Risk factors for excess all-cause mortality during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in England: A retrospective cohort study of primary care data

Review Substance Abuse

The association of smoking status with SARS-CoV-2 infection, hospitalization and mortality from COVID-19: a living rapid evidence review with Bayesian meta-analyses (version 7)

David Simons et al.

Summary: The study shows that current smokers have a lower risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to never smokers, while former smokers have a higher risk of hospitalization, disease severity, and mortality from COVID-19.

ADDICTION (2021)

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Article Psychiatry

Mental health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic: longitudinal analyses of adults in the UK COVID-19 Mental Health & Wellbeing study

Rory C. O'Connor et al.

Summary: The study found that suicidal ideation increased, while symptoms of anxiety and levels of defeat and entrapment decreased during the early stages of lockdown in the UK. Levels of depressive symptoms remained stable, positive well-being increased, and levels of loneliness did not significantly change. Women, young people, those from more socially disadvantaged backgrounds, and individuals with pre-existing mental health problems experienced worse mental health outcomes during the pandemic.

BRITISH JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY (2021)

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Article Respiratory System

Multiple, objectively measured sleep dimensions including hypoxic burden and chronic kidney disease: findings from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Nicholas S. Hopkinson et al.

Summary: This study found that sleep apnoea associated hypoxia and very short sleep may be associated with an increased prevalence of moderate-to-severe CKD. This indicates that sleep may have a certain impact on the development of CKD.

THORAX (2021)

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Article Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on primary care-recorded mental illness and self-harm episodes in the UK: a population-based cohort study

Matthew J. Carr et al.

Summary: The study investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in the UK, finding significant reductions in primary care-recorded rates of depression, anxiety disorders, and self-harm during the initial outbreak in 2020. These trends gradually returned to expected levels over time.

LANCET PUBLIC HEALTH (2021)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

Excess mortality for care home residents during the first 23 weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic in England: a national cohort study

Marcello Morciano et al.

Summary: By August 7, 2020, there were 29,542 (95% CI 25,176 to 33,908) excess deaths in all care homes in England. Excess deaths accounted for 6.5% (95% CI 5.5 to 7.4%) of all care home beds, with a higher rate in nursing homes (8.4%) compared to residential homes (4.6%). 64.7% (95% CI 56.4 to 76.0%) of excess deaths were confirmed/suspected COVID-19 cases. The odds of experiencing COVID-19 attributable deaths were higher in homes providing nursing services, with older residents and/or dementia patients, larger homes, and belonging to a large provider/brand, but not significantly associated with for-profit status.

BMC MEDICINE (2021)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence in England following the first peak of the pandemic

Helen Ward et al.

Summary: The REACT-2 study in England found that by mid-July 2020, around 6% of adults had been infected with SARS-CoV-2, with healthcare workers and individuals of Black or South Asian ethnicity disproportionately affected. Although different ethnicities had similar infection fatality ratios, higher hospitalization and mortality rates in minority ethnic groups may be due to higher rates of infection rather than differential disease experience or care.

NATURE COMMUNICATIONS (2021)

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Article Critical Care Medicine

Risk of adverse outcomes in patients with underlying respiratory conditions admitted to hospital with COVID-19 a national, multicentre prospective cohort study using the ISARIC WHO Clinical Characterisation Protocol UK

Chloe Bloom et al.

Summary: This study analyzed data from patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 in England, Scotland, and Wales from January 17 to August 3, 2020. The findings showed that patients with asthma were more likely to receive critical care, while patients with chronic pulmonary disease were less likely. In older patients, inhaled corticosteroid use reduced mortality rates in asthma patients but not in those with chronic pulmonary disease.

LANCET RESPIRATORY MEDICINE (2021)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

Ethnic differences in SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19-related hospitalisation, intensive care unit admission, and death in 17 million adults in England: an observational cohort study using the OpenSAFELY platform

Rohini Mathur et al.

Summary: The study found that some minority ethnic populations in England have higher risks of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 and experiencing adverse COVID-19 outcomes compared to the White population, even after adjusting for sociodemographic, clinical, and household characteristics.

LANCET (2021)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

Excess deaths associated with covid-19 pandemic in 2020: age and sex disaggregated time series analysis in 29 high income countries

Nazrul Islam et al.

Summary: Approximately one million excess deaths occurred in 2020 in these 29 high income countries, with the US, Italy, England and Wales, Spain, and Poland having the highest numbers. Many countries had excess deaths far surpassing reported deaths from Covid-19.

BMJ-BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL (2021)

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Article Critical Care Medicine

Inhaled budesonide in the treatment of early COVID-19 (STOIC): a phase 2, open-label, randomised controlled trial

Sanjay Ramakrishnan et al.

Summary: The study found that early administration of inhaled budesonide reduced the likelihood of needing urgent medical care and accelerated recovery time in patients with early COVID-19.

LANCET RESPIRATORY MEDICINE (2021)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Community factors and excess mortality in first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in England

Bethan Davies et al.

Summary: This study identified characteristics at the community level associated with increased risk of excess mortality during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in England, including high density of care homes, high proportion of residents on income support, living in overcrowded homes, and non-white ethnicity. No association was found with population density or air pollution.

NATURE COMMUNICATIONS (2021)

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Review Medicine, General & Internal

Respiratory-associated deaths in people with intellectual disabilities: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Maria Truesdale et al.

Summary: The study found significantly higher rates of respiratory-associated deaths in individuals with intellectual disabilities, particularly concerning pneumonia which had a mortality rate 26.65 times higher. Therefore, there is a need to improve public health initiatives and ensure equitable access to quality healthcare for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

BMJ OPEN (2021)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

Risks of covid-19 hospital admission and death for people with learning disability: population based cohort study using the OpenSAFELY platform

Elizabeth J. Williamson et al.

Summary: The study found that individuals with learning disabilities in England have significantly increased risks of hospital admission and death from covid-19, highlighting the need for prompt access to covid-19 testing and healthcare for this vulnerable group. Prioritisation for covid-19 vaccination and other targeted preventive measures should be considered.

BMJ-BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL (2021)

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Article Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

Smoking and COVID-19 Infection and Related Mortality: A Prospective Cohort Analysis of UK Biobank Data

Albert Prats-Uribe et al.

Summary: The study suggests that the relationship between smoking and COVID-19 infection and death is modified by age. Smokers and previous smokers under the age of 69 were at higher risk of COVID-19 infection. However, once infected, older smokers were twice as likely to die from COVID-19 compared to never smokers.

CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY (2021)

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Article Health Care Sciences & Services

Factors associated with deaths due to COVID-19 versus other causes: population-based cohort analysis of UK primary care data and linked national death registrations within the OpenSAFELY platform

Krishnan Bhaskaran et al.

Summary: The study found that most factors associated with COVID-19 death were similarly associated with non-COVID death, indicating that COVID-19 mainly exacerbates existing risks faced by patients. However, there were some notable exceptions, such as the higher risk of COVID-19 death among non-white ethnic groups compared to white individuals. Identifying unique factors contributing to excess COVID-19 mortality among non-white groups is crucial for reducing COVID-19 deaths.

LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH-EUROPE (2021)

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Editorial Material Medicine, General & Internal