Epidemiology Commons^™

Detection Of Covid-19 Variants, Christina Aglieco

Honors Scholar Theses

The outbreak of Covid-19 in December 2019 was devastating to many but led to major advancements in vaccine research and development. The development of a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 infection offers protection for the public but cannot eliminate the risk of contracting Covid-19 due to the many viral mutations since the initial wild-type strain isolation in 2019. Analysis of these viral mutations will allow for the development of vaccines with greater protection against the new variants of the coronavirus. Secondary to Covid-19 infection seen in the pediatric population is Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children or MIS-C. Through qPCR analysis of pediatric …

Challenges And Implications For Substance Use And Mental Healthcare Among Under-Resourced Women In The Covid-19 Era, Maria C Mejia, Alicia Kowalchuk, Sandra J Gonzalez, Muktha Nair, Lisa Webb, Nadine Scamp

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated disparities in mental healthcare and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment access, especially in under-resourced communities. This study aimed to comprehend the experiences of under-resourced women with SUD during the pandemic, their knowledge and attitudes toward it, and its impact on substance use and treatment access.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study included 66 under-resourced women receiving medically managed withdrawal treatment at a community residential SUD center. Data collection occurred between November 2021 and August 2022, utilizing a 75-item instrument covering COVID-19 exposure and its impact on health, substance use, treatment access, vaccination status, beliefs, and knowledge. Descriptive …

Cannabis Use Associated With Lower Mortality Among Hospitalized Covid-19 Patients Using The National Inpatient Sample: An Epidemiological Study, Joseph-Kevin Igwe, Ugo Alaribe

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Prior reports indicate that modulation of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) may have a protective benefit for Covid-19 patients. However, associations between cannabis use (CU) or CU not in remission (active cannabis use (ACU)), and Covid-19-related outcomes among hospitalized patients is unknown.

METHODS: In this multicenter retrospective observational cohort analysis of adults (≥ 18 years-old) identified from 2020 National Inpatient Sample database, we utilize multivariable regression analyses and propensity score matching analysis (PSM) to analyze trends and outcomes among Covid-19-related hospitalizations with CU and without CU (N-CU) for primary outcome of interest: Covid-19-related mortality; and secondary outcomes: Covid-19-related hospitalization, mechanical …

An Independent Analysis Of A Retrospective Cohort Of 30,423 Covid-19 Patients Treated At Ihu-Mediterranean In Marseille, France: Part 2, A Real-Life Assessment Of Covid-19 Vaccination Efficacy, Valere Lounnas, Eleftherios Gkioulekas, Marc Rendell, Alexis Lacout, Xavier Azalbert, Christian Perronne

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

A cohort of 30,423 Covid-19 patients treated between March 2020 and December 2021 at the IHU-Méditerranée Infection in Marseille (France) was retrospectively analyzed in terms of treatment attempted and disease worsening factors to quantify vaccination efficacy with respect to the composite endpoint of transfer to intensive care unit or death, within a couple of months (56 days) from admission. Within limitations of the data and of the models, after adequate adjustment for sampling biases, multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for the subset of patients admitted after the Covid-19 vaccination program was …

Availability, Use, And Impact Of Workplace Mental Health Supports During The Covid-19 Pandemic In A Canadian Cohort Of Healthcare Workers, Shannon Ruzycki, Anil Adisesh, Igor Burstyn, Quentin Durand-Moreau, France Labreche, Tanis Zadunayski, Nicola Cherry

Études primaires

We investigated the availability and use of workplace mental health (MH) supports during the COVID-19 pandemic in a Canadian cohort of healthcare workers (HCW) and measured anxiety and depression by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) completed at four contacts 2020–2022. Reports were available for 4400 HCW working with patients. Half the HCWs had a clinically significant HADS score at one or more contacts Access to MH supports increased during the pandemic, with 94% reporting access to some workplace support by 2022: 47% had made use of at least one support. 25% of those with high HADS scores used …

