Population Of Latvia Research Articles

Association between frailty and fear of falling among the elderly in Latvia

Abstract Background Frailty and fear of falling in the ageing population represent notable public health challenges. Fear of falling among the elderly population is a significant concern, as it can lead to decreased mobility, loss of independence, and increased risk of injury. Frailty intensifies this fear, as frail individuals often have reduced strength, balance, and coordination, making them more susceptible to falls. Methods Data from the population-based survey SHARE with respondents aged 50+ in Latvia of Wave 9 (collected 2022) was analysed. Frailty was assessed using the SHARE-Frailty Instrument. Fatigue, appetite, walking difficulties, and physical activity were self-reported and grip strength was measured using a hand grip dynamometer. Fear of falling was evaluated using visual material. Financed by the project RSU internal and RSU with LSPA external consolidation No.5.2.1.1.i.0/2/24/I/CFLA/005, Postdoctoral Grant Associated factors of frailty and fall-related mortality in the older population in Latvia No.RSU-PG-2024/1-0005. Results The sample comprised 1439 older adults from Latvia (60.4 % female) with a mean age of 67.9 (95% CI 67.5 - 68.4). Based on SHARE-FI, frailty and pre-frailty prevalence were 7.2% and 44.5% respectively. In the study, 11.3% of females and 6.5% of males interviewed reported experiencing fear of falling. Frailty was correlated with fear of falling in 43.7% of frail individuals and 11.5% of pre-frail individuals. After adjusting for age and gender, those with pre-frailty and frailty had greater odds of fear of falling. Conclusions Understanding the interaction between the fear of falling and frailty in older adults can guide the development of public health policies and initiatives that aim to mitigate the fear of falling and, consequently, reduce the prevalence of frailty. Promoting healthy ageing behaviours, such as regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and social engagement, can help prevent frailty and its associated risks. Key messages • Fear of falling results in limitation of activities, intensification of physical decline, and increased susceptibility to frailty. • Encouraging healthy ageing underscores the significance of early recognition of frailty symptoms and accessing suitable support.

Дискриминация русскоязычного этноса в Латвии по признаку гражданства: политико-правовые аспекты

Abstract 
 Throughout the entire post-Soviet period in Latvia, there has been a problem of finding the Russian-speaking population in the status of non-citizens with limited rights, including political ones. Currently, restrictions have also extended to Russian citizens with a residence permit in Latvia. The study is based on the case study method. Statistical data on the ethnic composition of the country's population are analyzed. Regulatory acts indicating restrictive mechanisms against non-citizens, as amended in 2022 and 2023, are being considered. Using the method of comparative studies, national legislation and legal regulations of the European Union (international standards) in the field of protection of human and civil rights and freedoms are compared. The results of the study show that the entire Russian–speaking population of Latvia is discriminated against, especially the most vulnerable - pensioners, for whom the new rules for obtaining a residence permit are a problem. This may threaten them with the loss of social security, up to and including forced expulsion from the country. The Russian-speaking population in Latvia cannot influence their own position in the country due to the lack of political rights. Throughout the entire period of independence, the Latvian government has been using this group of the population in its own political agenda, ensuring the legitimacy of its own power and decisions. Such internal political processes contribute to the division of society along ethnic lines and the development of discriminatory attitudes. The theoretical significance of the study lies in the systematization of the mechanism of discrimination against a certain group of the population. In turn, the practical significance lies, on the one hand, in drawing the attention of human rights organizations to the problem of discrimination, and on the other hand, it clearly shows the essence of the mechanism of discrimination and ways to improve it in states in the post-Soviet space. Consequently, the results of the study can be applied to the development of mechanisms for the protection of compatriots in other states where discrimination trends are at an early stage.

