Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of frontline healthcare workers in a highly affected region in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on the mental health of healthcare workers (HCWs), especially in low and middle-income countries, which had to face additional political, social, and economic challenges. We thus aimed to assess the prevalence of mental health outcomes and the associated factors in HCWs treating COVID-19 patients in one of the most affected regions in Brazil. METHODS: We used the Respondent-Driven Sampling method to assess the risks of COVID-19 infection and symptoms of mental disorders in nurses, nursing technicians, and physicians who worked on the frontline in the metropolitan region of Recife. 865 healthcare workers completed a survey regarding sociodemographic data, work-related risks, and symptoms of mental disorders - SRQ-20 for common mental disorders (CMD); AUDIT-C for problematic alcohol use; GAD-7 for anxiety; PHQ-9 for depression; PCL-5 for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Gile's successive sampling estimator was used to produce the weighted estimates by professional category. A Poisson regression model with robust variance was used to analyze factors associated with a positive screening for CMD. We will present the results of a cross-sectional analysis of the mental health outcomes after the first peak of COVID-19 - from August 2020 to February 2021. RESULTS: The prevalence ratios for a positive screening for CMD were 34.9% (95% CI: 27.8-41.9) in nurses, 28.6% (95% CI: 21.3-36.0) in physicians, and 26.6% (95% CI: 16.8-36.5) in nursing technicians. Nurses presented a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms (23%). Positive screening for problematic alcohol use (10.5 to14.0%), anxiety (10.4 to 13.3%), and PTSD (3.3 to 4.4%) were similar between the professional categories. The main factors associated with CMD in nurses and physicians were related to an intrinsic susceptibility to mental illness, such as previous or family history of psychiatric disorder, and female sex. Among nurse technicians, work-related factors, such as accidents with biological material, presented the strongest association with CMD. CONCLUSION: The mental health of HCWs fighting COVID-19 in Recife was severely affected. It is crucial that healthcare services provide adequate working conditions and psychological support, investing in programs to promote and protect HCWs mental health.

Assessing the best time interval between doses in a two-dose vaccination regimen to reduce the number of deaths in an ongoing epidemic of SARS-CoV-2.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is a major concern all over the world and, as vaccines became available at the end of 2020, optimal vaccination strategies were subjected to intense investigation. Considering their critical role in reducing disease burden, the increasing demand outpacing production, and that most currently approved vaccines follow a two-dose regimen, the cost-effectiveness of delaying the second dose to increment the coverage of the population receiving the first dose is often debated. Finding the best solution is complex due to the trade-off between vaccinating more people with lower level of protection and guaranteeing higher protection to a fewer number of individuals. Here we present a novel extended age-structured SEIR mathematical model that includes a two-dose vaccination schedule with a between-doses delay modelled through delay differential equations and linear optimization of vaccination rates. By maintaining the minimum stock of vaccines under a given production rate, we evaluate the dose interval that minimizes the number of deaths. We found that the best strategy depends on an interplay between the vaccine production rate and the relative efficacy of the first dose. In the scenario of low first-dose efficacy, it is always better to vaccinate the second dose as soon as possible, while for high first-dose efficacy, the best strategy of time window depends on the production rate and also on second-dose efficacy provided by each type of vaccine. We also found that the rate of spread of the infection does not affect significantly the thresholds of the best window, but is an important factor in the absolute number of total deaths. These conclusions point to the need to carefully take into account both vaccine characteristics and roll-out speed to optimize the outcome of vaccination strategies.

Social inequalities and COVID-19 mortality in the city of São Paulo, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Heterogeneity in COVID-19 morbidity and mortality is often associated with a country's health-services structure and social inequality. This study aimed to characterize social inequalities in COVID-19 mortality in São Paulo, the most populous city in Brazil and Latin America. METHODS: We conducted a population-based study, including COVID-19 deaths among São Paulo residents from March to September 2020. Age-standardized mortality rates and unadjusted rate ratios (RRs) [with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs)] were estimated by race, sex, age group, district of residence, household crowding, educational attainment, income level and percentage of households in subnormal areas in each district. Time trends in mortality were assessed using the Joinpoint model. RESULTS: Males presented an 84% increase in COVID-19 mortality compared with females (RR = 1.84, 95% CI 1.79-1.90). Higher mortality rates were observed for Blacks (RR = 1.77, 95% CI 1.67-1.88) and mixed (RR = 1.42, 95% CI 1.37-1.47) compared with Whites, whereas lower mortality was noted for Asians (RR = 0.63, 95% CI 0.58-0.68). A positive gradient was found for all socio-economic indicators, i.e. increases in disparities denoted by less education, more household crowding, lower income and a higher concentration of subnormal areas were associated with higher mortality rates. A decrease in mortality over time was observed in all racial groups, but it started earlier among Whites and Asians. CONCLUSION: Our results reveal striking social inequalities in COVID-19 mortality in São Paulo, exposing structural inequities in Brazilian society that were not addressed by the governmental response to COVID-19. Without an equitable response, COVID-19 will further exacerbate current social inequalities in São Paulo.

