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In this paper, we exploit variation in COVID-19 infections and deaths across Chinese cities to identify the health impacts of COVID-19 based on longitudinal data at the individual level. Our paper provides empirical evidence of the immediate impact of COVID-19 on both physical and mental health. Utilizing a difference-in-differences methodology and focusing on changes in within-individual health condition between pre-COVID-19 and the early stages of COVID-19, we find robust evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic has an adverse effect on self-perceived health condition, chronic illness, sleep, and depression. Our findings are robust to alternative constructions of cities' exposure to COVID-19, to the exclusion of Wuhan city, which was hit the hardest and had experienced the most stringent lockdowns. Furthermore, accounting for the impact of COVID-19 policies, our results indicate that the decline in physical health can be attributed to the shock of the pandemic, while emotional health is mainly affected by anti-contagion policies.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of thoracoscopic surgery versus thoracotomy in repairing esophageal atresia type â ¢ with tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF) in neonates. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted in 97 neonates who underwent EA/TEF repair between January 2012 and December 2017 in the Affiliated Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, including 75 patients receiving thoracotomy and 22 patients receiving thoracoscopic surgery. The perioperative data and the incidence of early postoperative complications were compared between two groups. RESULTS: The operations were completed in all patients. One child (4.5%) in thoracoscopic surgery group was converted to thoracotomy with modified Livaditis procedure due to the long distance of two blind ends (>4 cm) and thinner distal end. The operation time was longer in thoracoscopic surgery group[(143±48) min vs. (120±40) min, P<0.05], but the postoperative ventilation time was shorter[(55±22) h vs. (65±19) h, P<0.05] and the first oral feeding was earlier in thoracoscopic surgery group[(3.2±1.1) d vs (3.9±1.3) d, P<0.05]. No statistical difference was observed in the ratio of red blood cell transfusion, length of hospital stay and drainage tube indwelling time between two groups (all P>0.05). The incidence of lung complications in thoracotomy group was higher than that in thoracoscopic surgery group (20.0% vs. 9.1%, P<0.01), while there were no significant differences in the incidence of other postoperative complications between two groups. There was no death in thoracoscopic surgery group, while 2 patients died in thoracotomy group. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracoscopic repair is a preferred surgical procedure for EA/TEF in neonates.
