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1.
Front Immunol ; 14: 1136029, 2023.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2316735

ABSTRACT

Introduction: COVID-19 vaccines based on mRNA have represented a revolution in the biomedical research field. The initial two-dose vaccination schedule generates potent humoral and cellular responses, with a massive protective effect against severe COVID-19 and death. Months after this vaccination, levels of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 waned, and this promoted the recommendation of a third vaccination dose. Methods: We have performed an integral and longitudinal study of the immunological responses triggered by the booster mRNA-1273 vaccination, in a cohort of health workers previously vaccinated with two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine at University Hospital La Paz located in Madrid, Spain. Circulating humoral responses and SARS-CoV-2-specific cellular reactions, after ex vivo restimulation of both T and B cells (cytokines production, proliferation, class switching), have been analyzed. Importantly, all along these studies, the analyses have been performed comparing naïve and subjects recovered from COVID-19, addressing the influence of a previous infection by SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, as the injection of the third vaccination dose was contemporary to the rise of the Omicron BA.1 variant of concern, T- and B-cell-mediated cellular responses have been comparatively analyzed in response to this variant. Results: All these analyses indicated that differential responses to vaccination due to a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection were balanced following the boost. The increase in circulating humoral responses due to this booster dropped after 6 months, whereas T-cell-mediated responses were more stable along the time. Finally, all the analyzed immunological features were dampened in response to the Omicron variant of concern, particularly late after the booster vaccination. Conclusion: This work represents a follow-up longitudinal study for almost 1.5 years, analyzing in an integral manner the immunological responses triggered by the prime-boost mRNA-based vaccination schedule against COVID-19.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Humans , COVID-19/prevention & control , 2019-nCoV Vaccine mRNA-1273 , BNT162 Vaccine , COVID-19 Vaccines , Longitudinal Studies , Vaccination
2.
Review of Managerial Science ; : 1-18, 2023.
Article in English | EuropePMC | ID: covidwho-2259892

ABSTRACT

In light of the economic situation resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, economists have claimed that an improvement in competitiveness can enhance economic growth. A greater degree of competitiveness allows the relevant actors to engage in entrepreneurial activity in new markets and to create market niches that promote job creation. Among the factors that can stimulate competitiveness, entrepreneurship and digitalization play relevant roles. Digital technologies have generated new business opportunities for entrepreneurs;likewise, digital entrepreneurship allows different entrepreneurs to connect via a platform, thus facilitating access to global markets with growth potential. The fundamental objective of this paper is to study the relationships among digitalization, entrepreneurship and competitiveness in light of the factors that influence the digitalization process. An empirical analysis of 19 European countries is conducted, and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis is used to obtain the combinations of economic and social variables that affect competitiveness and entrepreneurship. The results of the empirical analysis show that to stimulate entrepreneurial activity, a country must exhibit an environment that is favourable to digitalization as well as an investment in talent that allows the relevant actors to take advantage of the benefits of digital technologies.

3.
Journal of Building Engineering ; : 105649, 2022.
Article in English | ScienceDirect | ID: covidwho-2159318

ABSTRACT

Since SARS-CoV-2 spread worldwide in early 2020, many countries established lockdowns for protection. With a main transmission by aerosols, ventilation was promoted. This article analyses natural ventilation of Spanish housing during the spring 2020. An online questionnaire was launched, obtaining for this study 1502 responses. The comparative window opening before and during confinement and households, dwellings and home activity variables, were analysed. The binary logistic regression model before pandemic, indicated that ventilating properly related to: a worse perceived IAQ (OR = 1.56);thermal adaptation measures, especially those that prefer to open/close windows (OR = 1.45);not having heating system (OR = 1.15);and using power to heat water (OR = 1.60). For the confinement period, the model highlighted: being an employee (OR = 1.88);using heavy clothing in the home (OR = 2.36);and again, open/close windows for adaptation (OR = 2.24). According to specific tasks in quarantine, frequent ventilation was boosted by: an increasing use of oven (OR = 14.81);and alteration of work-habits (OR = 2.70), sport-habits (OR = 1.79), and outdoor-activities (OR = 1.60). Thus, an adequate natural ventilation pattern during the quarantine linked to low environmental comfort in general, by virtue of indoor air quality. This is corroborated by less acoustic-thermal insulation, worse indicators of heating use, and the adaptive response to opening/closing windows when external temperature changed.

