)
| | - Karolina Krupa-Kotara
- Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Public Health in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 41-902 Katowice, Poland;
| | - Klaudia Oleksiuk
- Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 41-902 Katowice, Poland; (A.W.-Ś.); (K.O.); (J.G.-L.); (J.S.)
| | - Joanna Głogowska-Ligus
- Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 41-902 Katowice, Poland; (A.W.-Ś.); (K.O.); (J.G.-L.); (J.S.)
| | - Jerzy Słowiński
- Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 41-902 Katowice, Poland; (A.W.-Ś.); (K.O.); (J.G.-L.); (J.S.)
| | - Ewa Niewiadomska
- Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Public Health in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 41-902 Katowice, Poland;
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Lombardo C, Guo L, Solomon S, Crepaz-Keay D, McDaid S, Thorpe L, Martin S, John A, Morton A, Davidson G, Kousoulis AA, Van Bortel T. Inequalities and mental health during the Coronavirus pandemic in the UK: a mixed-methods exploration. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1830. [PMID: 37730605 PMCID: PMC10510114 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16523-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The World Health Organisation declared the novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) a global pandemic on 11th March 2020. Since then, the world has been firmly in its grip. At the time of writing, there were more than 767,972,961 million confirmed cases and over 6,950,655 million deaths. While the main policy focus has been on controlling the virus and ensuring vaccine roll-out and uptake, the population mental health impacts of the pandemic are expected to be long-term, with certain population groups affected more than others. METHODS The overall objectives of our 'Coronavirus: Mental Health and the Pandemic' study were to explore UK adults' experiences of the Coronavirus pandemic and to gain insights into the mental health impacts, population-level changes over time, current and future mental health needs, and how these can best be addressed. The wider mixed-methods study consisted of repeated cross-sectional surveys and embedded qualitative sub-studies including in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with the wider UK adult population. For this particular inequalities and mental health sub-study, we used mixed methods data from our cross-sectional surveys and we carried out three Focus Group Discussions with a maximum variation sample from across the UK adult population. The discussions covered the broader topic of 'Inequalities and mental health during the Coronavirus pandemic in the UK' and took place online between April and August 2020. Focus Groups transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis in NVIVO. Cross-sectional survey data were analysed using STATA for descriptive statistics. RESULTS Three broad main themes emerged, each supporting a number of sub-themes: (1) Impacts of the pandemic; (2) Moving forward: needs and recommendations; (3) Coping mechanisms and resilience. Findings showed that participants described their experiences of the pandemic in relation to its impact on themselves and on different groups of people. Their experiences illustrated how the pandemic and subsequent measures had exacerbated existing inequalities and created new ones, and triggered various emotional responses. Participants also described their coping strategies and what worked and did not work for them, as well as support needs and recommendations for moving forward through, and out of, the pandemic; all of which are valuable learnings to be considered in policy making for improving mental health and for ensuring future preparedness. CONCLUSIONS The pandemic is taking a long-term toll on the nations' mental health which will continue to have impacts for years to come. It is therefore crucial to learn the vital lessons learned from this pandemic. Specific as well as whole-government policies need to respond to this, address inequalities and the different needs across the life-course and across society, and take a holistic approach to mental health improvement across the UK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Lombardo
- Cambridge Public Health Interdisciplinary Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Box 113, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK
- Mental Health Foundation, Studio 2, 197 Long Lane, London, SE1 4PD, UK
| | - Lijia Guo
- Cambridge Public Health Interdisciplinary Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Box 113, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK
| | - Susan Solomon
- Mental Health Foundation, Studio 2, 197 Long Lane, London, SE1 4PD, UK
| | - David Crepaz-Keay
- Mental Health Foundation, Studio 2, 197 Long Lane, London, SE1 4PD, UK
| | - Shari McDaid
- Mental Health Foundation, Studio 2, 197 Long Lane, London, SE1 4PD, UK
| | - Lucy Thorpe
- Mental Health Foundation, Studio 2, 197 Long Lane, London, SE1 4PD, UK
| | - Steven Martin
- Leicester School of Allied Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University, Gateway House, Leicester, LE1 9BH, UK
| | - Ann John
- Health Data Research UK, Swansea University Medical School, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Alec Morton
- Department of Management Science, Strathclyde Business School, University of Strathclyde, 199 Cathedral Street, Glasgow, G4 0QU, UK
| | - Gavin Davidson
- School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT7 1NN, UK
| | | | - Tine Van Bortel
- Cambridge Public Health Interdisciplinary Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Box 113, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK.
