Teaching practice of field epidemiological investigation based on COVID-19 epidemic

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is accelerating in the world. Although the epidemic has been basically controlled across China at the present stage, the domestic epidemic prevention and control situation is still complex and grim. Field epidemiology played an important role in the prevention and control of infectious diseases during this epidemic and the past epidemics. In order to improve the teaching content of field epidemiology in undergraduate medical education, and to explore the practice of training in epidemiology with the present situation, this paper explored the teaching practice of field epidemiology investigation based on COVID-19. This study will help to enhance both the ability of students from theory to practice, and the adaption of high-level talents in field epidemic under the new situation. © 2021, Publication Centre of Anhui Medical University. All rights reserved.

[Impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on anxiety among the elderly in community].

Objective: To compare the prevalence of anxiety among old people before and during the COVID-19 epidemic in China, and to provide scientific evidence for psychological intervention of the elderly during public health emergencies. Methods: In 2019, the National Psychological Care Project for the Elderly was launched, covering 818 communities across the country, and 188 407 subjects received psychological assessment. In April and May 2020, a convenient sample of 6 467 aged 65 and above subjects were followed up on the anxiety status and its influencing factors during the epidemic period by using structurized questionnaire. Data collection and management were carried out using the national elderly psychological care project data collection platform. McNemar test was used to compare the difference of the prevalence of anxiety among elderly before (October 2019 to January 23, 2020) and during the epidemic (April-May 2020). The difference of the prevalence of anxiety among elderly with different characteristics was compared by chi square test. The influencing factors of anxiety before and during the epidemic situation were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression model. Results: The prevalence of anxiety symptoms in the elderly population was 4.95% (95%CI: 4.42%-5.48%) before the outbreak of COVID-19, and 10.10% (95%CI: 9.36%-10.83%) during the epidemic which was twice as high as before the outbreak. The difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the risk factors of anxiety symptoms before the outbreak were with one underlying disease (OR=1.57, 95%CI: 1.05-2.37), with two or more underlying diseases (OR=3.10, 95%CI: 2.13-4.51), and the protective factors were with hobbies, good relationship between children, good relationship with spouse, positive aging attitude and good psychological resilience (all P<0.05). The risk factors of developing anxiety symptoms during the epidemic were living in rural areas (OR=1.77, 95%CI: 1.42-2.20), participating in social activities regularly (OR=1.23, 95%CI: 1.02-1.48), having a good relationship with friends (OR=1.42, 95%CI: 1.11-1.82) and were quarantined or people around were quarantined for medical observation (OR=2.80, 95% CI: 1.90-4.13). Conclusion: The COVID-19 epidemic leads to a double increase in anxiety among the elderly. We should pay more attention to the psychological state of the elderly in rural area and who is being quarantined or people around being quarantined for medical observation.

[Epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 family clustering in Zhejiang Province].

Objective: To investigate the epidemiological characteristics for family clusters of COVID-19 in Zhejiang Province. Methods: The data including cases information of asymptomatic infected cases of family clusters of COVID-19 in Zhejiang Province were collected from Public Health Emergencies Reporting System of China Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Calculate the case number of subsequent cases, index cases, asymptomatic infected cases, exposure cases, and then, compute family secondary attack rate (SIR) and serial interval. Results: A total of 389 cases comprised 149 family index cases and 240 subsequent cases. The clinical symptoms between family index cases and subsequent cases (exclude asymptomatic infected cases ) were similar, fever was the most common symptoms in the two groups 115 (77.18%) and 110（48.67%）respectively, the cases with diarrhea symptoms accounted for the least proportion, which were 7 (4.70%) and 6 (2.65%) respectively. The serial interval between the family index cases and the subsequent cases [M (P25, P75)] was 4.00 (2.00, 6.00) days. Family secondary attack rate for subsequent cases was 34.43%, subsequent cases aged between 14 and 60 have the highest SIR (43.42%) compared with other two age groups, the difference was statistically (P<0.001); the family SIR of the spouses of the family index cases is 68.57%, and are higher than that of parents (29.03%), children (25.00%) and other family members (24.21%), the difference was also statistically (P<0.001). Conclusion: 2019 novel coronavirus has shorter serial interval and higher family SIR, the SIR of spouses is higher than other family members.