Effect of COVID-19 driven lockdown on social contact pattern in Puducherry, India: A longitudinal study

Objective

This study was undertaken to assess the change in social contact and transmission dynamics among adults in the Puducherry district during the different phases of country-wide lockdown.

Methods

Adults aged 18-69 years in Puducherry were assessed for frequency and duration of contacts in the following time points: prior to lockdown (March 2020), during lockdown, immediate post-lockdown (April, June 2020), and seven months post-lockdown (February 2021). Adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRR) were obtained using a generalized estimating equation. We also assessed the exponential trajectory of the time-varying reproduction number (R_t) during and after lockdown.

Results

Compared to pre-lockdown phase, frequency of social contacts during 1^st week, 4^th week of lockdown, and immediate post-lockdown were reduced by 89% (aIRR = 0.11; 95% CI: 0.09-0.13), 40% (aIRR = 0.60; 95% CI: 0.52-0.69) and 91% (aIRR = 0.09; 95% CI: 0.07-0.10) respectively. However, the decline was not statistically significant at seven months post-lockdown. Correspondingly, we observed an initial spike in R_t during the lockdown phase followed by a gradual decline during the immediate post-lockdown phase. However, seven months post-lockdown, R_t has increased again.

Conclusion

The study showed high compliance to the lockdown measures in Puducherry during the lockdown and immediate post-lockdown periods. However, as the lockdown measures were relaxed, the contact rate returned to the pre-lockdown state.

Worldwide trend in measles incidence from 1980 to 2016: A pooled analysis of evidence from 194 WHO Member States

Background

Decline in measles cases has not been uniform across countries and regions. Hence, we assessed the trend of measles from 1980 to 2016 with respect to WHO regions, World Bank income groups, and globally.

Methods

We have conducted secondary data analysis by using the data on measles incidence from Global Health Observatory. For clustering adjustment, random intercept modeling with negative binomial distribution was used.

Results

Globally, there was decline in the measles incidence from 4211,431 in 1980 to 132,325 in 2016. This accounts for around 8% decline in the measles cases every year (IRR - 0.92, P < 0.001). The results showed that there was a true declining trend after adjusting for clustering at regional (IRR - 0.90, P < 0.001) and income group level (IRR - 0.91, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Current study showed that there was significant decline in the incident number of measles cases based on worldwide, regional, and income group estimates, but insufficient to achieve the measles elimination target by 2020.

Prevalence of hypertension among professional drivers: Evidence from 2000 to 2017-A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:

Hypertension is one of the leading causes of premature deaths worldwide. Drivers have an additional risk of hypertension when compared to the general population because of the nature of their profession. Hence, the current review was done to estimate the global burden of hypertension among professional drivers.

Methods:

We conducted a systematic search for articles on the prevalence of hypertension among drivers published from 2000 to 2017 in Medline and Embase. Meta-analysis was performed using the random-effects model and pooled prevalence of hypertension was reported. Heterogeneity was assessed using the likelihood ratio (LR) test and publication bias was assessed using Egger's test.

Results:

In total, 26 studies with 15,702 drivers were included. The pooled prevalence of hypertension among the drivers worldwide was 34% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 27–40%). World Health Organization (WHO) region-wise estimates showed that prevalence was highest among the drivers in the Western Pacific region (56%) and lowest in the Eastern Mediterranean and African region (21%). Studies showed significant evidence of heterogeneity (Χ² = 1816.1, P < 0.001) but there was no significant publication bias (P = 0.967).

Conclusion:

More than one-third of drivers have hypertension globally which is in excess of the general population. Hence, more focus needs to be given for allocating resources and developing workplace interventions for prevention and control of hypertension.

Worldwide trend in measles incidence from 1980 to 2016: A pooled analysis of evidence from 194 WHO Member States

BACKGROUND

Decline in measles cases has not been uniform across countries and regions. Hence, we assessed the trend of measles from 1980 to 2016 with respect to WHO regions, World Bank income groups, and globally.

METHODS

We have conducted secondary data analysis by using the data on measles incidence from Global Health Observatory. For clustering adjustment, random intercept modeling with negative binomial distribution was used.

RESULTS

Globally, there was decline in the measles incidence from 4211,431 in 1980 to 132,325 in 2016. This accounts for around 8% decline in the measles cases every year (IRR - 0.92, P < 0.001). The results showed that there was a true declining trend after adjusting for clustering at regional (IRR - 0.90, P < 0.001) and income group level (IRR - 0.91, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Current study showed that there was significant decline in the incident number of measles cases based on worldwide, regional, and income group estimates, but insufficient to achieve the measles elimination target by 2020.