Complicated grief and its relationship with anxiety, depression, and risk suicide in older adults in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru: a cross-sectional analysis (preprint)

Background Complicated grief (CG) resulting from poor adaptation to the death of a close person may have predisposed the presence of other mental health problems in older adults in Peru during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of our study was to assess the association between CG and the presence of anxiety, depression, and suicidal risk in older adults in Peru in the context of COVID-19 pandemic.Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from the "Socioemotional evaluation form" applied in 2020 to assess the presence of mental health problems in older adults being attended in the Peruvian Social Security (EsSalud). For our study we included older adults who reported the death of a close person during the last 6 months when this assessment was performed. CG, depression, anxiety, and risk of suicide was originally evaluated using validated questionnaires. The association between CG and the presence of mental health problems was calculated through multivariate analysis where prevalence ratios (PR) were estimated with 95% confidence intervals (CI).Results Of the 249 older adults included, 175 (70.3%) were female with a median age of 71 years (interquartile range: 9) and 35 (14.1%) reported the presence of CG. It was found that CG in this population was associated with the presence of anxiety (PR: 1.35, 95% CI: 0.98 to 1.85), depression (PR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.06 to 1.95), and suicidal risk (PR: 2.84, 95% CI: 1.06 to 7.59).Conclusions CG predisposes the presence of mental health problems in older adults in Peru. It is important to implement measures that facilitate its prevention and proper management of this condition in this population, especially in context of high population mortality such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Comprehensive Health Effects Assessment of the Use of Sanitizers and Disinfectants during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Global Survey (preprint)

COVID-19 has affected all aspects of human life so far. From the outset of the pandemic, preventing the spread of COVID-19 through the observance of health protocols, especially the use of sanitizers and disinfectants was given more attention. Despite the effectiveness of disinfection chemicals in controlling and preventing COVID-19, there are critical concerns about their adverse effects on human health. This study aims to assess the health effects of sanitizers and disinfectants on a global scale. A total of 91056 participants from 154 countries participated in this cross-sectional study through an electronic questionnaire. Results implied that detergents (67%), alcohol-based materials (56%), and chlorinated compounds (32%) were the most commonly used types of sanitizers and disinfectants. Most frequently reported health issues include skin complications 48.8% and respiratory complications 29.8%. The Chi-square test showed a significant association between chlorinated compounds with all possible health complications under investigation (p-value < 0.001). Examination of risk factors based on multivariate regression analysis showed that alcohols-based materials were associated with skin complications (OR, 1.98; 95%CI, 1.87–2.09), per-chlorine was associated with eye complications (OR, 1.83; 95%CI, 1.74–1.93), and highly likely with itching and throat irritation (OR, 2.00; 95%CI, 1.90–2.11). Furthermore, formaldehyde was associated with a higher prevalence of neurological complications (OR, 2.17; 95%CI, 1.92–2.44). The findings of the current study suggest that health authorities need to implement more awareness programs about the side effects of using sanitizers and disinfectants during viral epidemics.

Effects of vaccination against COVID-19 on the emotional health of Peruvian older adults (preprint)

BackgroundCOVID-19 vaccination may reduce anxiety and depression. However, the pandemic significantly impacted the elderly from low-middle-income countries. Therefore, we aimed to estimate the effect of vaccination against COVID-19 on the emotional health of older adults. MethodsWe selected a nationally stratified sample of non-hospitalized adults aged 60 to 79 years who intended to receive the COVID-19 vaccine or had already received it during recruitment. We assess the fear, anxiety, and worry about COVID-19, general anxiety, and depression at baseline and after a month. We estimated the adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for each altered emotional health outcomes in those who had one and two doses, compared with those who were not vaccinated using multilevel logistic regression with mixed effects. ResultsWe recruited 861 older adults. Loss to follow-up was 20.8%. At baseline, 43.9% had only one dose of the vaccine, and 49.1% had two doses. In the analysis during follow-up, those who had two doses had less fear (ORa: 0.19; CI95%: 0.07 to 0.51) and anxiety to COVID-19 (ORa: 0.45; CI95%: 0.22 to 0.89), compared to non-vaccinated. We observed no effects in those with only one dose. LimitationsInability to obtain the planned sample size for primary analysis. There is a selection bias during recruitment and a measurement bias because of self-reported vaccination. ConclusionsCOVID-19 vaccination with two doses in elders improves the perception of COVID-19 infection consequences. This information could be integrated into the vaccination campaign as its beneficial effect. HighlightsO_LIUp to 90% of elders in a Peruvian sample had at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine C_LIO_LITwo doses of COVID-19 vaccine reduced the levels of fear and anxiety for COVID-19 C_LIO_LIOnly one dose of vaccine didnt had effect in any emotional mental outcome C_LI