Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic Research Articles

Depressive and anxiety symptoms amid COVID-19 pandemic among healthcare workers in a low-resource setting: a systematic review and meta-analysis from Ethiopia.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is one of the public health problems that pose a serious mental health concern due to its high morbidity and mortality rate. The healthcare workers are at risk of developing mental health symptoms like depression and anxiety because they are the first point of contact in the diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients with COVID-19. This study aimed to systematically review the prevalence and the associated factors of depression and anxiety disorders among healthcare workers amid COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia. A systematic review and meta-analysis study was conducted. Different primary studies that assessed the depressive and anxiety disorders during amid COVID-19 pandemic in the Ethiopian healthcare workers were extracted by Microsoft Excel and exported to STATA version 11 for further analysis. Random-effects model meta-analysis was used to the estimate pooled effect size and the effect of each study with their 95% confidence interval. Funnel plot analysis and Egger regression tests were conducted to detect the presence of publication bias. Subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis were conducted. Thirteen studies with 5,174 participants were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis study. The pooled prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders was 40.39% (95% CI: 28.54, 52.24) and 44.93% (95% CI: 31.39, 58.46), respectively. Being a woman, being married, working in the frontline, and having high perceived susceptibility were significantly associated with depression among the Ethiopian healthcare workers. Similarly, being a woman, being older in age, working in the frontline, and having high perceived susceptibility were the factors associated with anxiety disorder among the Ethiopian healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders in the Ethiopian healthcare workers was high. The timely detection and appropriate management of mental health problems is essential for the quality of healthcare services, and proactive support methods for the female, married, and older-age healthcare professionals could result in these outcomes. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42022299074.

New-onset complement-mediated thrombotic microangiopathy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus is alleged to enable a proinflammatory state, that leads to the activation of the coagulation and the complement cascade. In this study, we aimed to establish the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with new onset of cTMA/aHUS in the Vienna TMA cohort and whether COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations would pose a greater risk of initial manifestation of cTMA/aHUS. We used the Vienna TMA cohort database to examine the prevalence of COVID-19 related and of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination-related aHUS/cTMA during the first 3 years of the COVID-19 pandemic in a large single-center cohort. Between March 2020 and May 2023, a total of 7 patients experienced their first aHUS/cTMA episode. No patient experienced a TMA relapse or more than one episode during the follow-up period. Three TMA episodes were attributable to either COVID-19 (n=1; 33%) or SARS-CoV-2 vaccination (n=2; 66%), respectively. All three patients had systemic signs of TMA and TMA was confirmed by kidney biopsy in all cases. Among the seven patients we recorded five infections that triggered one TMA episode (20%) and 19 vaccinations triggered two TMA episodes (10%; p=0.52, odds ratio 0.47; 95% CI 0.04-8.39). We speculate, that both SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations and COVID-19 episodes can represent a triggering factor for aHUS/cTMA episodes in (genetically) vulnerable individuals. However, COVID-19 might have a stronger association and might be a stronger trigger than the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. The incidence of new aHUS cases did not differ from the pre-pandemic era in a large tertiary care centre cohort.

Lifestyle changes and psychological anxiety during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic: Using the Korean Community Health Survey

This study investigated changes in lifestyles and psychological anxiety among Koreans during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic using the 2020 data from the nationwide Korean Community Health Survey. The study outcomes were psychological anxiety about the infection and death, due to COVID-19. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to evaluate the relationship between psychological anxiety and lifestyle changes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, people who practiced healthy behaviors and followed social distancing and quarantine regulations experienced increased psychological anxiety for infection and death. Daily life changes during the COVID-19 pandemic were not associated with psychological anxiety. The result of this study can provide baseline measures for further study on psychological anxiety during re-infection of COVID-19 and future pandemics in Korea.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Migrant Workers and Public Policy in Case of Malaysia & Indonesia