- Leicester School of Allied Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University, Gateway House, Leicester, LE1 9BH, UK.
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Harris M, Hart J, Bhattacharya O, Russell FM. Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic literature review. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1178167. [PMID: 37583888 PMCID: PMC10424847 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1178167] [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: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Identifying SARS-CoV-2 infection risk factors allows targeted public health and social measures (PHSM). As new, more transmissible variants of concern (VoC) emerge, vaccination rates increase and PHSM are eased, it is important to understand any potential change to infection risk factors. The aim of this systematic literature review is to describe the risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection by VoC. Methods A literature search was performed in MEDLINE, PubMed and Embase databases on 5 May 2022. Eligibility included: observational studies published in English after 1 January 2020; any age group; the outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection; and any potential risk factors investigated in the study. Results were synthesized into a narrative summary with respect to measures of association, by VoC. ROBINS-E tool was utilized for risk of bias assessment. Results Of 6,197 studies retrieved, 43 studies were included after screening. Common risk factors included older age, minority ethnic group, low socioeconomic status, male gender, increased household size, occupation/lower income level, inability to work from home, public transport use, and lower education level. Most studies were undertaken when the ancestral strain was predominant. Many studies had some selection bias due to testing criteria and limited laboratory capacity. Conclusion Understanding who is at risk enables the development of strategies that target priority groups at each of the different stages of a pandemic and helps inform vaccination strategies and other interventions which may also inform public health responses to future respiratory infection outbreaks. While it was not possible to determine changes to infection risk by recent VoC in this review, the risk factors identified will add to the overall understanding of the groups who are at greatest risk of infection in the early stages of a respiratory virus outbreak. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022330706, PROSPERO [CRD42022330706].
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Harris
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Asia-Pacific Health Group, Infection, Immunity and Global Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - John Hart
- Asia-Pacific Health Group, Infection, Immunity and Global Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Oashe Bhattacharya
- Asia-Pacific Health Group, Infection, Immunity and Global Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Fiona M. Russell
- Asia-Pacific Health Group, Infection, Immunity and Global Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Centre for International Child Health, Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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5
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Martinez Leal I, Njoh J, Chen TA, Foreman-Hays F, Reed BC, Haley SA, Chavez K, Reitzel LR, Obasi EM. Exploring COVID-19 Vaccine Attitudes among Racially and Ethnically Minoritized Communities: Community Partners' and Residents' Perspectives. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:3372. [PMID: 36834067 PMCID: PMC9964615 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20043372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 has disproportionately affected Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities, yet rates of COVID-19 vaccination remain low among these groups. A qualitative study was undertaken to better understand the factors contributing to low vaccine acceptance among these communities. Seventeen focus groups were conducted in English and Spanish from 8/21 to 9/22, with representatives from five critical community sectors: (1) public health departments (n = 1); (2) Federally Qualified Health Centers (n = 2); (3) community-based organizations (n = 1); (4) faith-based organizations (n = 2); and (5) BIPOC residents in six high-risk, underserved communities in metropolitan Houston (n = 11), for a total of 79 participants, comprising 22 community partners and 57 community residents. A social-ecological model and anti-racism framework were adopted to guide data analysis using thematic analysis and constant comparison, which yielded five key themes: (1) legacy of structural racism: distrust and threat; (2) media misinformation: mass and social; (3) listening and adapting to community needs; (4) evolving attitudes towards vaccination; and (5) understanding alternative health belief systems. Although structural racism was a key driver of vaccine uptake, a