4.
PLoS One ; 17(10): e0275615, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2065140

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the health status and exercise capacity of COVID-19 survivors one year after hospital discharge. METHODS: This multicenter prospective study included COVID-19 survivors 12 months after hospital discharge. Participants were randomly selected from a large cohort of COVID-19 patients who had been hospitalized until 15th April 2020. They were interviewed about persistent symptoms, underwent a physical examination, chest X-ray, and a 6-minute walk test (6MWT). A multivariate analysis was performed to determine the risk factors for persistent dyspnea. RESULTS: Of the 150 patients included, 58% were male and the median age was 63 (IQR 54-72) years. About 82% reported ≥1 symptoms and 45% had not recovered their physical health. The multivariate regression analysis revealed that the female sex, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and smoking were independent risk factors for persistent dyspnea. Approximately 50% completed less than 80% of the theoretical distance on the 6MWT. Only 14% had an abnormal X-ray, showing mainly interstitial infiltrates. A third of them had been followed up in outpatient clinics and 6% had undergone physical rehabilitation. CONCLUSION: Despite the high rate of survivors of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic with persistent symptomatology at 12 months, the follow-up and rehabilitation of these patients has been really poor. Studies focusing on the role of smoking in the persistence of COVID-19 symptoms are lacking.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , COVID-19/epidemiology , Dyspnea/epidemiology , Dyspnea/etiology , Female , Hospitals , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pandemics , Patient Discharge , Prospective Studies
7.
Antibiotics (Basel) ; 11(2)2022 Feb 18.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1707747

ABSTRACT

The increasing concern about bacterial resistance has made the rational prescription of antibiotics even more urgent. The non-pharmacological measures established to reduce the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic have modified the epidemiology of pediatric infections and, consequently, the use of antibiotics. Interrupted time series (ITS) analyses are quasi-experimental studies that allow for the estimation of causal effects with observational data in "natural experiments", such as changes in health policies or pandemics. The effect of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the incidence of infectious diseases and the use of antibiotics between 2018 and 2020 in the Health Area of Vigo (Galicia, Spain) was quantified and analyzed. This paper outlines a real-world data study with administrative records from primary care services provided for the pediatric population. The records were related to episodes classified as infectious by the International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC-2) and oral medication in the therapeutic subgroup J01, corresponding to antibiotics for systemic use, according to the World Health Organization's Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification system. The records were classified according to incident episodes, age, dose per inhabitant, and year. Segmented regression models were applied using an algorithm that automatically identifies the number and position of the change points. During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the number of infectious diseases being transmitted between individuals, through the air and through the fecal-oral route, significantly decreased, and a slight decrease in infections transmitted via other mechanisms (urinary tract infections) was also found. In parallel, during the months of the pandemic, there has been a marked and significant reduction in antibacterial agent utilization, mainly of penicillins, cephalosporins, and macrolides.

8.
Cell Rep ; 38(2): 110235, 2022 01 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1634873

ABSTRACT

We have analyzed BNT162b2 vaccine-induced immune responses in naive subjects and individuals recovered from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), both soon after (14 days) and later after (almost 8 months) vaccination. Plasma spike (S)-specific immunoglobulins peak after one vaccine shot in individuals recovered from COVID-19, while a second dose is needed in naive subjects, although the latter group shows reduced levels all along the analyzed period. Despite how the neutralization capacity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mirrors this behavior early after vaccination, both groups show comparable neutralizing antibodies and S-specific B cell levels late post-vaccination. When studying cellular responses, naive individuals exhibit higher SARS-CoV-2-specific cytokine production, CD4+ T cell activation, and proliferation than do individuals recovered from COVID-19, with patent inverse correlations between humoral and cellular variables early post-vaccination. However, almost 8 months post-vaccination, SARS-CoV-2-specific responses are comparable between both groups. Our data indicate that a previous history of COVID-19 differentially determines the functional T and B cell-mediated responses to BNT162b2 vaccination over time.