B The COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease 2019) pandemic has changed the world altogether to a different plane. It has disrupted economy, health, family, society, etc. and there is no one left who has not been affected by it. Public Policy in case of migrant workers finds important place in this calculation. For, they play an important role in many of the economies, and still are the most vulnerable section of people who has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Their problem emanates from various angles like that of being a legal or illegal (unaccounted) migrant worker, vulnerabilities emanating from lack of bargaining power with their employers and host nations, lack of safety working and hygienic living conditions, access to proper affordable health care facilities, etc. For the international migrant workers (who crosses border from home state to another state for purpose of employment or better economic aspirations), things have been really difficult in these pandemic times in terms of how they were treated by the authorities in the host countries and what kind of national public policy measures was taken to assure their physical health and mental wellbeing, engaging with them to assuage their psychological trauma caused due to various pressures and stress, economic condition, etc. Women migrant workers were more affected in way of losing their jobs, livelihood, family pressures and responsibilities. This paper looks into the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the migrant workers, particularly with a focus on public policy measures taken in Malaysia and Indonesia, as these two nations contributes major chunk of migrant workers (inward and outward respectively) in the south-East Asian region. Apart from detailing the problems faced by the migrant workers during the pandemic times, this paper will dwell deep into the kinds of national public policy measures implemented towards the migrant workers as a response to the pandemic condition and its impact. In addition, this paper will also look into the role and policy of international organisations and NGOs towards the same. Apart from analyzing the problems and identifying the gaps in the approach of the respective governments, recommendations are also made to the public policy makers to improve the effect of their public policies and actions towards the migrant workers, on the basis of highlighting some good practices that are followed in other states.

Outcomes of the Together for Life Program in Community-Dwelling Older Adults Living Alone: A Pilot Study.

The current study developed and tested selected effects of the Together for Life (TFL) program for community-dwelling older adults using an embedded mixed methods design. Nine community volunteers participated in the training program, and 14 people aged ≥65 years, living alone, enrolled in the study. Home visits were conducted by home health nurses every 2 weeks, supplemented by weekly home visits and phone counseling provided by volunteers, for a duration of 20 weeks. This mixed methods study used quantitative and qualitative approaches. Quantitative data were gathered through a questionnaire survey to assess the intervention's effects on health-related quality of life (HRQOL), loneliness, and depression. The qualitative component focused on participants' evaluation of the program. Significant changes were noted in HRQOL scores with an effect size of 0.6 (p = 0.01). Results indicated the positive impact of the TFL program on HRQOL among older adults as their health status was continuously monitored by volunteers who provided care and home health nurses who assisted with health management during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In a pandemic, personalized health management, such as regular health check-ins provided by home health nurses and home or phone visits provided by volunteers, is crucial for isolated older adults. This pilot program enhanced participants' HRQOL through continuous health monitoring, volunteer care, and nurse support, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, xx(x), xx-xx.].

Studies of physical activity and COVID-19 during the pandemic: an updated scoping review.

This review is an update of the previous study aiming to identify the available evidence related to physical activity (PA) in the context of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. We searched 6 databases (PubMed, Embase, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL) in April 2024. Medical subject headings and keywords related to PA and COVID-19 were combined to conduct the online search, which covered the period from July 2020 to April 2024. Overall, 49,579 articles were retrieved. After duplicate removal and title, abstract, and full-text screening, 1,976 articles were included in this update. Most of the studies were observational with a cross-sectional design (68.0%). Most of COVID-19 and PA studies came from high-income countries. Most studies explored the changes in PA levels due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on mental health outcomes. Research on PA and COVID-19 prioritized online approach and cross-sectional designs. Most of the evidence identified a decrease in PA levels due to social distancing measures.

Type 2 diabetes and susceptibility to COVID-19: a machine learning analysis

BackgroundType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was one of the most prevalent comorbidities among patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Interactions between different metabolic parameters contribute to the susceptibility to the virus; thereby, this study aimed to rank the importance of clinical and laboratory variables as risk factors for COVID-19 or as protective factors against it by applying machine learning methods.MethodThis study is a retrospective cohort conducted at a single center, focusing on a population with T2DM. The patients attended the Yazd Diabetes Research Center in Yazd, Iran, from February 20, 2020, to October 21, 2020. Clinical and laboratory data were collected within three months before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran. 59 patients were infected with COVID-19, while 59 were not. The dataset was split into 70% training and 30% test sets. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to the data. The most important components were selected using a ‘sequential feature selector’ and scored by a Linear Discriminant Analysis model. PCA loadings were then multiplied by the PCs’ scores to determine the importance of the original variables in contracting COVID-19.ResultsHDL-C, followed by eGFR, showed a strong negative correlation with the risk of contracting the virus. Higher levels of HDL-C and eGFR offer protection against COVID-19 in the T2DM population. But, the ratio of BUN to creatinine did not show any correlation. Conversely, the AIP, TyG index and TG showed the most positive correlation with susceptibility to COVID-19 in such a way that higher levels of these factors increase the risk of contracting the virus. The positive correlation of diastolic BP, TyG-BMI index, MAP, BMI, weight, TC, FPG, HbA1C, Cr, systolic BP, BUN, and LDL-C with the risk of COVID-19 decreased, respectively.ConclusionThe atherogenic index of plasma, triglyceride glucose index, and triglyceride levels are the most significant risk factors for COVID-19 contracting in individuals with T2DM. Meanwhile, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol is the most protective factor.