Testing for COVID-19 in Latvia: Analysis of Public–Private Partnerships

Abstract Private–public partnership is a collaboration between two major sectors of a municipalities economy. It is a so called “win-win” partnership, where both parties can benefit in achieving their planned goals while working jointly. In December 2019, in China, the first reported cases of COVID-19 were detected. The virus spread quickly throughout China and reached Latvia in March 2020. In this study we analyse the role of private–public partnerships in organising effective COVID-19 testing of the population in Latvia. By 1 June 2020, Latvia had the 3rd lowest incidence of COVID-19-caused deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. This study included a systematic review, data acquisition, analysis of the findings, and conclusions were drawn and discussed. During the 1st wave of the pandemic, the private sector collected and conducted more than 95% of the COVID-19 testing in Latvia. The study showed that there could be many contributing factors to success of Latvia during the 1st wave of the pandemic, one of which was that Latvia seemed to rely more on the private sector to organise the testing, which seemed to pay off at first.

Oral microbiome variations related to ageing: possible implications beyond oral health.

The global population is getting older due to a combination of longer life expectancy and declining birth rates. Growing evidence suggests that the oral microbiota composition and distribution may have a profound effect on how well we age. The purpose of this study was to investigate age-related oral microbiome variations of supragingival plaque and buccal mucosa samples in the general population in Latvia. Our results indicated significant difference between supragingival plaque bacterial profiles of three age groups (20-40; 40-60; 60 + years). Within supragingival plaque samples, age group 20-40 showed the highest bacterial diversity with a decline during the 40-60 age period and uprise again after the age of 60. Among other differences, the important oral commensal Neisseria had declined after the age of 40. Additionally, prevalence of two well-documented opportunistic pathogens Streptococcus anginosus and Gemella sanguinis gradually rose with age within our samples. Furthermore, supragingival plaque and buccal mucosa samples significantly differed in overall bacterial composition.

Numerical Response of Owls to the Dampening of Small Mammal Population Cycles in Latvia.

Strong numerical and functional responses of owls to voles in cyclic environments are well known. However, there is insufficient knowledge from the boreonemoral region in particular, with depleted populations of small mammals. In this study, we describe the dynamics of the small mammal population in Latvia from 1991 to 2016 and link them to owl population characteristics. We used food niche breadth, number of fledglings, and population trends to lay out the numerical response of six owl species to dampened small mammal population cycles. We found temporarily increasing food niche breadth in tawny and Ural owls. There were no other responses in the tawny owl, whereas the breeding performance of three forest specialist species-pygmy, Tengmalm's, and Ural owls-corresponded to the vole crash years in Fennoscandia. Moreover, the populations of forest specialist owls decreased, and the change in the Ural owl population can be attributed to the depletion of small mammal populations. We found evidence of a carry-over effect in the eagle owl arising from a strong correlation of declining breeding performance with the small mammal abundance indices in the previous autumn. We conclude that dampening of the small mammal population cycles is an important covariate of the likely effects of habitat destruction that needs to be investigated further, with stronger responses in more specialized (to prey or habitat) species.

Genetic characteristics of the Dreissena polymorpha population in Latvia (Lake Rāzna) as part of the European population

The zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha is widely distributed in Europe. The expansion of zebra mussels has a negative impact on the native biota of lakes or rivers. Studies of the genetic structure of populations allow the identification of the current state of this invasive species in Latvia as a part of the European population. Despite the increasing importance of microsatellites in studies of population genetics, there is a lack of such data on D. polymorpha in Latvia. The present study investigates the genetic population structure of zebra mussels using six microsatellite loci as follows: DpolA6, Dpo260, Dpo272, Dpo101, Dpo221 and Dpo04 from Lake R?zna. The microsatellite loci in the investigated population have a high polymorphism and number of alleles. Allelic diversity at all described loci was high, ranging from 4 to 20 alleles per locus. The mean observed heterozygosity was 0.58 and the mean expected heterozygosity was 0.70. A high genetic diversity enables species to adapt to changing environments.

