COVIDPub Date : 2024-05-15DOI: 10.20944/preprints202403.1157.v1
Angela Falola, Hanna Squire, Sabine Bou-Antoun, Alessandra Løchen, Colin S. Brown, Alicia Demirjian
{"title":"COVID-19 Therapeutics Use by Social Deprivation Index in England, July 2020–April 2023","authors":"Angela Falola, Hanna Squire, Sabine Bou-Antoun, Alessandra Løchen, Colin S. Brown, Alicia Demirjian","doi":"10.20944/preprints202403.1157.v1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202403.1157.v1","url":null,"abstract":"Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) has disproportionately affected certain demographics in England, exacerbating existing health disparities. Effective therapeutics are a critical line of defence against COVID-19, particularly for patients at elevated risk for severe disease. Surveillance systems were established to monitor the usage of COVID-19 therapeutics in hospital and community settings and to inform stewardship. Three antiviral therapies—nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir (Paxlovid®), remdesivir (Veklury®), and molnupiravir (Lagevrio®)—and two neutralising monoclonal antibody therapies (nMAbs)—sotrovimab (Xevudy®) and casirivimab with imdevimab (Ronapreve®)—were in use in England between July 2020 and April 2023. This paper aims to illuminate trends in the utilisation of COVID-19 therapeutics treatment in both hospital and community settings, stratified by the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) in England. Chapter 3 of the English Surveillance Programme for Antimicrobial Utilisation and Resistance (ESPAUR) Report 2022 to 2023 also discusses the epidemiological surveillance of these five directly acting antiviral COVID-19 therapeutics’ use in England between 2022 and 2023.","PeriodicalId":72714,"journal":{"name":"COVID","volume":"63 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140973616","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
COVIDPub Date : 2024-05-13DOI: 10.3390/covid4050041
Ignacio Alejandro Mendoza-Martínez, Edmundo Marroquín-Tovar, Jorge Pablo Rivas-Díaz, Araceli Durand, Gustavo Enrique Sauri-Alpuche, B. García-Rivera
{"title":"Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on Subjective Well-Being and Quality of Life in Mexico: Insights from Structural Equation Modeling","authors":"Ignacio Alejandro Mendoza-Martínez, Edmundo Marroquín-Tovar, Jorge Pablo Rivas-Díaz, Araceli Durand, Gustavo Enrique Sauri-Alpuche, B. García-Rivera","doi":"10.3390/covid4050041","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/covid4050041","url":null,"abstract":"Amid the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, the living conditions of the population were dramatically altered, with social distancing measures and the looming threat to public health leaving a profound impact on people’s lives. This study aims to assess the influence of COVID-19 on subjective well-being and overall quality of life in Mexico. A structural model with latent variables was used. Data were extracted from the National Self-Reported Well-being Survey (SWLS) from October 2020 and January 2021, featuring a robust sample size of 3615 residents from urban areas in Mexico, all aged 18 and above. Findings revealed that around 38% of the variance in overall life satisfaction in October 2020 and January 2021 could be attributed to Personal well-being (0.231), Personal satisfaction (0.320), Satisfaction with the environment (0.076), and Negative emotional states (−0.116). In comparison, October 2019 to January 2020 saw a lower 20% explained variance, primarily associated with Personal well-being (0.184), Personal satisfaction (0.270), and Satisfaction with the environment (0.052). Reliability assessments, including Cronbach’s Alpha coefficients, Rho_a, and Composite Reliability, all surpassed 0.70 for each subscale. In addition, our study confirmed convergent validity, as the Average Variance Extracted (AVE) consistently exceeded 0.50 across all subscales, while the discriminant coefficient exceeded 0.70.","PeriodicalId":72714,"journal":{"name":"COVID","volume":"103 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140985961","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
COVIDPub Date : 2024-05-13DOI: 10.3390/covid4050042
Antoinette D. Reichert, Júlia M. da Silva Voorham, Karin H. Groenewegen, Huub La van den Oever