Mobile apps for health surveillance: Balancing public health needs with the privacy of personal data

The privacy of personal information is aimed at protecting human rights both under the international human rights regime and the Saudi Arabian constitution and other statutes and regulations, subject only to some exceptions that include the protection of public health. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has brought about certain challenges that necessitate strategies to augment the conventional surveillance of infectious diseases, contact tracing, isolation, reporting and vaccination. Several governments institutions, and agencies presently adopt mobile applications for collecting, analyzing, managing, and sharing critical personal data of individuals infected with or exposed to COVID-19. While the benefits of sharing private information for achieving public health needs may not be disputed, the risk of breach of personal privacy is enormous. This had forced the national governments into a dilemma of either succumbing to public health needs, strictly respecting and protecting the privacy of individuals, or alternatively, balancing the two conflicting demands. There is a massive body of literature on the security and privacy of such mobile applications, but none has adequately explored and discussed public interest justifications under Saudi Arabian laws for alleged privacy breaches. We examined the health surveillance mobile app technologies currently in use in Saudi Arabia with the aim of determining the potential risks of data breaches under extant data protection laws. The paper recommends, among others, that any potential risk of breach to right to privacy of personal information under the law must be (justified by) the public health needs to protect society during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric bloodstream infections and alteration in antimicrobial resistance phenotypes in Gram-positive bacteria, 2020–2022

BackgroundAlteration in the etiology of pediatric bloodstream infections (BSIs) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is not well known during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric BSIs and alteration in antimicrobial resistance phenotypes in Gram-positive bacteria.MethodsThe frequency of BSIs among children under 18 years old was retrospectively recorded in a tertiary children’s hospital in Tehran, Iran from February 2020 to December 2022. The status of COVID-19 infection using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, bacteremia/fungemia according to BACTEC 9120 Culture System results, characterization of bacteria using biochemical tests, and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns for Gram-positive bacterial isolates using disk diffusion method were determined. Statistical analysis was done to measure the correlation of COVID-19 infection with BSIs and AMR.ResultsOut of 13,345 COVID-19 tests and 4,194 BACTEC blood culture requests, bacteremia/fungemia were confirmed in 10.37% (435/4,194) of the patients who requested both tests simultaneously. The COVID-19 infection was confirmed in 25.3% (110/435) of the patients with bacteremia/fungemia. The infection with characterized Gram-positive bacteria (GPB) and fungi was detected in 32.3% (140/433) and 8.31% (36/433) of the cases, respectively. Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CNS, 72, 16.62%), S. aureus (36, 8.3%), and Enterococcus spp. (22, 5%) were among the common isolates. Candida spp. and non-Candida yeasts were detected in 6.7% and 13.4% of the cases, respectively. A positive correlation was shown between the CNS bacteremia and COVID-19 infection (p-value = 0.019). Antibiotic susceptibility testing results showed the highest frequency of resistance to azithromycin among CNS, azithromycin and tetracycline among S. aureus and tetracycline among Enterococcus spp. Methicillin-resistance phenotype in the S. aureus (MRSA) and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. (MR-CNS) was detected in 40% and 61.5% of the strains, respectively and the Enterococci were resistant to vancomycin in 33.3% of the isolates.ConclusionA decline in the trend of BSIs by GPB and an increase in AMR was shown in children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Increasing antibiotic resistance is a concern; however, chloramphenicol, linezolid, and vancomycin remain active against common causes of GPB-BSIs.