Subject(s)
BNT162 Vaccine/immunology , COVID-19 Vaccines/immunology , COVID-19/immunology , Immunity, Cellular/immunology , Immunity, Humoral/immunology , Vaccines, Synthetic/immunology , mRNA Vaccines/immunology , Animals , Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology , Antibodies, Viral/immunology , B-Lymphocytes/immunology , B-Lymphocytes/virology , COVID-19/virology , Chlorocebus aethiops , Humans , Leukocytes, Mononuclear/immunology , Leukocytes, Mononuclear/virology , Lymphocyte Activation/immunology , SARS-CoV-2/immunology , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology , Vaccination/methods , Vero Cells
9.
Biosensors (Basel) ; 12(1)2022 Jan 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1632763

ABSTRACT

Despite its reduced sensitivity, sputum smear microscopy (SSM) remains the main diagnostic test for detecting tuberculosis in many parts of the world. A new diagnostic technique, the magnetic nanoparticle-based colorimetric biosensing assay (NCBA) was optimized by evaluating different concentrations of glycan-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (GMNP) and Tween 80 to improve the acid-fast bacilli (AFB) count. Comparative analysis was performed on 225 sputum smears: 30 with SSM, 107 with NCBA at different GMNP concentrations, and 88 with NCBA-Tween 80 at various concentrations and incubation times. AFB quantification was performed by adding the total number of AFB in all fields per smear and classified according to standard guidelines (scanty, 1+, 2+ and 3+). Smears by NCBA with low GMNP concentrations (≤1.5 mg/mL) showed higher AFB quantification compared to SSM. Cell enrichment of sputum samples by combining NCBA-GMNP, incubated with Tween 80 (5%) for three minutes, improved capture efficiency and increased AFB detection up to 445% over SSM. NCBA with Tween 80 offers the opportunity to improve TB diagnostics, mainly in paucibacillary cases. As this method provides biosafety with a simple and inexpensive methodology that obtains results in a short time, it might be considered as a point-of-care TB diagnostic method in regions where resources are limited.


Subject(s)
Magnetite Nanoparticles , Mycobacterium tuberculosis , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary , Colorimetry , Diagnostic Tests, Routine , Humans , Polysorbates , Sensitivity and Specificity
10.
Int J Environ Res Public Health ; 18(22)2021 11 19.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1524002

ABSTRACT

Many countries chose to establish social distancing as lockdowns after the COVID-19 outbreak. Households had to adapt their day-to-day lifestyles to new circumstances, affecting routines and time dedication to tasks. This national study was carried out to find out how the confinement by COVID-19 affected Spanish households on the perceived habit changes during this period, in relation to their socio-demographic characteristics and household composition. An online questionnaire was launched during the COVID-19 lockdown, from 30 April to 22 June 2020. Descriptive statistics were analyzed, stratified by gender, on time dedication, routine, home leaving, and habit change variables. Chi-square tests were used to explore the relations of significance with socio-demographic characteristics and home composition. All contrast analyses were performed for a 95% confidence level (significance considered for p < 0.05). In total, 1673 respondents participated from different age groups, educational level, employment status and household composition. Sixty percent of respondents maintained their routines. A third tried to establish a new one, being related to women, young people, not a university student, and living with others, including minors. Regarding dedication to tasks, adults aged 35-54 years, with more cohabitants, especially women, devoted themselves intensively to the home or to care, while those under 35 were dedicated more to rest, leisure, television or reading. People with university studies were more related to teleworking. The frequency of going outside was related to gender, age, educational level and living with elders, specifically for grocery shopping and taking out garbage. Changes in habits, routines and time dedication in confinement were strongly linked to the sociodemographic and coexistence conditions in Spanish homes. The greatest impacts were suffered by women, people with children, and adults between 35-54 years of age, especially on care and domestic chores.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Anniversaries and Special Events , Child , Communicable Disease Control , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Habits , Humans , SARS-CoV-2
11.
JMIR Mhealth Uhealth ; 9(9): e27021, 2021 09 09.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1403382