The potential spread of Covid-19 and government decision-making: a retrospective analysis in Florianópolis, Brazil

RESUMO: Objetivo: Analisar a relação entre o potencial de propagação do SARS-CoV-2 e as tomadas de decisão do governo municipal de Florianópolis, Brasil, quanto ao distanciamento social. Métodos: Foram analisados casos novos de COVID-19 com tratamento de nowcasting identificados em residentes de Florianópolis entre 1º de fevereiro e 14 de julho de 2020. Também foram examinados os decretos relacionados à COVID-19 publicados no Diário Oficial do Município entre 1º de fevereiro e 14 de julho de 2020. Com base nas ações dispostas nos decretos, analisou-se se elas promoviam o relaxamento, o aumento ou a manutenção das restrições vigentes, criando-se o Índice de Distanciamento Social. Para o período de 14 dias anteriores a cada decreto, calcularam-se os números de reprodução dependente do tempo (Rt). Construiu-se uma matriz entre a classificação de cada decreto e os valores de Rt, verificando-se a consonância ou a dissonância entre o potencial de disseminação do SARS-CoV-2 e as ações dos decretos. Resultados: Foram analisados 5.374 casos de COVID-19 e 26 decretos. Nove decretos aumentaram as medidas de distanciamento social, nove as mantiveram e oito as flexibilizaram. Das 26 ações, nove eram consonantes e 17 dissonantes com a tendência indicada pelos Rt. Dissonâncias foram observadas com todos os decretos que mantiveram as medidas de distanciamento e os que as flexibilizaram. No segundo bimestre da análise houve a mais rápida expansão do número de casos novos e a maior quantidade de dissonâncias dos decretos. Conclusão: Observou-se importante divergência entre as medidas de distanciamento social com indicadores epidemiológicos no momento da decisão política. ABSTRACT: Objective: To analyze the association between the transmission potential of SARS-CoV-2 and the decisions made by the municipal government of Florianópolis (Brazil) regarding social distancing. Methods: We analyzed new cases of COVID-19 identified in Florianópolis residents between February 1 and July 14, 2020, using a nowcasting approach. Decrees related to COVID-19 published in the Official Gazette of the Municipality between February 1 and July 14, 2020 were also analyzed. Based on the actions proposed in the decrees, whether they loosened social distancing measures, or increased or maintained existing restrictions, was analyzed, thus creating a Social Distancing Index. Time-dependent reproduction numbers (Rt) for a period of 14 days prior to each decree were calculated. A matrix was constructed associating the classification of each decree and the Rt values, analyzing the consonance or dissonance between the potential dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 and the actions of the decrees. Results: A total of 5,374 cases of COVID-19 and 26 decrees were analyzed. Nine decrees increased social distancing measures, nine maintained them, and eight loosened them. Of the 26 actions, 9 were consonant and 17 dissonant with the tendency indicated by the Rt. Dissonance was observed in all of the decrees that maintained the distance measures or loosened them. The fastest expansion in the number of new cases and the greatest amount of dissonant decrees was found in the last two months analyzed. Conclusion: There was an important divergence between municipal measures of social distancing with epidemiological indicators at the time of each political decision.

The potential spread of Covid-19 and government decision-making: a retrospective analysis in Florianópolis, Brazil. / O potencial de propagação da COVID-19 e a tomada de decisão governamental: uma análise retrospectiva em Florianópolis, Brasil.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between the transmission potential of SARS-CoV-2 and the decisions made by the municipal government of Florianópolis (Brazil) regarding social distancing. METHODS: We analyzed new cases of COVID-19 identified in Florianópolis residents between February 1 and July 14, 2020, using a nowcasting approach. Decrees related to COVID-19 published in the Official Gazette of the Municipality between February 1 and July 14, 2020 were also analyzed. Based on the actions proposed in the decrees, whether they loosened social distancing measures, or increased or maintained existing restrictions, was analyzed, thus creating a Social Distancing Index. Time-dependent reproduction numbers (Rt) for a period of 14 days prior to each decree were calculated. A matrix was constructed associating the classification of each decree and the Rt values, analyzing the consonance or dissonance between the potential dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 and the actions of the decrees. RESULTS: A total of 5,374 cases of COVID-19 and 26 decrees were analyzed. Nine decrees increased social distancing measures, nine maintained them, and eight loosened them. Of the 26 actions, 9 were consonant and 17 dissonant with the tendency indicated by the Rt. Dissonance was observed in all of the decrees that maintained the distance measures or loosened them. The fastest expansion in the number of new cases and the greatest amount of dissonant decrees was found in the last two months analyzed. CONCLUSION: There was an important divergence between municipal measures of social distancing with epidemiological indicators at the time of each political decision.

OBJETIVO: Analisar a relação entre o potencial de propagação do SARS-CoV-2 e as tomadas de decisão do governo municipal de Florianópolis, Brasil, quanto ao distanciamento social. MÉTODOS: Foram analisados casos novos de COVID-19 com tratamento de nowcasting identificados em residentes de Florianópolis entre 1º de fevereiro e 14 de julho de 2020. Também foram examinados os decretos relacionados à COVID-19 publicados no Diário Oficial do Município entre 1º de fevereiro e 14 de julho de 2020. Com base nas ações dispostas nos decretos, analisou-se se elas promoviam o relaxamento, o aumento ou a manutenção das restrições vigentes, criando-se o Índice de Distanciamento Social. Para o período de 14 dias anteriores a cada decreto, calcularam-se os números de reprodução dependente do tempo (Rt). Construiu-se uma matriz entre a classificação de cada decreto e os valores de Rt, verificando-se a consonância ou a dissonância entre o potencial de disseminação do SARS-CoV-2 e as ações dos decretos. RESULTADOS: Foram analisados 5.374 casos de COVID-19 e 26 decretos. Nove decretos aumentaram as medidas de distanciamento social, nove as mantiveram e oito as flexibilizaram. Das 26 ações, nove eram consonantes e 17 dissonantes com a tendência indicada pelos Rt. Dissonâncias foram observadas com todos os decretos que mantiveram as medidas de distanciamento e os que as flexibilizaram. No segundo bimestre da análise houve a mais rápida expansão do número de casos novos e a maior quantidade de dissonâncias dos decretos. CONCLUSÃO: Observou-se importante divergência entre as medidas de distanciamento social com indicadores epidemiológicos no momento da decisão política.