{"title":"Impact and Occurrence of Herpesvirus and Aspergillosis Superinfection in Patients with Severe COVID-19 Pneumonia","authors":"Antoinette D. Reichert, Júlia M. da Silva Voorham, Karin H. Groenewegen, Huub La van den Oever","doi":"10.3390/covid4050042","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/covid4050042","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Pulmonary superinfections with Herpesviridae and Aspergillus spp. are common in severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia but their epidemiology and impact remain poorly understood. Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study of 61 mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients at Deventer Hospital’s ICU (2020–2021) who underwent bronchoalveolar lavage (BL) due to clinical deterioration. We analyzed blood and respiratory samples, treatment, and clinical outcomes. Results: Among 61 mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients who underwent BL, 34 (55.7%) had superinfections, with 18 having COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA), 7 having herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection, and 9 having both. Patients with HSV had later diagnoses (median 14 vs. 8 days, p = 0.014), longer mechanical ventilation (median 47 vs. 18.5 days, p = 0.015), and longer ICU stays (median 74 vs. 24 days, p = 0.021) compared to CAPA patients. At baseline, laboratory parameters and treatment (dexamethasone or tocilizumab) showed no significant association with superinfections. Mortality did not differ significantly among groups. Conclusion: In mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients undergoing bronchoalveolar lavage, HSV reactivation occurred later in the course of illness and was associated with longer mechanical ventilation and ICU stays compared to CAPA. Baseline parameters did not predict superinfections.","PeriodicalId":72714,"journal":{"name":"COVID","volume":"90 15","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140984681","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
COVIDPub Date : 2024-05-12DOI: 10.3390/covid4050040
Alessandro Geraci, Laura Di Domenico, Antonella D'Amico
{"title":"The Relationship between Coping Strategies and State Anxiety during COVID-19 Lockdown: The Role of Perceived Emotional Intelligence","authors":"Alessandro Geraci, Laura Di Domenico, Antonella D'Amico","doi":"10.3390/covid4050040","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/covid4050040","url":null,"abstract":"Background: The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused an unprecedented and unexpected change all around the globe. The long-term effects are still ongoing, especially those related to the confinement measures. The study took place during the first COVID-19 lockdown in Italy, where everyone was forced to stay home in order to reduce the spread of the virus. The aim was to investigate the role of perceived emotional intelligence abilities (PEI) in coping with COVID-19-related anxiety. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was employed, and this study used an online survey launched through social networks, inviting adults to participate. The participants anonymously completed a three-scale online measurement of self-reported emotional abilities, coping strategies (approach and avoidance), and state anxiety towards COVID-19. Results: perceived emotional intelligence and approach coping significantly predicted state anxiety. In addition, perceived emotional intelligence mediated the relationship between approach coping and state anxiety. Conclusions: the study highlights the positive role of perceived emotional abilities in dealing with the unprecedented event represented by the COVID-19 pandemic, and in particular, in coping with anxiety related to lockdown and confinement. Their results highlight the importance of fostering emotional intelligence for navigating critical life events.","PeriodicalId":72714,"journal":{"name":"COVID","volume":"118 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140986319","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
COVIDPub Date : 2024-04-22DOI: 10.3390/covid4040038
T. Konishi, Toa Takahashi
{"title":"Mutation Trajectory of Omicron SARS-CoV-2 Virus, Measured by Principal Component Analysis","authors":"T. Konishi, Toa Takahashi","doi":"10.3390/covid4040038","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/covid4040038","url":null,"abstract":"Since 2019, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has caused a global pandemic, resulting in widespread infections and ongoing mutations. Analyzing these mutations is essential for predicting future impacts. Unlike influenza mutations, SARS-CoV-2 mutations displayed distinct selective patterns that were concentrated in the spike protein and small ORFs. In contrast to the gradual accumulation seen in influenza mutations, SARS-CoV-2 mutations lead to the abrupt emergence of new variants and subsequent outbreaks. This phenomenon may be attributed to their targeted cellular substances; unlike the influenza virus, which has mutated to evade acquired immunity, SARS-CoV-2 appeared to mutate to target individuals who have not been previously infected. The Omicron variant, which emerged in late 2021, demonstrates significant mutations that set it apart from previous variants. The rapid mutation rate of SARS-CoV-2 has now reached a level comparable to 30 years of influenza variation. The most recent variant, JN.1, exhibits a discernible trajectory of change distinct from previous Omicron variants.","PeriodicalId":72714,"journal":{"name":"COVID","volume":"9 23","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140674027","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