Socioeconomic And Comorbid Factors Affecting Mortality And Length Of Stay In Covid-19 Patients, Adam Delora, Ashlynn Mills, David Jacobson, Brendon Cornett, William F Peacock, Anita Datta, Shane P Jenks

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic exposed and exacerbated health disparities between socioeconomic groups. Our purpose was to determine if age, sex, race, insurance, and comorbidities predicted patients' length of stay (LOS) in the hospital and in-hospital mortality in patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during the early pandemic. Methods Utilizing retrospective, secondarily sourced electronic health record (EHR) data for patients who tested positive for COVID-19 from HCA Healthcare facilities, predictors of LOS and in-hospital mortality were assessed using regression. LOS and in-hospital mortality were assessed using logistic regression and negative binomial regression, respectively. All …

Effect Of The Covid-19 Pandemic Lockdown On The Management Of Diabetic Retinopathy: A Cross-Sectional Study, Vaishali Prajapati, Krishna Shah, Dhruvi Shah, Mayur B Wanjari, Deepika Singhal

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction Worldwide, diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the leading causes of vision loss. Early treatment and screening for DR have a major role in reducing the rate of the disease and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic-related restrictions have altered real-world practice patterns in managing DR. Aims and objectives To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the management of DR amongst patients presenting to a tertiary eye care center in Gujarat, India. Methods This is a cross-sectional study comparison of ophthalmic findings of 72 patients who presented to a tertiary care hospital with the manifestation of DR …

The Impact Of Covid-19 On The Psychological Well-Being Of Surgeons In Pakistan: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study, Sana Zeeshan, Mehdia Rajab Ali, Rehan N. Khan, Asad R. Allana, Nida Zahid, Muhammad Kazim Najjad, Arslan A. Abro, Muhammad Ali Nadeem, Zeeshan Mughal, Irshad Ahmed

Section of General Surgery

Introduction The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic left a profound and pervasive impact on the healthcare infrastructure on a global scale. Since its onset, the pattern of reported cases and its associated mortality had shown variability with intermittent peaks causing a significant effect on the psychological well-being of the surgeons of Pakistan. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental well-being of surgeons in Pakistan. Methods This multicenter cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the psychological well-being of surgeons in Pakistan. The …

A Narrative Review On Yoga: A Potential Intervention For Augmenting Immunomodulation And Mental Health In Covid-19, Indranill Basu-Ray, Kashinath Metri, Dibbendhu Khanra, Rishab Revankar, Kavitha M Chinnaiyan, Nagaratna Raghuram, Mahesh Chandra Mishra, Bhushan Patwardhan, Manjunath Sharma, Ishwar V Basavaraddi, Akshay Anand, Shrinath Reddy, K K Deepak, Marian Levy, Sue Theus, Glenn N Levine, Holger Cramer, Gregory L Fricchione, Nagendra R Hongasandra

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: The ongoing novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has a significant mortality rate of 3-5%. The principal causes of multiorgan failure and death are cytokine release syndrome and immune dysfunction. Stress, anxiety, and depression has been aggravated by the pandemic and its resultant restrictions in day-to-day life which may contribute to immune dysregulation. Thus, immunity strengthening and the prevention of cytokine release syndrome are important for preventing and minimizing mortality in COVID-19 patients. However, despite a few specific remedies that now exist for the SARS-CoV-2virus, the principal modes of prevention include vaccination, masking, and holistic healing methods, such as …

Novel Scoring Systems To Predict The Need For Oxygenation And Icu Care, And Mortality In Hospitalized Covid-19 Patients: A Risk Stratification Tool, Vishakh C Keri, Pankaj Jorwal, Rohit Verma, Piyush Ranjan, Ashish D Upadhyay, Anivita Aggarwal, Radhika Sarda, Kunal Sharma, Shubham Sahni, Chaithra Rajanna

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: A rapid surge in cases during the COVID-19 pandemic can overwhelm any healthcare system. It is imperative to triage patients who would require oxygen and ICU care, and predict mortality. Specific parameters at admission may help in identifying them.