notable finding indicated community residents' vaccine attitudes can be changed once they are confident of the protective benefits of vaccination. Study recommendations include adopting an explicitly anti-racist lens to: (1) listen to community members' needs and concerns, acknowledge their justified institutional distrust concerning vaccines, and learn community members' healthcare priorities to inform initiatives built on local data; (2) address misinformation via culturally informed, consistent messaging tailored to communal concerns and delivered by trusted local leaders through multimodal community forums; (3) take vaccines to where people live through pop-up clinics, churches, and community centers for distribution via trusted community members, with educational campaigns tailored to the needs of distinct communities; (4) establish vaccine equity task forces to continue developing sustainable policies, structures, programs and practices to address the structural issues driving vaccine and health inequities within BIPOC communities; and (5) continue investing in an effective infrastructure for healthcare education and delivery, essential for competently responding to the ongoing healthcare and other emergency crises that impact BIPOC communities to achieve racial justice and health equity in the US. Findings underscore the crucial need to provide culturally tailored health education and vaccination initiatives, focused on cultural humility, bidirectionality, and mutual respect to support vaccine re-evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Martinez Leal
- Department of Health Disparities Research, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77230, USA
- Department of Psychological, Health & Learning Sciences, The University of Houston, 3657 Cullen Blvd., Stephen Power Farish Hall, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Journa Njoh
- Department of Psychological, Health & Learning Sciences, The University of Houston, 3657 Cullen Blvd., Stephen Power Farish Hall, Houston, TX 77204, USA
- HEALTH Research Institute, The University of Houston, 4349 Martin Luther King Blvd., Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Tzuan A Chen
- Department of Psychological, Health & Learning Sciences, The University of Houston, 3657 Cullen Blvd., Stephen Power Farish Hall, Houston, TX 77204, USA
- HEALTH Research Institute, The University of Houston, 4349 Martin Luther King Blvd., Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Faith Foreman-Hays
- Houston Health Department, 8000 North Stadium Dr., Houston, TX 77054, USA
| | - Brian C Reed
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Tillman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine, The University of Houston, 5055 Medical Circle, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Sean A Haley
- Center for Civic & Public Policy Improvement, 5445 Almeda Rd., Suite 504, Houston, TX 77004, USA
| | - Kerry Chavez
- Department of Psychological, Health & Learning Sciences, The University of Houston, 3657 Cullen Blvd., Stephen Power Farish Hall, Houston, TX 77204, USA
- HEALTH Research Institute, The University of Houston, 4349 Martin Luther King Blvd., Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Lorraine R Reitzel
- Department of Health Disparities Research, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77230, USA
- Department of Psychological, Health & Learning Sciences, The University of Houston, 3657 Cullen Blvd., Stephen Power Farish Hall, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Ezemenari M Obasi
- Department of Psychological, Health & Learning Sciences, The University of Houston, 3657 Cullen Blvd., Stephen Power Farish Hall, Houston, TX 77204, USA
- HEALTH Research Institute, The University of Houston, 4349 Martin Luther King Blvd., Houston, TX 77204, USA
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Samutachak B, Ford K, Tangcharoensathien V, Satararuji K. Role of social capital in response to and recovery from the first wave of COVID-19 in Thailand: a qualitative study. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e061647. [PMID: 36669841 PMCID: PMC9871865 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-061647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study assesses the role of social capital among people and communities in response to the first wave of the pandemic in 2020. DESIGN Qualitative study using focus group discussions. SETTING Capital city (Bangkok) and the four regions (north, northeast, south and central) of Thailand. PARTICIPANTS 161 participants of 19 focus groups with diverse backgrounds in terms of gender, profession, education and geography (urban/rural; regions). They are selected for different levels of impact from the pandemic. FINDINGS The solidarity among the Thai people was a key contributing factor to societal resilience during the pandemic. Findings illustrate how three levels of social capital structure-family, community and local networks-mobilised resources from internal and external social networks to support people affected by the pandemic. The results