1235. Anti-HCV Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors in Patients of Psychiatry Hospitals in Latvia

Abstract Background According to previous epidemiological studies there is 2.4% prevalence of anti-HCV in Latvian population. Hepatitis C can lead to liver cirrhosis and HCC. There is available an effective HCV treatment with 100% reimbursement. WHO has settled a goal – to eliminate HCV as a public health threat by 2030. The biggest obstacle to achieve this goal is to find an infected persons. The aim of this study was to screen and analyze the data of patients from Psychiatry hospitals (PH) in Latvia. Patients were screened for hepatitis C infection (anti-HCV) and analyze the possible risk factors. Methods 795 patients of all PH in Latvia were tested, including 57.1% males and 42.9% females. The mean age was 49 years (range 18 - 93). Data were obtained by performing survey and rapid blood antibody tests. The questionnaire included demographic information and 10 questions on infection risk factors. Study was done from May till October 2021 by HIV Prevention Point workers in PHs of 7 PH in Latvia – Riga, Daugavpils, Liepaja, Strenci, Gintermuiza, Akniste and Vecpiebalga. Data were analyzed using MS Excel and IBM SPSS. Results 24.8% of patients noted they have been sexually active in the last year, but only 9.9% admitted usage of condoms. 3.8% noted they are or have been used IV drugs. 11.2% of patients have a history of incarceration. In total 6.8% of performed tests were positive for anti-HCV. Incarcerated persons were positive in 16% of cases, non-incarcerated – in 6%. IV drug users (IVDU) were positive in 49%, non-users – in 4.9%, all differences are statistically significant. Conclusion Patients in PH are at higher risk of HCV infection in comparison to population in Latvia. Besides already well known risk groups – IVDU and incarcerated people, we found 2.8 times higher anti-HCV prevalence in psychiatric hospital’s patients, with markedly higher prevalence in those previously incarcerated or IVDU. This study provides valuable data to better identify groups of individuals with higher risk of HCV infection. Latvia. PNC patients should further be tested, especially individuals who have been incarcerated, use or have used IV drugs. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures.

Prevalence of Aeromonas spp. Infection in Pediatric Patients Hospitalized with Gastroenteritis in Latvia between 2020 and 2021.

Aeromonas species are emerging human enteric pathogens. However, there is no systematic analysis of Aeromonas infection in the pediatric population in Latvia. The aim of the study was to describe potential sources, prevalence of infection, associated virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance of Aeromonas spp. isolated from fecal samples. Stool samples (n = 1360) were obtained from the Children's Clinical University Hospital between 2020 and 2021. The target population was pediatric patients, 0 to 18 years of age, with a preliminary diagnosis of gastroenteritis. Identification was performed by Maldi-TOF, antimicrobial resistance by Vitek2 and 9 virulence factors by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Aeromonas spp. were isolated in 50 stool samples; positive findings made up 3.6% of all study cases and included four species: A. hydrophila, A. caviae, A. veronii, and A. eucrenophila. In 42% of the samples, Aeromonas spp. appeared alongside the other significant pathogens: Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella Enteritidis, Salmonella Typhimurium, Yersinia enterocolitica, norovirus, adenovirus, and rotavirus. The study population positive for Aeromonas spp. infection contained 28 male (56%) and 22 female (44%) patients; median age was 4.56 years. The most common symptoms were: diarrhea, blood in stool, vomiting, abdominal pain, and fever. Aside from expected natural resistance, no significant antibacterial resistance was detected. The presence of multiple virulence genes was noticed in all isolates. No statistically significant correlation was found between the virulence patterns, bacterial species, and the intensity of clinical symptoms. According to the clinical data and the results of this study Aeromonas spp. has an important role in pediatric practice and requires appropriate attention and monitoring.