METHODOLOGY: A prospective observational study was undertaken in a COVID-19 ward of a tertiary care center. All baseline clinical and laboratory data were captured. Patients were followed till death or discharge. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression was used to find predictors of the need for oxygen, need for ICU care, and mortality. Objective scoring systems were developed for the same …

Equitable Vaccine Access Within An Age-Based Framework, Alan B. Cobo-Lewis

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

Objectives: When vaccine supply was limited, several states adopted age-based prioritization for Covid-19 vaccine eligibility because it is simple (especially when age is quantized by decade) and age is strongly associated with Covid-19 mortality. But this approach raises equity concerns based in law and ethics. I propose data-driven solutions for equitable policy within an age-based framework. Methods: Using CDC and Census Bureau data, I analyzed 538,627 U.S. Covid-19 deaths by age and race-ethnicity through February 2021 and compared the risk ratios to published data on risk ratios for other conditions. Results: Covid-19 mortality rose 2.56-fold per decade of life. Down …

Colonic Epithelial Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (Ace2) Expression In Blacks And Whites: Potential Implications For Pathogenesis Covid-19 Racial Disparities, Mart De La Cruz, David P Nunes, Vaishali Bhardwaj, Deepika Subramanyan, Caroline Zaworski, Priya Roy, Hemant K Roy

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Covid-19 toll is disproportionate in Blacks although the mechanisms remain incompletely understood. From a biological perspective, several host proteins have received most attention as logical susceptibility targets. Specifically, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) serves as the epithelial cell receptor and acts in concert with transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2). Intriguingly, ACE2 can also suppress the inflammatory response and therefore may impact the severity of Covid-19 infections (from the exuberant immune response a.k.a. "cytokine storm"). We, therefore, assessed expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in Blacks versus Whites.

METHODS: Archived mucosal biopsies from colonoscopic biopsies of visually normal rectal mucosa without concurrent …

Travel Ban Effects On Sars-Cov-2 Transmission Lineages In The Uae As Inferred By Genomic Epidemiology, Andreas Henschel, Samuel F. Feng, Rifat A. Hamoudi, Gihan Daw Elbait, Ernesto Damiani, Fathimathuz Waasia, Guan K. Tay, Bassam H. Mahboub, Maimunah Hemayet Uddin, Juan Acuna, Eman Alefishat, Rabih Halwani, Herbert F. Jelinek, Farah Mustafa, Nawal Alkaabi, Habiba S. Alsafar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Global and local whole genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 enables the tracing of domestic and international transmissions. We sequenced Viral RNA from 37 sampled Covid-19 patients with RT-PCR-confirmed infections across the UAE and developed time-resolved phylogenies with 69 local and 3,894 global genome sequences. Furthermore, we investigated specific clades associated with the UAE cohort and, their global diversity, introduction events and inferred domestic and international virus transmissions between January and June 2020. The study comprehensively characterized the genomic aspects of the virus and its spread within the UAE and identified that the prevalence shift of the D614G mutation was due to …

Surgical Management During The Covid-19 Era At A Private Tertiary Care Hospital Of Karachi, Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study, Nida Zahid, Erum Baig, Gulzar S. Lakhani, Hasnain Zafar, Asad Latif, Syed Ather Enam

Department of Surgery Docs

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), declared a pandemic in March 2020, has affected the entire healthcare system, including the surgical practice. Guidelines for the management of surgical patients during this COVID-19 era need to be established to provide timely yet safe surgical care. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the outcomes of the COVID-19 testing algorithm established for surgery patients presenting to a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan, and to compare the outcomes among patients who underwent elective versus emergency surgery.
Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan to apply …

A Framework Of Social Media Messages For Crisis And Risk Communication: A Study Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Nic Depaula, Loni Hagen, Stiven Roytman, Deaundre Dyson, Dana Alnahass, Mihir Patel, Alex B. Hill