also highlight different types of resources mobilised from the three levels of social capital, factors that affect resilience, collective action to combat the negative impacts of the pandemic, and the roles of social media and gender. CONCLUSION Social capital plays significant roles in the resilience of individuals, households and communities to respond to and recover from the impacts of the pandemic. In many instances, social capital is a faster and more efficient response than other kinds of formal support. Social capital can be enhanced by interactions and exchanges in the communities. While face-to-face social contacts are challenged by the need for social distancing and travel restrictions, social media steps in as alternative socialisation to enhance social capital.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhubate Samutachak
- Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Kathleen Ford
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | | | - Kullatip Satararuji
- Graduate School of Communication Arts and Management Innovation, National Institute of Development Administration, Bangkok, Thailand
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Mazzalai E, Giannini D, Tosti ME, D’Angelo F, Declich S, Jaljaa A, Caminada S, Turatto F, De Marchi C, Gatta A, Angelozzi A, Marchetti G, Pizzarelli S, Marceca M. Risk of Covid-19 Severe Outcomes and Mortality in Migrants and Ethnic Minorities Compared to the General Population in the European WHO Region: a Systematic Review. JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION AND INTEGRATION 2023; 24:1-31. [PMID: 36647529 PMCID: PMC9833641 DOI: 10.1007/s12134-023-01007-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The Covid-19 pandemic has had a major impact on migrants and ethnic minorities (MEMs). Socio-economic factors and legal, administrative and language barriers are among the reasons for this increased susceptibility. The aim of the study is to investigate the impact of Covid-19 on MEMs compared to the general population in terms of serious outcomes. We conducted a systematic review collecting studies on the impact of Covid-19 on MEMs compared to the general population in the WHO European Region regarding hospitalisation, intensive care unit (ICU) admission and mortality, published between 01/01/2020 and 19/03/2021. Nine researchers were involved in selection, study quality assessment and data extraction. Of the 82 studies included, 15 of the 16 regarding hospitalisation for Covid-19 reported an increased risk for MEMs compared to the white and/or native population and 22 out of the 28 studies focusing on the ICU admission rates found an increased risk for MEMs. Among the 65 studies on mortality, 43 report a higher risk for MEMs. An increased risk of adverse outcomes was reported for MEMs. Social determinants of health are among the main factors involved in the genesis of health inequalities: a disadvantaged socio-economic status, a framework of structural racism and asymmetric access to healthcare are linked to increased susceptibility to the consequences of Covid-19. These findings underline the need for policymakers to consider the socio-economic barriers when designing prevention plans. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12134-023-01007-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Mazzalai
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Dara Giannini
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Italian Society of Migration Medicine (SIMM), Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Elena Tosti
- National Centre for Global Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Franca D’Angelo
- National Centre for Global Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Declich
- Italian Society of Migration Medicine (SIMM), Rome, Italy
- National Centre for Global Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Anissa Jaljaa
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Susanna Caminada
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Italian Society of Migration Medicine (SIMM), Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Turatto
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara De Marchi
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Gatta
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Aurora Angelozzi
- Department for Organisational Development, Local Health Unit Roma 1, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Marchetti
- Italian Society of Migration Medicine (SIMM), Rome, Italy
- National Centre for Global Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Scilla Pizzarelli
- Knowledge Unit, Documentation and Library, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Maurizio Marceca
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Italian Society of Migration Medicine (SIMM), Rome, Italy