Healthcare utilization among aging Latvians with diminished activities of daily living

Abstract The population in Latvia is aging. Independence in performing activities of daily living (ADL) is a core aspect of functioning, and the elderly frequently experience limitations in functioning. Little is known about the utilization of healthcare of elderly Latvians with functional difficulties. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between functional difficulties and utilization of healthcare among the elderly in Latvia. This study had three overall objectives: (i) to investigate the determinants of utilization of health care for elderly Latvians with functional difficulties; (ii) examine the relationship between predisposing characteristics, enabling resources, and need with specific measures of access to care using the Behavioral Model for Vulnerable Populations and to (iii) identify the nature and existence of health disparities among the elderly in Latvia, with and without functional difficulties. Data from the 2017 Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) survey, with a sample size of 1479 was utilized. There was a statistically significant difference in the utilization of healthcare between individuals with and without functional disabilities (F(4,1) =759.615, p < 0.01), with a higher utilization of healthcare among individuals with functional difficulties (p< .01). The results of Automatic Linear Modeling indicate that significant (p < 0.05) factors in predicting utilization of healthcare include factors such as age, public sickness benefit and disability pension, and overall health status. This study is significant because it fills critical gaps in knowledge that exist with respect to healthcare utilization for elderly Latvians with functional disabilities. Key messages • This study contributes to our understanding of healthcare utilization of aging Latvians. • This study provides insight into the functional limitations of the aging Latvian population.

Excess mortality associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in Latvia: a population-level analysis of all-cause and noncommunicable disease deaths in 2020

BackgroundAge-standardised noncommunicable disease (NCD) mortality and the proportion of the elderly population in Latvia are high, while public health and health care systems are underresourced. The emerging COVID-19 pandemic raised concerns about its detrimental impact on all-cause and noncommunicable disease mortality in Latvia. We estimated the timing and number of excess all-cause and cause-specific deaths in 2020 in Latvia due to COVID-19 and selected noncommunicable diseases.MethodsA time series analysis of all-cause and cause-specific weekly mortality from COVID-19, circulatory diseases, malignant neoplasms, diabetes mellitus, and chronic lower respiratory diseases from the National Causes of Death Database from 2015 to 2020 was used by applying generalised additive modelling (GAM) and joinpoint regression analysis.ResultsBetween weeks 14 and 52 (from 1 April to 29 December) of 2020, a total of 3111 excess deaths (95% PI 1339 – 4832) were estimated in Latvia, resulting in 163.77 excess deaths per 100 000. Since September 30, with the outbreak of the second COVID-19 wave, 55% of all excess deaths have occurred. Altogether, COVID-19-related deaths accounted for only 28% of the estimated all-cause excess deaths. A significant increase in excess mortality was estimated for circulatory diseases (68.91 excess deaths per 100 000). Ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease were listed as the underlying cause in almost 60% of COVID-19-contributing deaths.ConclusionsAll-cause mortality and mortality from circulatory diseases significantly increased in Latvia during the first pandemic year. All-cause excess mortality substantially exceeded reported COVID-19-related deaths, implying COVID-19-related mortality during was significantly underestimated. Increasing mortality from circulatory diseases suggests a negative cumulative effect of COVID-19 exposure and reduced access to healthcare services for NCD patients.

Overview of Neuromuscular Disorder Molecular Diagnostic Experience for the Population of Latvia