Urban Studies and Planning Faculty Research Publications

Social media are important channels for crisis and risk communication by government agencies. However, existing frameworks for studying these messages use loose and inconsistent terminology, making it difficult to build on this research and understand how message features impact message diffusion. In this study, we provide a framework based on textual and media dimensions of messages for improved analysis of social media crisis and risk communication. We apply the framework to a sample of Twitter posts from United States local, state and federal public health agencies during a year of the Covid-19 pandemic. Results show reasonable reliability levels for coding …

Ua25 Covid-19 Communications, Wku Finance & Administration

WKU Administration Documents

Official emails sent to faculty & staff regarding issues involved with Covid-19 Coronavirus from 2020 through 2022.

• WKU COVID-19 Grading Policy, 3/24/2020
• Signage Requests
• Steps to Help Keep Everyone Safe
• Latest Information on Covid-19 Vaccine Distribution, 2/25/2021
• Update on Covid 19 Guidance from Centers for Disease Control, 3/12/2021
• Human Resources / Business Services
• Fraudulent Unemployment Compensation Claims, 3/1/2021
• COVID Vaccines Available on Campus, 4/2021
• COVID 19 Vaccination Update, 7/28/2021
• Fall Semester Covid Message, 8/13/2021
• WKU Covid Vaccination Reporting, 8/20/2021
• Update on Proposed OSHA Rule for Covid 19 Vaccinations in the Workplace, 11/4/2021
• COVID-19, 10/21/2021
• Fall Covid Update, 8/3/2022

Hubungan Hipertensi Dengan Mortalitas Pasien Covid-19 Di Tangerang Selatan, Choirunnisa Choirunnisa, Helda Helda

Jurnal Epidemiologi Kesehatan Indonesia

Covid-19 (Coronavirus Disease-2019) adalah penyakit yang disebabkan oleh virus SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2). Usia tua (>65 tahun), jenis kelamin laki-laki, hipertensi, penyakit kardiovaskular, diabetes, PPOK dan kanker dapat meningkatkan risiko kematian akibat Covid-19. Kota Tangerang Selatan berpotensi mengalami kenaikan kasus Covid-19 karena berbatasan langsung dengan DKI Jakarta yang merupakan episentrum persebaran Covid-19, sehingga peneliti tertarik untuk melakukan penelitian ini. Desain penelitian ini adalah studi analitik kasus kontrol menggunakan data sekunder dari penelusuran epidemiologi (PE) Dinas Kesehatan Kota Tangerang Selatan bulan Maret 2020-Juli 2021. Data PE diperoleh dari portal New All Record (NAR) yang memuat data pasien Covid-19 termasuk …

Ua19/16/2 Women's Basketball Press Releases, Wku Athletic Media Relations

WKU Administration Documents

Press releases, photos and game statistics for WKU women's basketball team from August to December 2021.

Ua94/6/1 Pandemic Personal Narrative, Leah Painter

Student/Alumni Personal Papers

COVID-19 personal narrative written by student Leah Painter for History 241 class.

Roles Of A Bradykinin Storm And A Cytokine Storm In Covid-19 Cases, Nouha H. Odeh

Honors College Theses

In the light of recent events, it is imperative to understand the key inflammatory response elements that appear to be the source of more severe ailments resulting from a SARS-CoV-2 viral infection known as Covid-19 The more severe cases of Covid-19 are characterized by a severe inflammatory response resulting in tissue damage. My research proposal aims to investigate the two possible culprits of this response: a bradykinin (BK) storm and an interleukin-6 (IL-6) mediated cytokine storm. In both systems respectively, the excess release of these signals subsequently signals the production of even more of the same response element, resulting in …