COVIDPub Date : 2024-04-19DOI: 10.3390/covid4040037
J. Sarfo, Mustapha Amoadu, E. Ansah, John Elvis Hagan Jnr.
{"title":"COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance and Hesitancy among Teachers and Students: A Scoping Review of Prevalence and Risk Factors","authors":"J. Sarfo, Mustapha Amoadu, E. Ansah, John Elvis Hagan Jnr.","doi":"10.3390/covid4040037","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/covid4040037","url":null,"abstract":"Students’ and teachers’ acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccination may help boost the uptake of the vaccines in the general population because teachers and students serve as a source of information and campaign mechanisation for vaccination. This review aimed to map evidence on the prevalence and predictors of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy among teachers and students. After removing duplicates, a search in several databases (Dimensions, PubMed Central, JSTOR, Google Scholar, Google, the WHO Library, and HINARI) produced 2060 records. Through screening based on the inclusion criteria, 27 records were used for this review. A relatively high prevalence of vaccine hesitancy was found among teachers and students. Teachers and students in countries such as China, Egypt, the USA, and India however, reported relatively low levels of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. Vaccine hesitancy depends on perceived adverse effects, safety, efficacy, and benefits among teachers and students, with male teachers and male students being more likely to accept the COVID-19 vaccine than their female counterparts. Moreover, we found that vaccine acceptance could result from trust in the healthcare system and pharmaceutical companies, sources of COVID-19 information, and trust in healthcare providers. Public health experts, academics, other scientists, and health practitioners are required to take a more distinctive, multidisciplinary, and structured approach that focused on communicating effective evidence-based information to combat misinformation concerning COVID-19 vaccines.","PeriodicalId":72714,"journal":{"name":"COVID","volume":" 23","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140685001","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
COVIDPub Date : 2024-04-17DOI: 10.3390/covid4040034
D. Price, T. Bonsaksen, Janni Leung, Mary R. Ruffolo, G. Lamph, Karis Hawkins, Amy Østertun Geirdal
{"title":"The Psychosocial Health of Black/African Americans Compared with People of Other Races/Ethnic Origins during the COVID-19 Pandemic","authors":"D. Price, T. Bonsaksen, Janni Leung, Mary R. Ruffolo, G. Lamph, Karis Hawkins, Amy Østertun Geirdal","doi":"10.3390/covid4040034","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/covid4040034","url":null,"abstract":"This study compared the psychosocial health between Black/African Americans and other ethnic groups during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using self-report questionnaires, data were collected at three time points from April 2020 to January 2022, controlling for education and employment status. Surprisingly, Black/African American participants consistently reported lower psychological distress compared to their counterparts. However, they initially reported lower quality of life, which improved over time, eventually surpassing that of the other groups by January 2022. These findings suggest resilience among Black/African Americans despite historical marginalization. Socioeconomic factors and historical context may have influenced these disparities, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to support marginalized communities during crises.","PeriodicalId":72714,"journal":{"name":"COVID","volume":" 41","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140691712","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
COVIDPub Date : 2024-04-17DOI: 10.3390/covid4040036
K. Quing, Jomar Saif P. Baudin, R. R. Maaliw
{"title":"A Sequential Explanatory Study Examining the Buffering Effects of Human–Animal Interaction on Stress and Quality of Life among Work-from-Home Employees during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Philippines","authors":"K. Quing, Jomar Saif P. Baudin, R. R. Maaliw","doi":"10.3390/covid4040036","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/covid4040036","url":null,"abstract":"The sudden lockdown and social isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic substantially affected the physical and psychological aspects of our lives. This study used a sequential explanatory research design to explore how human–animal interactions (HAI) can reduce stress and improve quality of life (QOL) for employees working from home during the period. A total of 770 respondents took part in the quantitative portion of this study, comprised of 385 pet owners and 385 non-pet owners, with ten individuals randomly selected for the qualitative phase. The pet owners group was predominantly female, with 28.57% of the total sample with a mean age of 33.67 and a standard deviation (SD) of 9.46. In contrast, the majority of non-pet owners were male, making up 32.46% of the group with an average age of 29.57 and SD of 6.42. The HAI scale, work stress questionnaire, and the WHOQOL-BREF tests were utilized to evaluate the variables of this research. The results indicated significant differences in stress levels between the two independent groups. However, there were no significant differences in the overall QOL within the groups, except in the social domain. More importantly, our research showed that HAI had a buffering effect on stress and QOL among pet owners. Our research has important implications for understanding the importance of owning pets in enhancing personal welfare. These results are helpful for public health policies and endeavors to aid individuals and communities during periods of crises such as a pandemic.","PeriodicalId":72714,"journal":{"name":"COVID","volume":" 70","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140692143","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