Genetic testing has become an integral part of health care, allowing the confirmation of thousands of hereditary diseases, including neuromuscular disorders (NMDs). The reported average prevalence of individual inherited NMDs is 3.7-4.99 per 10,000. This number varies greatly in the selected populations after applying population-wide studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of genetic analysis as the first-tier test in patients with NMD and to calculate the disease prevalence and allelic frequencies for reoccurring genetic variants. Patients with NMD from Latvia with molecular tests confirming their diagnosis in 2008-2020 were included in this retrospective study. Diagnosis was confirmed in 153 unique cases of all persons tested. Next-generation sequencing resulted in a detection rate of 37%. Two of the most common childhood-onset NMDs in our population were spinal muscular atrophy and dystrophinopathies, with a birth prevalence of 1.01 per 10,000 newborns and 2.08 per 10,000 (male newborn population), respectively. The calculated point prevalence was 0.079 per 10,000 for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy type 1, 0.078 per 10,000 for limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, 0.073 per 10,000 for nondystrophic congenital myotonia, 0.052 per 10,000 for spinobulbar muscular atrophy, and 0.047 per 10,000 for type 1 myotonic dystrophy. DNA diagnostics is a successful approach. The carrier frequencies of the common CAPN3, FKRP, SPG11, and HINT1 gene variants as well as that of the SMN1 gene exon 7 deletion in the population of Latvia are comparable with data from Europe. The carrier frequency of the CLCN1 gene variant c.2680C>T p.(Arg894Ter) is 2.11%, and consequently, congenital myotonia is the most frequent NMD in our population.

Comparative Analysis of the Most Important Cardiovascular Risk Factors Based on Cross-Sectional Studies in the Population of Latvia.

Background and Objectives: The aim of the study was to analyze the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (RFs) in Latvia from the population-based cross-sectional study performed in 2019–2020 and to compare the results with a similar study done in 2009–2010. Materials and Methods: The target sample of 6000 individuals representing a cross-section of Latvia’s inhabitants (aged 25–74) was formed using stratified two-stage cluster sampling. The survey had two components: (1) an interview using a pre-specified questionnaire and (2) physical examination (height, weight, arterial pressure) and collection of venous blood samples to measure levels of fasting glucose (Glu), total cholesterol (TC), high and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C/LDL-C), and triglycerides (Tg). In total, 4070 individuals were interviewed (32% non-response), from which 2218 (55%) individuals underwent physical examination and collection of blood samples. Results: The most frequently observed RFs were high LDL-C (62.0%), smoking (45.3%), and arterial hypertension (36.8%), while the prevalence of self-reported high cholesterol and hypertension was 19.3 and 18.6%, respectively. A decrease in the prevalence of hypertension, high LDL-C, and Glu was noted. Smoking decreased in younger men. The mean number of five most important cardiovascular RFs was 2.0 (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.0, 2.1); 2.3 (95% CI 2.2, 2.4) for men and 1.8 (95% CI 1.7, 19) for women. The average number of RFs has decreased by 0.3 in 10 years, t(5883) = −7.2, p < 0.001. Conclusions: Although the prevalence of cardiovascular RFs remains noteworthy, an improvement in the risk profile of the Latvian population has been observed over the past decade. The study shows subjective self-underestimation of cardiovascular risk.

Genetic assessment of the Forest Dormouse Dryomys nitedula (Pallas, 1773) in Latvia

The Latvian population of the Forest Dormouse is small and isolated, situated far from the main distribution range of this species. The population is located in the south-eastern region of Latvia, close to the Belarusian border. Sixty-three nest-boxes were located throughout this distribution area and captured forest dormouse individuals were sampled for genetic analysis. Animal age, sex, and coordinates from place of capture were recorded. DNA was extracted from 120 individuals using the QIAamp DNA Mini Kit (Qiagen, Germany). RAPD-PCR polymorphisms at 65 loci were used to examine the genetic diversity and differentiation of the Forest Dormouse population in Latvia. 89% of loci were polymorphic, average expected heterozygosity over all loci was 0.321, average polymorphism information content (PIC) was 0.246. The program ‘Structure’ was used to perform Bayesian assignment of individuals to a predefined number of clusters. The deltaK method identified that the most likely number of clusters within the Latvian Forest Dormouse population was three. Assignment of individuals to a particular cluster mostly corresponded with the location where the individual was captured. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that there was significant genetic differentiation between the three clusters with pairwise Phipt (a modification of Fst) values ranging from 0.118 to 0.180.