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: An increasing number of mobile health (mHealth) apps are becoming available for download and use on mobile devices. Even with the increase in availability and use of mHealth apps, there has still not been a lot of research into understanding the intention to use this kind of apps. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate a technology acceptance model (TAM) that has been specially designed for primary health care applications. METHODS: The proposed model is an extension of the TAM, and was empirically tested using data obtained from a survey of mHealth app users (n=310). The research analyzed 2 additional external factors: promotion of health and health benefits. Data were analyzed with a PLS-SEM software and confirmed that gender moderates the adoption of mHealth apps in Spain. The explanatory capacity (R2 for behavioral intention to use) of the proposed model was 76.4%. Likewise, the relationships of the external constructs of the extended TAM were found to be significant. RESULTS: The results show the importance of healthy habits developed by using mHealth apps. In addition, communication campaigns for these apps should be aimed at transferring the usefulness of eHealth as an agent for transforming attitudes; additionally, as more health benefits are obtained, ease of use becomes greater. Perceived usefulness (PU; ß=.415, t0.001;4999=3.442, P=.001), attitude toward using (ß=.301, t0.01;499=2.299, P=.02), and promotion of health (ß=.210, t0.05;499=2.108, P=.03) were found to have a statistically significant impact on behavior intention to use eHealth apps (R2=76.4%). Perceived ease of use (PEOU; ß=.179, t0.01;499=2.623, P=.009) and PU (ß=.755, t0.001;499=12.888, P<.001) were found to have a statistically significant impact on attitude toward using (R2>=78.2%). Furthermore, PEOU (ß=.203, t0.01;499=2.810, P=.005), health benefits (ß=.448, t0.001;499=4.010, P<.001), and promotion of health (ß=.281, t0.01;499=2.393, P=.01) exerted a significant impact on PU (R2=72.7%). Finally, health benefits (ß=.640, t0.001;499=14.948, P<.001) had a statistically significant impact on PEOU (R2=40.9%), while promotion of health (ß=.865, t0.001;499=29.943, P<.001) significantly influenced health benefits (R2=74.7%). CONCLUSIONS: mHealth apps could be used to predict the behavior of patients in the face of recommendations to prevent pandemics, such as COVID-19 or SARS, and to track users' symptoms while they stay at home. Gender is a determining factor that influences the intention to use mHealth apps, so perhaps different interfaces and utilities could be designed according to gender.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Mobile Applications , Telemedicine , Humans , Intention , SARS-CoV-2
12.
Int J Environ Res Public Health ; 18(14)2021 Jul 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1389370

ABSTRACT

The pandemic generated by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has led to a forced increase in the number of hours spent at home. In many cases, the lockdown situations, both in social and work terms, have meant that homes have suddenly also become workplaces. Based on all the indicators, this new relational scenario in the labor market displays a clear upward trend and is far from being a temporary situation. It is known that sunlight affects people's circadian rhythm and that its reduction and even absence during this period of isolation has had a psychological impact on the population. This makes it necessary to reconsider the regulations applied in homes, in order to guarantee their habitability, given their recent widespread use as offices, as well as domestic spaces. In historic centers, the comprehensive renovations being carried out include improvements in energy efficiency and thermal comfort, which play a fundamental role. However, the energy consumption linked to artificial lighting and the quality of this lighting itself have remained in the background, as improvement strategies consist mainly in the replacement of incandescent or fluorescent lamps with LED lamps. Prior to the pandemic, the electric consumption of lighting systems accounted for 10-15% of the total, a figure which increased to 40-50% during the lockdown period. Aiming to improve people's well-being while reducing energy expenditure on lighting, this article presents a quantitative approach to improving the levels of natural lighting in residential heritage buildings located in historic centers. According to data obtained from previous surveys of a sector of the population, homes built prior to 1950 were characterized by good natural lighting conditions and a very low incidence of health issues among occupants compared to contemporary homes. The objective was to quantify the circadian stimulus and lighting levels and to identify the areas or work areas in homes in order to optimize consumption related to lighting and to generate healthy and comfortable spaces. Results show that historic homes have enough naturally lit areas to perform office work during business hours. However, in the most unfavorable seasons, winter and autumn, it is necessary to use artificial lighting at the start and end of the working day.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Pandemics , Communicable Disease Control , Housing , Humans , Lighting , SARS-CoV-2
13.
J Bus Res ; 137: 345-353, 2021 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1377745

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an economic crisis in advanced economies greater than the 2008 economic crisis, as the latest Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) forecasts indicate. Entrepreneurship activity is an important factor to be considered to reduce this negative. The objective of this paper is to analyze the factors that favor entrepreneurship in the COVID-19 pandemic situation and explore the relationship between entrepreneurship and sustainable development. Monetary, fiscal, competitiveness, and business expectations are factors to consider. To achieve this objective, we reviewed the specialized literature and proposed an economic model to verify the relationships between the relevant variables. The estimation of this model uses the Partial Least Squares (PLS) method. This study looks at select OECD countries where data on entrepreneurial activity are available and there are calculations by the OECD for the economic projections for 2020.