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Martínez-Alfonso J, Mesas AE, Jimenez-Olivas N, Cabrera-Majada A, Martínez-Vizcaíno V, Díaz-Olalla JM. Economic Migrants and Clinical Course of SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Follow-Up Study. Int J Public Health 2022; 67:1605481. [PMID: 36589473 PMCID: PMC9800286 DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2022.1605481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: To analyze whether social deprivation and economic migrant (EM) status influence the risk of being hospitalized with COVID-19. Methods: This was a retrospective follow-up study including all patients older than 18 years attending the Daroca Health Center in Madrid, Spain, diagnosed with COVID-19 during September 2020. Data on EM status and other sociodemographic, lifestyle and comorbidities that could affect the clinical course of the infection were obtained from electronic medical records. Results: Of the 796 patients positive for COVID-19, 44 (5.53%) were hospitalized. No significant differences were observed between those who were hospitalized and those who were not in the mean of social deprivation index or socioeconomic status, but EM status was associated with the risk of being hospitalized (p = 0.028). Logistic regression models showed that years of age (OR = 1.07; 95% CI: 1.04-1.10), EM status (OR = 5.72; 95% CI: 2.56-12.63) and hypertension (OR = 2.22; 95% CI: 1.01-4.85) were the only predictors of hospitalization. Conclusion: Our data support that EM status, rather than economic deprivation, is the socioeconomic factor associated with the probability of hospital admission for COVID-19 in Madrid, Spain.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arthur Eumann Mesas
- Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Cuenca, Spain,Postgraduate Program in Public Health, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Brazil,*Correspondence: Arthur Eumann Mesas,
| | | | | | - Vicente Martínez-Vizcaíno
- Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Cuenca, Spain,Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Talca, Chile
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Clinical and Epidemiological Presentation of COVID-19 among Children in Conflict Setting. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 9:children9111712. [PMID: 36360440 PMCID: PMC9688921 DOI: 10.3390/children9111712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Background: This study aims to describe the observable symptoms of children with COVID-19 infection and analyze access to real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing among children seeking care in Yemen. Method: In the period of March 2020−February 2022, data were obtained from 495 children suspected to have been infected with COVID-19 (from a larger register of 5634 patients) from the Diseases Surveillance and Infection Control Department at the Ministry of Public Health and Population in Aden, Yemen. Results: Overall, 21.4% of the children with confirmed COVID-19 infection were asymptomatic. Fever (71.4%) and cough (67.1%) were the most frequently reported symptoms among children, and children were less likely to have fever (p < 0.001), sore throat (p < 0.001) and cough (p < 0.001) compared to adults. A lower frequency of COVID-19-associated symptoms was reported among children with positive RT-PCR tests compared to children with negative tests. A lower rate of testing was conducted among children (25%) compared to adults (61%). Fewer tests were carried out among children <5 years (11%) compared to other age groups (p < 0.001), for children from other nationalities (4%) compared to Yemeni children (p < 0.001) and for girls (21%) compared to boys (30%) (p < 0.031). Conclusion: Understanding and addressing the cause of these disparities and improving guidelines for COVID-19 screening among children will improve access to care and control of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Apolonio JS, da Silva Júnior RT, Cuzzuol BR, Araújo GRL, Marques HS, Barcelos IDS, Santos LKDS, Malheiro LH, Lima de Souza Gonçalves V, Freire de Melo F. Syndemic aspects between COVID-19 pandemic and social inequalities. World J Methodol 2022; 12:350-364. [PMID: 36186746 PMCID: PMC9516541 DOI: 10.5662/wjm.v12.i5.350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has reached all over the world population, it has demonstrated a heterogeneous impact on different populations. The most vulnerable communities which coexist daily with the social inequalities like low access to hygiene and personal protection products, crowded residences, and higher levels of chronic diseases have a higher risk of contact and the spread of infection, beyond unfavorable clinical outcomes. The elevation of the risk of infection exposure can be related to gender due to the presence of a larger contingent of women in essential services, as well as frontline and cleaning professionals who regardless of gender have the greatest exposure to the virus. Such exposures can contribute to the development of fear of contaminating themselves or their family members associated also with the work stress, both of which are related to the emergence of mental disturbances in these populations. Furthermore, conditions of unsanitary living and low socioeconomic status, populations at war, pre-existing social barriers, and ethnicity have contributed to more impact of the pandemic both in the exposure to the virus and access to health services, COVID-19 management, and management of other pathologies. At the same time, factors such as the closing of non-essential services, the loss of jobs, and the increase in household spending aggravated the social vulnerabilities and impacted the family economy. Lastly, the COVID-19 pandemic contributed still more to the impact on women's health since it propitiated a favorable environment for increasing domestic violence rates, through the segregation of women from social life, and increasing the time of the victims with their aggressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Santos Apolonio