Mediating Effect of Firefighters' Resilience and Public Service Motivation Regarding the Influence of Depression on Their Work Engagement During COVID-19.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the influence of resilience or public service motivation (PSM) on firefighters' work engagement during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. We conducted an online survey with 304 firefighters assigned to Gyeonggi-do between October 27 and 28, 2022, and collected their demographic information; work-related data; mood, anxiety and insomnia symptoms; and work-related attitudes. The leading causes of firefighters' stress were physical and mental health decline due to heavy workloads (46.4%), verbal abuse and assault from civilians (33.9%), conflict with coworkers (18.4%), and death of colleagues (13.2%). The results of the logistic regression analysis revealed that high levels of resilience (OR = 1.28, p < 0.001), service motivation (OR = 1.17, p < 0.001), and non-exposure to death (OR = 0.33, p = 0.005) led to high work engagement. Mediation analysis showed that resilience and PSM mediated the influence of depression on work engagement. The work engagement of firefighters is influenced by resilience, PSM, and exposure to death.

Sense of coherence in Spanish-speaking countries during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review.

The aim of this study was to assess the sense of coherence (SOC) in the Spanish-speaking population during the 2019 coronavirus disease pandemic. A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines in the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science electronic databases in August 2024. The methodological quality of the included studies was evaluated using the critical appraisal tools developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. A total of 25 studies were included in the review, which demonstrated that high SOC is associated with improved coping styles, a reduced incidence of mental disorders, and greater resilience to traumatic events. The findings indicated that SOC acts as a crucial protective factor in diverse population groups, including health professionals, university students, and older adults, particularly during the 2019 coronavirus disease pandemic. The study concludes that there are significant benefits for the mental and physical health of the population, regardless of cultural context, to be gained from strengthening the SOC. It is therefore essential that interventions which enhance the SOC are implemented in order to improve public health in times of crisis. Furthermore, it is crucial that SOC measurement instruments are validated in different cultural contexts in order to ensure the reliability and validity of the results obtained.

Comparison of central precocious puberty frequency before and during COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveThe current systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the prevalence of central precocious puberty (CPP) throughout the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.DesignA systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out following the principles outlined by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA, 2020).Data sourcesPubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and WANFANG databases were searched from January 1, 2019, to March 30, 2023.Eligibility criteria for selecting studies(1) children and adolescents ≤ 15 years; (2) studies with the outcome of frequency of central precocious puberty, measured prior to and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic; (3) a novel CPP diagnosis was created depending on all of the following criteria: girls with a chronological age < 8 years and boys with a chronological age < 9 years at the onset of symptoms, basal luteinizing hormone (LH) levels > 0.3 UI/L, and/or GnRH-stimulated peak LH levels > 5 IU/L.Data extraction and synthesisThe process of extracting data and evaluating the likelihood of bias was carried out by two independent reviewers. The data were pooled employing the generic inverse-variance method and presented as mean differences (MDs) with 95% CIs. The evaluation of heterogeneity was conducted employing the Cochran Q statistic, and the degree of heterogeneity was measured employing the I2 statistic.ResultsThis meta-analysis included 17 studies. In contrast to the same period prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the occurrence of CPP elevated (OR = 2.57; 95% CI, 1.85–3.56). Moreover, body mass index standard deviation score (BMI SDS) differences between CPP patients prior to COVID-19 and throughout the pandemic follow-up was 0.12 (95% CI − 0.01 to 0.25 P = 0.06).ConclusionOverall, CPP frequency significantly elevated throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the restricted number of cohort investigations in this meta-analysis, additional research may be conducted on larger groups of children in order to establish a correlation between the observed rise in precocious puberty and specific pathogenic factors.

Evaluation of validity and reliability of coronavirus preventive behaviors in pregnant women based on health belief model

Background and Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which spread from China, had a high prevalence and mortality rates and affected all age groups. Pregnant women were among the affected people. This study aims to design and evaluate the validity and reliability of a tool for measuring the preventive behaviors of pregnant women in Iran against COVID-19 based on the health belief model (HBM). Methods: This descriptive-applied study was performed on 20 pregnant women in Qom, Iran in 2021. The questionnaire was sent to the participants electronically using the prepared link. The validity was assessed based on the opinions of 9 faculty members, and reliability was assessed using the test re-test method (Pearson’s correlation coefficient) and Cronbach’s α. Results: The final draft had 44 questions; 5 items related to perceived sensitivity, 6 items related to perceived severity, 8 items related to perceived benefits, 8 items related to perceived barriers, 8 items related to cues of action, and 9 items related to self-efficacy. Cronbach’s α for the overall scale was 0.87, and the Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.86. Conclusion: The designed HBM-based tool has acceptable validity and reliability for measuring preventive behaviors against COVID-19 in pregnant women in Iran. It can be used in other relevant studies. Further similar studies in Iran during the COVID-19 pandemic are needed.