14.
Sustainable Cities and Society ; : 103262, 2021.
Article in English | ScienceDirect | ID: covidwho-1356440

ABSTRACT

In Spain, the COVID-19 confinement was carried out in the spring of 2020. All non-essential activities were temporarily suspended. This brought with it the adaptation to home office (telework), still emerging in Europe, and more in Spain. Although the response in general has been positive, the conditions to which families have been subjected to telework cannot be considered normal. In this context, an online survey was requested to find out the experience of confined households in relation to the dwelling adaptation and satisfaction following the new needs in lockdown. The data obtained on workspace perception and its adequacy were studied in Madrid, stratified by gender and average income, for a sample of 256 households with people teleworking or studying. The results showed that the adequacy of telework spaces were insufficient for a third of the households, without no significant relationship with most of socioeconomic variables, nor with home characteristics. The variables related to this inadequacy of the spaces were: the number of people who work or study at home;the lack of exclusive spaces for teleworking;and the availability of digital resources. This perception also depended on the qualities of the teleworking space, as size, furniture and lighting, among others.

15.
J Infect ; 83(5): 581-588, 2021 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1356312

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To determine the health status, exercise capacity, and health related quality of life (HRQoL) of COVID-19 associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) survivors, 8 months after diagnosis. METHODS: All eligible patients were interviewed and underwent a physical examination, chest X-ray, and 6 min walk test (6MWT). Scales to evaluate post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and HRQoL were applied. RESULTS: Of 1295 patients, 365 suffered ARDS and 166 survived to hospital discharge. Five died after discharge and 48 were lost to follow-up. Of the 113 remaining patients, 81% had persistent symptoms. More than 50% of patients completed less than 80% of the theoretical distance on the 6MWT, 50% had an abnormal X-ray and 93% of patients developed psychiatric disorders. Mean SF-36 scores were worse than in the general population. After multivariate regression analysis, female sex, non-Caucasian race, and Charlson index>2 were independent risk factors for a worse mental health component summary score on the SF-36, and age was associated with a better prognosis. Female sex and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were independently associated with a worse physical component summary score. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 associated ARDS survivors have long-term consequences in health status, exercise capacity, and HRQoL. Strategies addressed to prevent these sequelae are needed.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Respiratory Distress Syndrome , Female , Humans , Quality of Life , Respiratory Distress Syndrome/epidemiology , SARS-CoV-2 , Survivors
16.
Sustainability ; 13(14):7700, 2021.
Article in English | MDPI | ID: covidwho-1308441

ABSTRACT

This article analyses the situation that prevailed in 12 dwellings located on the outskirts of Madrid during Spain’s state of emergency. How did 24/7 occupation affect the quality of indoor air and power consumption patterns? The mixed method used (surveys and instrumental monitoring) pragmatically detected the variation in consumption, comfort and indoor air quality patterns before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The characteristics initially in place and household predisposition had a conclusive effect on such variations. The starting conditions, including household composition, habits and the way daily activities were performed, differed widely, logically affecting power consumption: 8/12 case studies increase occupancy density by more than 25 percent;11/12 improve thermal comfort;10/12 improve air quality but not necessarily translate in a sufficient ventilation practices;air quality was lower in the bedrooms on the whole;only 4/12 case studies use the potential of passive measures;only one household adopted energy savings strategies;10/12 case studies increase electric power consumption but none of the dwellings was fitted with a renewable power generation system. The conclusion drawn is that, despite starting conditions differing widely, household composition, habits (including performance of daily activities performance) and power consumption also played an active role in the end result. This approach allowed to integrate qualitative and quantitative findings on indoor environmental quality (IEQ), energy use and households’ behavior. The objective data on the energy situation of the case studies not only is useful for the study, but also for potential enrollment in energy rehabilitation programs, such as the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

17.
Int J Environ Res Public Health ; 18(14)2021 07 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1304654

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic and the precautionary measures applied globally (lockdowns and curfews) have impacted homes, including work. Working from home (WFH) has emerged as a growing trend in the post-pandemic era. The research question was: Are our homes ready for teleworking? To respond, a national prospective mixed approach was launched for Spanish households during the spring 2020 lockdown, using two online questionnaires, one quantitative and the other qualitative. Through a survey, photographs, and narratives, the study evaluates the perceived adequacy of telework spaces and their specific characteristics, the availability of digital resources and the internet. A total of 1800 surveys and over 200 images and texts related to telework environments were obtained. The results suggest that the adequacy of these spaces was insufficient for more than a quarter of the homes. Also, strong relations between the perceived workspace adequacy and a social status or stability of homes were shown and validated, despite other sociodemographic features, the home composition or habitat were not related. Some other variables statistically significant were occupation regime, type and surface of dwellings; their indoor environmental quality; the availability of exclusive spaces for teleworking; quality of digital resources; and the specific space features. The analysis was completed with qualitative insights through photos and texts. Telework, lived in this context as an experiment, needs this reflection from an environmental, resource-availability, and ergonomic point of view.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Communicable Disease Control , Housing , Humans , Pandemics , Prospective Studies , SARS-CoV-2
18.
Int J Environ Res Public Health ; 18(13)2021 06 30.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1288881