Lack of workplace risk assessment as a predictor of adverse health effects for teleworkers - results from the survey on Life with COVID-19 in Latvia

Workplace risk assessment is one of the key tools for improving occupational safety and health conditions. However, providing risk assessment for teleworkplaces in the COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions has been a challenge for employers. The objective of this study was to identify the frequency of implementation of workplace risk assessment for teleworkplaces and the association between it and self-reported health complaints among teleworkers during the 1st emergency state of the COVID-19 pandemic in Latvia. Teleworkers were recruited using a non-probability sampling (snowball sampling) method and social media advertisements. To obtain data that is representative of the demographic profile of the working population in Latvia, the sample was weighed based on gender and age. Out of 447 teleworking respondents included in our analysis, only 20.3% have mentioned that their employer had assessed the teleworking conditions (additional 8.1% reported partial assessment). Workers who have reported lack of risk assessment more often have health related complaints – e.g., pain longer than three days (26.9% with risk assessment versus 73.1% with no risk assessment), sore eyes (24.4% versus 75.6%) and anxiety (21.8% versus 78.2%) (p &lt; 0.001 in all cases, except for pain). Increased incidence of occupational musculoskeletal diseases and burnout can be predicted in coming years in Latvia. Good practise examples should be gathered and promoted; guidelines for labour inspection should be developed in order to cover supervision of teleworking workplaces.

Access to healthcare during COVID-19 among ageing population in Latvia

Medical staff has worked tirelessly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to test and treat coronavirus patients. However, the focus on the virus has caused huge disruption to healthcare services, resulting in delayed treatment for patients with other serious conditions. Additionally, the reasons for forgoing or abstaining healthcare could also relate to individual decisions. We used data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), where the respondents aged 50 and older of the Wave 8, version 0, were asked to answer, among other, questions on delayed, postponed or denied healthcare services during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic in Latvia. For comparative reasons also Estonian and Lithuanian data were included in the study with 2 473 627 valid weighted cases in total. Due to the large sample size, in order to evaluate statistically significant result for Pearson’s chi-square test, strength of association (f) was provided. The results show that 12.7% of the respondents forwent and 14% postponed medical treatment in Latvia. Appointment was denied to 5.5% of the respondents. Generally, older people in Latvia had better access to health care services compared to the average in the Baltic countries. We found significant age and gender differences, but they varied depending on the type of treatment and reason for not receiving it. However, further studies are necessary to analyse how limited access to the healthcare for other reasons has affected health of the ageing population. Also, more knowledge is needed about how to maintain public health and wellbeing for the growing part of the ageing society.

Association between road safety habits and risky health behaviours in Latvian adult population

The study examined the road safety habits of the adult population of Latvia in relation to risky health behaviours (smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, no regular health check-ups at the family doctor). Data of Health Behaviour among the Latvian Adult Population for five consecutive surveys for the years 2010–2018 were analysed. Results: The use of seat belts has increased slightly – from 93.5% to 95.6% in the front seat of the vehicle, from 52.4% to 56.3% in the rear seat of the vehicle (p &lt; 0,001). Of the 10,731 respondents, 30.8% (N = 3309; 95% CI 30.0–31.7) were daily smokers, 14.8% (N = 1593; 95% CI 14.2–15.5) had excessive alcohol consumption habits, 25.9% (N = 2779; 95% CI 25.1–26.7) had not visited their family doctor during the last year. Higher odds for seat belt use were observed among respondents without excessive alcohol consumption (OR = 2.1), non-smokers (OR = 1.5–1.8), and those, who had visited their family doctor last year (OR = 1.2–1.3). Multivariate regression analysis showed risky behaviour is an independent factor associated with road safety habits.