A Retrospective Observational Study: Is Absolute Lymphocyte Count A Prognostic Marker In Covid-19?, Mansoor Zafar, Muhammad Shahbaz, Mangala Karkhanis, Mohamed Abdelbagi, Opeyemi A. Makanjuola, Bipin Pun, Ratan S. Randhawa, Frederic Cuison, Dana Safarova, Najam-Us-Saher Rizvi

Section of Internal Medicine

Aim: Our study aimed to find a correlation between low absolute lymphocyte count and COVID-19-related mortality.
Methods: This study followed a retrospective observational cohort design to analyze the data of patients who presented with symptoms and signs of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), at the Conquest Hospital and Eastbourne District General Hospital in East Sussex, United Kingdom, between February 10, 2020 and May 1, 2020, retrospectively. Survival and mortality for the first 30 days and comorbidities were analyzed for all patients who were tested for COVID-19 irrespective of swab results and had blood lymphocyte levels taken at the …

Martial Arts In The Pandemic, Martin J. Meyer, Andrea Molle, Benjamin N. Judkins, Paul Bowman

Political Science Faculty Articles and Research

This study examines the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on martial arts training worldwide. A mixed-method online questionnaire consisting of 28 items was used as a survey instrument. 306 martial artists responded. These were mainly from the United Kingdom, the USA, Germany, Italy and Japan. The questionnaire focused on pragmatic adaptations of training volume, training rhythm, training location, training mode (individual or group) and training methods. The survey sought to gain insights into modifications that martial artists made as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic in relation to their training, curriculum, alternative fitness, strength and health activities, as well as …

Meeting Minutes, Wku Council Of Academic Deans

Council of Academic Deans

Meeting regarding post-COVID instructional modality and international travel.

Mental Health Affects Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Mia Kepler

English Department: Research for Change - Wicked Problems in Our World

Over the past year worldwide everyone has experienced the Covid-19 pandemic in one way or another. As time evolves during the pandemic mental health is getting worse every day. People are experiencing feelings of loneliness and uneasiness. Mental health professionals are trying to find solutions to this major issue in today's society. Change is needed to prevent people's mental health from worsening during these unprecedented times and to help the people who are already suffering.

Meeting Minutes, Wku Council Of Academic Deans

Council of Academic Deans

Meeting regarding eSports, first destination survey, Respondus Monitor, DELO funds, graduate assistant instructors, salaries and working remotely.

Meeting Minutes, Wku Council Of Academic Deans

Council of Academic Deans

Meeting regarding graduate fair, commencement, enrollment, accreditation, zoom connect classroom and fifth week assessment.

A Comparative Analysis Of The Knowledge And Stigmatizing Attitude Of Ghanaians And Nigerians Towards Covid-19 Survivors, Emmanuel Lamptey, Dorcas Serwaa, Maxwell Hubert Antwi, Theckla Ikome Ms, Nkechi Odogwu

Journal of Refugee & Global Health

Introduction: In Africa, COVID-19 associated stigmatization still remains the contextual factor that poses a challenge for the mitigation and suppression of COVID-19 spread, especially among the illiterate populations. This comparative study was therefore conducted to assess the knowledge and willingness of Ghanaians and Nigerians to associate with COVID-19 survivors.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to collect information from 290 Ghanaian and 220 Nigerian nationals aged 18 years and above between 11th July-30th October 2020. An electronic-based questionnaire was developed to collect information on the public. The data were analyzed with SPSS v 22 and factors influencing knowledge and willingness …

Meeting Minutes, Wku Council Of Academic Deans

Council of Academic Deans

Meeting regarding accreditation, Colonnade director, academic program review, pass grade numbers, provost search, micro-credentials, graduate admission standards, graduate-level prior learning assessment, travel policy and cross-listed courses merging on Blackboard.

Ua19/16/2 Soccer Press Releases, Wku Athletic Media Relations

WKU Administration Documents

Press releases, photos and game statistics for WKU soccer team in 2021.

Ua19/16/2 Football Press Releases, Wku Athletic Media Relations

WKU Administration Documents

Press releases, photos and statistics for WKU football team for 2021.