ABSTRACT

Following the 2020 confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, housing has become the only safe place and this has exposed inequity in habitability. This research on the reality of confined households and the perception of their homes in the Mexican republic is based on a mixed participatory study, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches. The online questionnaire consisted of 58 questions in the quantitative approximation. The qualitative part required the provision of an image of the workspace, with testimonies and personal reflections. During the lockdown, all participants saw an increase in overall energy consumption; more than half reported not being in thermal comfort; and a third declared deficiencies in noise insulation. Regarding the perception of the telework/tele-study space, we found the following categories: bedrooms, living/dining rooms, studies and others. In addition, respondents had often adapted the workspace for both individual and shared use. In general, the households were satisfied with the size of their houses but would like landscaped spaces or better views outside. Confinement made housing the protective element against the pandemic. The consequences will have an effect globally, so new architectural design paradigms need to be rethought.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Pandemics , Communicable Disease Control , Humans , Personal Satisfaction , SARS-CoV-2
19.
BMC Musculoskelet Disord ; 22(1): 594, 2021 Jun 28.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1286820

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Determining the infection rate and mortality probability in healthy patients who have undergone orthopedic and trauma surgeries (OTS) during a period of uncontrolled COVID-19 transmission may help to inform preparations for future waves. This study performed a survival analysis in a cohort of non-infected OTS patients and determined the effect of COVID-19 on mortality. METHODS: This observational study included 184 patients who underwent OTS in the month before surgical activities ceased and before the implementation of special measures. Four groups of surgery (GS) were established based on the location of the surgery and the grade of inflammation produced. Crude risk of infection and infection rates were assessed. Survival and failure functions by GS were analyzed. Comparison of the Kaplan-Meier survival curves by GS was assessed. Cox regression and Fine-Gray models were used to determine the effect of different confounders on mortality. RESULTS: The crude risk of COVID-19 diagnosis was 14.13% (95% CI: 9.83-19.90%). The total incidence rate was 2.67 (1000 person-days, 95% CI: 1.74-3.91). At the end of follow-up, there was a 94.42% chance of surviving 76 days or more after OTS. The differences in K-M survivor curves by GS indicated that GS 4 presented a lower survival function (Mantel-Cox test, p = 0.024; Wilcoxon-Breslow test, p = 0.044; Tarone-Ware test, p = 0.032). One of the best models to determine the association with mortality was the age-adjusted model for GS, high blood pressure, and respiratory history, with a hazard ratio of 1.112 in Cox regression analysis (95% CI: 1.005-1.230) and a sub hazard ratio of 1.111 (95% CI: 1.046-1.177) in Fine-Gray regression analysis for competitive risk. CONCLUSIONS: The infection risk after OTS was similar to that of the general population in a community transmission area; the grade of surgical aggression did not influence this rate. The survival probability was extremely high if patients had not previously been infected. With higher grades of surgical aggression, the risk of mortality was higher in OTS patients. Adjusting for age and other confounders (e.g., GS, high blood pressure and respiratory history) was associated with higher mortality rates.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Aggression , COVID-19 Testing , Humans , SARS-CoV-2 , Survival Analysis
20.
Int J Environ Res Public Health ; 18(11)2021 05 21.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1247988

ABSTRACT

Confinement was adopted globally as a containment measure to face the COVID pandemic declared by WHO on March 2020. In Spain, the State of Alarm was established for three months. This implied the interruption of educational activities, having a higher incidence for children, since teaching would not be resumed until the following academic year, in September. This, together with the confusing initial information about COVID-19 transmission between children and their families, has made them one of the groups most vulnerable. In this study, a qualitative approach is made to secondary school students (aged 12). They were asked to share their experiences about confinement from the perspective of the home spaces, in relation to two main tasks relevant in this period: the tele-study and their relaxing time and well-being. Using images and narratives with an abstract and emotional description, the response of 46 children was obtained. A sentiment analysis was carried out from their testimonies. Results suggest a greater availability of tele-study spaces with daylighting, mainly in bedrooms, with laptops. For leisure and rest spaces, sofas, beds, and cohabitant gathering were preferred. Written testimonials were mainly positive. Housing features and family cohesion condition their resilience in situations of uncertainty, like confinement.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Child , Humans , Pandemics , SARS-CoV-2 , Spain , Students
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