Prevalence of anxiety symptoms among the general population of Latvia in 2019–2020

Background Anxiety is among the most common and disabling mental disorders. The aim of our study was to determine the point prevalence of at least mild anxiety symptoms and associated factors in Latvian general population Methods Computer assisted face-to-face interviews were carried out between November 2019 and March 2020 to gather information on a representative sample of the Latvian adult population (n = 2687). The participants were interviewed using the 7-item anxiety scale: Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7); a score of ≥5 was defined as indicating the presence of at least mild clinically significant symptoms of anxiety. A score of ≥10 or greater was defined as cut point for identifying cases of generalized anxiety disorder. Binary logistic regression was applied. Results There were 1238 males (46.1%) and 1449 females (53.9%) recruited. The point prevalence of at least mild anxiety symptoms in general population was 14.8% with no statistically significant difference between genders. The point prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder according to GAD-7 was 4.1%. Self-evaluation of health state as low or moderate (p < 0.001) (vs. high), unfinished primary education (p = 0.002) (vs. university degree) and age below 65 (p < 0.001) (vs. 65+) were statistically significantly associated factors for anxiety. The odds of having anxiety symptoms were lower in urban dwellers (but not in capital city; vs. rural) (p = 0.01) and married participants or those living with partner (vs. divorced, widowed) (p = 0.04). Conclusions Young people, people with low self-esteem of health-state, those with lower level of education are at particularly significant risk of anxiety symptoms.

Characterisation of conspiracy believers and their mental health during the COVID-19 emergency state in Latvia

Background A wave of believers in conspiracies has emerged amid the COVID-19 crisis. The purpose of this study was to characterise an individual who believes in conspiracies and to discover whether believing in them is associated with mental health. Methods Data was collected as an online survey in a randomised, stratified cohort in July 2020 as a part of the National Research Program of Latvia. The precisely selected and segmented database corresponding to the general population of Latvia was used. Non-parametric tests to compare medians and Spearman correlation to measure the strength of the relationship were applied. Results The weighted study sample consisted of 2608 participants. A positive correlation was detected between age and belief in conspiracies among females (r = 0.061; p = 0.017). Median conspiracy theory points were significant as follows: individuals who have primary or high school education (p < 0.001) rather than higher education; females (p < 0.001) who resided in a town (p < 0.001) as opposed to occupying the capital; divorcees (p = 0.022) in contrast with those being in a relationship; along with those being unemployed (p < 0.001) compared to the employed, or students. Depressed respondents more often than healthy individuals believed that COVID-19 was created in a laboratory (p < 0.05), that this virus is a result of a 5G antenna (p < 0.05) and that it is a sign of divine power to destroy our planet (p = 0.001). Conclusion The important messages conveyed to the public should be reviewed so that they are more relatable and comprehensible. Furthermore, additional attention should be paid to critical thinking in education programs.

Existential migration during the pandemic in Latvia: insight into solutions at the intersection of religious science and human geography

Recent research trends related to the understanding of the meaning of philosophy and its use in interdisciplinary research in human geography. Therefore, the article aims to demonstrate a pilot model of an innovative methodology that forms the interface between human geography and philosophy. The terms “home experience” and “existential migration”, conceptualized by psychotherapist and philosopher Greg Madison, have been used to summarize interviews with migrants who have voluntarily chosen to integrate into another country, society, and culture in order to find a place to live in harmony with their individual being. Research on authenticity of life as a motive for migration has not developed so far, but it makes it possible to link the analysis of human experience, which is the focus of phenomenology, with empirical data sources. The mediation of human geography findings and axiological theory ensures that concepts of a philosophical nature form the architecture of a unified system of knowledge, in which empirical data are organically incorporated. In this case, they are the data from the many large-scale studies conducted in Latvia on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly of the lockdown, on the population of Latvia. They all form a single text, which is examined by qualitative content analysis and cohort methods, revealing the nature of interpersonal relations in Latvian society, which are important in solving migration issues.

P.0031 Prevalence of anxiety disorders included in The Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) among the general population of Latvia in 2019-2020

P.0031 Prevalence of anxiety disorders included in The Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) among the general population of Latvia in 2019-2020