COVIDPub Date : 2024-04-17DOI: 10.3390/covid4040035
Emerson Lucas Silva Camargo, C. Ribeiro, Guilherme Reis de Santana Santos, Valdemar Silva Almeida, H. E. F. Carvalho, Guilherme Schneider, Letícia Genova Vieira, André Luiz Silva Alvim, Fabiana Guerra Pimenta, Liliane Moretti Carneiro, Odinéa Maria Amorim Batista, Anderson Reis de Sousa, Álvaro Francisco Lopes de Sousa, Carla Aparecida Arena Ventura
{"title":"Belief in Conspiracy Theories about COVID-19 Vaccines among Brazilians: A National Cross-Sectional Study","authors":"Emerson Lucas Silva Camargo, C. Ribeiro, Guilherme Reis de Santana Santos, Valdemar Silva Almeida, H. E. F. Carvalho, Guilherme Schneider, Letícia Genova Vieira, André Luiz Silva Alvim, Fabiana Guerra Pimenta, Liliane Moretti Carneiro, Odinéa Maria Amorim Batista, Anderson Reis de Sousa, Álvaro Francisco Lopes de Sousa, Carla Aparecida Arena Ventura","doi":"10.3390/covid4040035","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/covid4040035","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Vaccine hesitancy is a complex challenge that demands a comprehensive approach, one that not only acknowledges legitimate concerns within communities but also actively confronts misinformation. In this context, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of belief in conspiracy theories about COVID-19 vaccines among Brazilians, seeking to understand the factors associated with this behavior. Method: Utilizing a national online survey conducted between May and August 2020, with a sample of 4247 participants, we conducted multivariate analysis to identify the independent determinants of this adherence, calculating adjusted prevalence ratios (APRs) and their 95% confidence intervals. Results: It was revealed that 27.7% of participants believed in at least one conspiracy theory. Factors associated with a higher level of adherence included agreement with at least one piece of COVID-19 misinformation on social media (APR: 3.65; 95% CI: 3.07–4.34), lack of difficulty accessing leisure activities during the pandemic (APR: 3.11; 95% CI: 1.85–5.24), age 50 years or older (APR: 1.70; 95% CI: 1.49–1.94), absence of difficulty accessing protective measures (APR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.26–1.72), use of face masks (APR: 1.62; 95% CI: 1.33–1.97), non-use of at least one traditional media source for information (APR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.26–1.72), female gender (APR: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.25–1.60), and age between 30 and 49 years (APR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.19–1.52). Conclusions: Our findings highlight that it is crucial to recognize that vaccine hesitancy is not merely an isolated phenomenon but often rooted in a complex interplay of social, cultural, psychological, and political factors. There is a need for multifaceted strategies to combat vaccine hesitancy, effectively address conspiracy theories, and consider the various factors associated with their prevalence.","PeriodicalId":72714,"journal":{"name":"COVID","volume":" 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140692562","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
COVIDPub Date : 2024-04-16DOI: 10.3390/covid4040033
Colleen Phan, Brandon Mercado, J. Travis, Ginny Webb
{"title":"Identifying the Predictors of Pediatric Vaccine Uptake during the COVID-19 Pandemic","authors":"Colleen Phan, Brandon Mercado, J. Travis, Ginny Webb","doi":"10.3390/covid4040033","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/covid4040033","url":null,"abstract":"Identifying determinants of vaccination uptake is critical for public and community health. The population became divided in regard to preventative measures and vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, there are varying opinions on decisions to vaccinate children against childhood diseases and COVID-19. Recent findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing vaccine hesitancy. Here, we assess vaccine hesitancy in parents by identifying predictors of vaccine acceptance by parents during the COVID-19 pandemic using a survey given to parents in South Carolina. Knowledge about COVID-19 and vaccinations affects vaccination intentions. Age, education, gender, and politics were also found to predict parents’ decisions about vaccinating their kids. Understanding potential barriers to vaccine acceptance will aid healthcare providers and public health entities to better reach the community.","PeriodicalId":72714,"journal":{"name":"COVID","volume":"55 S268","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140694716","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}