Impact of visitation restrictions in neonatal intensive care units during the COVID-19 pandemic on parents in northern Hokkaido, Japan.

Medical institutions restricted visitation to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 NICU visitor restrictions on parents. We conducted a questionnaire of 378 parents of infants who were hospitalised for more than 1 week at two NICUs in our area and discharged between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2022. While the visiting rules for NICUs during this period varied depending on the phase of the COVID-19 epidemic, generally, only parents were allowed to visit the NICUs for a few hours daily. A total of 157 parents (A University Hospital (AMUH), n = 79; AK General Hospital (AKGH), n = 78) responded to the survey (41.3% response rate), with 40% stating that their emotions towards their infants were affected by restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents' feelings towards their infants were influenced by mode of delivery, parity, duration of hospitalisation and opportunities to visit the NICU. More than 70% of respondents felt stressed due to COVID-19 restrictions, and anxiety and emotional stress related to visitor restrictions were significantly affected by the number and duration of visits and allowability of family member visits. Parents felt that the restrictions had a negative impact on breastfeeding, overall infant care and infant-family bonding. As parents felt an impact on the bond with their infant during visitation restrictions, it is essential for facilities to implement measures to protect infant-family bonding during potential future pandemics.

Work stress and professional quality of life among Chinese nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: the chain mediating role of self-compassion and benefit finding

BackgroundSince the outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), front-line nurses have faced not only daily work stress but also a high risk of infection and excessive workload, leading to unsatisfactory professional quality of life (ProQOL). This study aimed to explore whether self-compassion (SC) and benefit finding (BF) play a chain mediating role between work stress and ProQOL among Chinese nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsFrom March to April 2022, a sample of 13,936 Chinese nurses was recruited through snowball sampling. Demographic information, work stress, SC, BF, and ProQOL were assessed. The SPSS 25.0 software and Amos 24.0 software were used for statistical analysis. The bootstrap method was employed to construct and examine the chain mediating structural equation model.ResultsThe ProQOL level of Chinese nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic was moderate. The overall fit indices for the compassion satisfaction (CS), burnout (BO), and secondary traumatic stress (STS) models were satisfactory (χ²/df = 2.486, 3.256, 2.553, RMSEA = 0.011, 0.014, 0.011, the GFI, AGFI, NFI, and CFI values were all above 0.90). Work stress had direct effects on CS, BO, and STS (β=–0.171, 0.334, 0.222, P < 0.001), and also indirectly affected these outcomes through SC (point estimate=–0.010, 0.021, 0.024, P < 0.001), BF (point estimate=–0.033, 0.015, − 0.011, P < 0.001), as well as their chain mediating effect (point estimate=–0.015, 0.006, − 0.005, P < 0.001).ConclusionsOur study suggests that SC and BF partially mediated the association between work stress and ProQOL in Chinese nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Training on SC and BF may be crucial components of interventions aimed at improving ProQOL.

A qualitative exploration of the coping strategies of UK ethnic minority healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

PurposeThere is a dearth of empirical evidence on the coping strategies of UK ethnic minority (UKEM) healthcare workers during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic despite evidence of their increased risk of infection and less protection, disproportionate redeployment, and gross work-life imbalance. The present study explored UKEM healthcare workers’ coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA qualitative design comprising individual and joint interviews, and a focus group was used. Participants were 15 UKEM healthcare workers (11 females; age range: 26–58 [43.3 ± 9.4] years). Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.ResultsParticipants navigated the pandemic using three key coping strategies: problem-focused coping (active and restraint coping), emotion-focused coping (positive reframing, reflective acceptance, and religiosity/spiritual bypass), and social coping and support-seeking. They particularly underscored the importance of religiosity/spiritual bypass as a coping strategy.ConclusionThe pandemic challenged our sample of UKEM healthcare workers to deploy a variety of coping strategies. Religiosity/spiritual bypass was particularly important in navigating the challenges of the pandemic. Coping strategy enhancement interventions among UKEM healthcare workers and the UKEM community during and post hyper-precarious conditions such as pandemics may benefit from targeting the identified coping strategies.

Psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Taiwanese youth: soldiers and college students

Researchers have identified university students and military personnel as highly susceptible to the stress and emotional challenges imposed by the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The objective of this study was to compare the psychological impact of COVID-19 on soldiers and students based on risk factors identified in self reports. We recruited 258 students (male: female = 58: 204, average age = 19.73 ± 1.52 years) and 194 active soldiers (male: female = 172: 22, average age = 24.88 ± 4.11 years) from northern Taiwan. Analysis was performed on demographic data, history of COVID-19 infection, vaccinations, and the subjective psychological impact of the pandemic, as well as their current (within one month) anxiety levels, depression level, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Descriptive statistics and linear regression analysis models were used to compare soldier vs. student status and male vs. female. Overall, roughly 54% of the subjects had been infected by COVID-19 at least once, and the psychological impact of the pandemic was more pronounced in the infected group. The students reported more pronounced symptoms of PTSD (elevated anxiety and depression levels) than did the soldiers. All regression models other than those associated with age and sex revealed that the link between COVID-19 infection and the symptoms of PTSD was more salient among soldiers and males than among students and females. It appears that the psychological impact of COVID-19 is underreported by soldiers. These findings indirectly support previous research indicating that soldiers are less likely than students to disclose emotions related to trauma, indicating the need for psychological support for military personnel.

Examining the Impact of Socio-economic, Demographic and Policy Factors on Reverse Migration in India During COVID-19 Pandemic

This article examines the factors that determined ‘reverse migration’ of households from urban locations in India in the aftermath of a series of lockdowns that followed the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Positioning reverse migration as a coping strategy to ameliorate negative consequences of loss of livelihood, food shortages and loss of shelter in urban India, this article examines the factors that led to the utilization of this strategy in the aftermath of lockdown during the pandemic outbreak. The article also tests whether returning to hinterland persisted after the period of lockdowns. The lockdowns had exacerbated living conditions for urban poor. Migration to rural areas continued despite various policies and programmes that the national and state governments instituted to counter the negative impact of lockdowns, particularly on low-income households. Examining the socio-economic, demographic and policy factors, this article provides evidence that family support and rural social institutions such as self-help groups played a crucial role in providing support system during pandemic even to those who migrated back from urban areas. Government programmes such as Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and access to public distribution system were also important for reverse migrants. An important result is that the first wave of reverse migration was due to family and emotional reasons that arose because of lockdowns, the second wave of migration was for economic reasons as households continued to struggle in urban areas, and the migration during the third wave was a usual seasonal migration.

Bronchial obstruction in patients during COVID-19 and as a manifestation of post-COVID syndrome

СOVID-19, the novel coronavirus infection, is a severe acute respiratory infection caused by a virus of the Coronaviridae family, with more than 45 species today. The first manifestations of respiratory disorders were identified back in 1965. As a rule, the main route of infection is airborne. Since the declaration of the pandemic of the novel coronavirus disease in 2019, the world continues to face not only its devastating impact on morbidity and mortality, but also global socioeconomic consequences, particularly respiratory complications. The most significant one is the development of bronchial obstruction in the post-COVID period. This article talks about COVID-19 and the post-Covid period in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchial asthma, touches on the etiopathogenetic aspects of the development of bronchial obstruction, and discusses the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of these conditions.

Retrospective analysis of venous thromboembolism, arterial thromboembolism, and microthrombosis incidence at a single center during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has posed a significant threat to global health since its outbreak in early 2020. Various thrombotic complications have been reported in COVID-19 cases. This study aims to investigate the incidence of various types of thromboses during the COVID-19 pandemic, and explore the potential correlation between the number of COVID-19 infections and occurrence of thrombosis. The present retrospective, single-center study recorded the number of new cases with various types of thromboembolism among all hospital admissions between 2019 and 2023 in a single center. The correlation between the number of total thromboembolism cases and number of inpatients who tested positive for COVID-19 was assessed using Spearman rank correlation coefficient. A total of 3926 thromboembolism cases were recorded in men, while 3657 cases were reported in women. The total number of new thromboembolism cases among all inpatients annually increased from 2019 to 2022, and reached a peak during the "full liberalization" period from December 2022 to January 2023. The most substantial increase was observed in microthrombosis cases, followed by venous and arterial thrombosis cases. In addition, thromboembolism primarily occurred in the lower extremities, followed by the abdomen. The fewest cases were observed in the upper extremities. Furthermore, the correlation coefficient between the total number of thromboembolism cases and number of COVID-19-positive patients between January 2020 and June 2023 was 0.501 (P = .001). The number of thromboembolism cases among all inpatients was correlated to the number of COVID-19-positive patients during the pandemic. Early thromboembolism prophylaxis and thrombotic complications monitoring should be considered for hospitalized patients, when necessary.