- Universidade Federal da Bahia, Instituto Multidisciplinar em Saúde, Vitória da Conquista 45029-094, Bahia, Brazil
| | | | - Beatriz Rocha Cuzzuol
- Universidade Federal da Bahia, Instituto Multidisciplinar em Saúde, Vitória da Conquista 45029-094, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Glauber Rocha Lima Araújo
- Universidade Federal da Bahia, Instituto Multidisciplinar em Saúde, Vitória da Conquista 45029-094, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Hanna Santos Marques
- Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, Campus Vitória da Conquista, Vitória da Conquista 45083-900, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Isadora de Souza Barcelos
- Universidade Federal da Bahia, Instituto Multidisciplinar em Saúde, Vitória da Conquista 45029-094, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Luana Kauany de Sá Santos
- Universidade Federal da Bahia, Instituto Multidisciplinar em Saúde, Vitória da Conquista 45029-094, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Luciano Hasimoto Malheiro
- Universidade Federal da Bahia, Instituto Multidisciplinar em Saúde, Vitória da Conquista 45029-094, Bahia, Brazil
| | | | - Fabrício Freire de Melo
- Universidade Federal da Bahia, Instituto Multidisciplinar em Saúde, Vitória da Conquista 45029-094, Bahia, Brazil
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López-Ruiz VR, Alfaro-Navarro JL, Huete-Alcocer N, Nevado-Peña D. Psychological and Social Vulnerability in Spaniards' Quality of Life in the Face of COVID-19: Age and Gender Results. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph191610269. [PMID: 36011905 PMCID: PMC9408594 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191610269] [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: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Following the serious health situation in Spain and around the world in 2020 and 2021 stemming from COVID-19, this paper examines how the most vulnerable groups (in social and health terms) in Spanish society suffered the worst impacts on their quality of life during the pandemic. The review of the literature and publications released by the health authorities highlight the high number of cases of illness and death due to COVID-19; however, there are no studies about how it has affected aspects of citizens' daily lives, considering some of their sociodemographic characteristics such as age and gender. A key issue when measuring citizens' quality of life is that we typically see a U-shaped curve by age group, where young people register the highest shares along with the elderly; nevertheless, the pandemic has clearly brought about a change in this regard. In this study, we corroborate this finding, along with the psychological issues underlying this fact in young people and the physical ones in the elderly. To do so, we use an ANOVA and regression analysis with data from a sample of 908 Spanish citizens belonging to different age groups. These data were collected through an online survey distributed throughout Spain, mostly by email and social media, between 15 February and 15 April 2021 with a margin of error of 3.25% and a confidence level of 95%. Furthermore, the analysis allowed us to determine how aspects of daily life-family situation, living conditions, social environment, employment and financial situation-have been negatively affected during the pandemic, clearly depending on the age of the people surveyed, pushing them towards social and health vulnerability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Víctor-Raúl López-Ruiz
- Department of Spanish and International Economics, Econometrics and History and Economic Institutions, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 02071 Albacete, Spain
| | - José Luis Alfaro-Navarro
- Department of Political Economy and Public Finance, Economic and Business Statistics and Economic Policy, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 02071 Albacete, Spain
| | - Nuria Huete-Alcocer
- Department of Spanish and International Economics, Econometrics and History and Economic Institutions, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 02071 Albacete, Spain
| | - Domingo Nevado-Peña
- Department Business Administration, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13071 Albacete, Spain
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