COVID-19: Regional Differences in Austria

Article Substance Abuse

Understanding long-term trends in smoking in England, 1972-2019: an age-period-cohort approach

Magdalena Opazo Breton et al.

Summary: Smoking prevalence in England has declined in recent decades mainly due to reduced smoking uptake before age 25, and to a lesser extent to smoking cessation after age 25.

ADDICTION (2022)

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Article Environmental Sciences

Long-term air pollution and COVID-19 mortality rates in California: Findings from the Spring/Summer and Winter surges of COVID-19

Erika Garcia et al.

Summary: This study identified associations between long-term ambient air pollution and COVID-19 mortality, particularly in communities with historically high pollution levels. Data from California showed that PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and O-3 were positively correlated with COVID-19 mortality.

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (2022)

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Article Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

Correlates of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Austria: trust and the government

Eva Schernhammer et al.

Summary: Vaccine hesitancy is influenced by various factors, including demographics and political beliefs. Distrust in the vaccine is strongly correlated with distrust in authorities, suggesting a common cause of disengagement from public discourse.

JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH (2022)

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Article Psychology, Social

Conspiracy Theories and Their Societal Effects During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Lotte Pummerer et al.

Summary: The study found that believing in and being confronted with COVID-19 conspiracy theories decreased institutional trust, support for government regulations, adoption of social distancing measures, and to some extent, social engagement.

SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PERSONALITY SCIENCE (2022)

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Article Psychology, Social

Does personality predict responses to the COVID-19 crisis? Evidence from a prospective large-scale study

Beatrice Rammstedt et al.

Summary: Personality traits have a small impact on individuals' responses to the COVID-19 crisis, explaining only a portion of the variance in outcomes. Agreeableness and its Trust facet show the most robust associations with the outcomes, while most trait-outcome associations remain significant even when controlling for confounders such as sex, age, and risk-group membership.

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PERSONALITY (2022)

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Review Virology

The effect of smoking on COVID-19 severity: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Rohin K. Reddy et al.

Summary: Smoking is associated with increased risk of severe COVID-19 and worse in-hospital outcomes, as current smokers and patients with a smoking history are more susceptible to severe disease and have higher mortality rates.

JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY (2021)

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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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Review Virology

Predictors ofCOVID-19 severity: A literature review

Benjamin Gallo Marin et al.

Summary: The severity and mortality of COVID-19 may be associated with patient age, multiple comorbidities, hypoxia, extensive lung involvement on CT scans, laboratory abnormalities, and biomarkers of end-organ dysfunction.

REVIEWS IN MEDICAL VIROLOGY (2021)

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Article Psychology, Social

Covid-19 conspiracy beliefs and containment-related behaviour: The role of political trust

Tijana Karic et al.

Summary: Conspiracy beliefs negatively impact containment-related behavior in the context of COVID-19, with political trust playing a mediating role. Preference for saving lives has a direct effect on containment-related behavior, while preference for saving the economy does not play a significant role in this relationship.

PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES (2021)

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Article Psychology, Social

How did socio-demographic status and personal attributes influence compliance to COVID-19 preventive behaviours during the early outbreak in Japan? Lessons for pandemic management

Shahadat Uddin et al.

Summary: This study explores how socio-demographic status and personal attributes influence self-protective behaviours during a pandemic, with a focus on social distancing, personal protection behaviour, and social responsibility awareness. Findings indicate that factors such as sex, marital family status, having children, work status, trust in government, and smoking behavior play a role in individuals' adherence to COVID-19 protection behaviours.

PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES (2021)

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Letter Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications

Publishing volumes in major databases related to Covid-19

Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva et al.

Summary: The global pandemic of Covid-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 has led to a surge in publications related to the disease, with a significant number of papers coming from different countries and publications. The publishing landscape has rapidly evolved in response to the pandemic, highlighting the risks associated with the speedy dissemination of information.

SCIENTOMETRICS (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

Factors associated with non-adherence to social distancing rules during the COVID-19 pandemic: a logistic regression analysis

Stephen Hills et al.

Summary: The study found that during the COVID-19 pandemic, many British people did not fully adhere to social distancing rules, with some even intentionally violating them. Non-adherence to rules was more associated with vulnerability to the virus and control over social distancing, while intentional non-adherence was more linked to intention and anti-social psychological factors. Promoting shared responsibility and public consciousness is recommended for better compliance with public health measures.

BMC PUBLIC HEALTH (2021)

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Letter Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications

International collaboration during the COVID-19 crisis: autumn 2020 developments

X. Cai et al.

Summary: International collaboration in COVID-19 research shows abnormal patterns, with countries with high infection rates producing more articles, and China's contribution decreasing as the pandemic subsides.

SCIENTOMETRICS (2021)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

The first 8 weeks of the Austrian SARS-CoV-2 epidemic

Anna Nagel et al.

Summary: The study highlights the vulnerability of older people in Austria during the COVID-19 epidemic, with a higher risk of death for those aged 65 and above. International rates of psychiatric symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress, exceeded typical levels during the initial lockdowns.

WIENER KLINISCHE WOCHENSCHRIFT (2021)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

Association of Social and Demographic Factors With COVID-19 Incidence and Death Rates in the US

Monita Karmakar et al.

Summary: This study found an association between county-level sociodemographic risk factors and COVID-19 incidence and mortality in the US. The Social Vulnerability Index was significantly correlated with both COVID-19 outcomes, suggesting that addressing social vulnerabilities and their root causes is essential to combat the disparities in the burden of the pandemic.

JAMA NETWORK OPEN (2021)

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Review Environmental Sciences

Acute and chronic exposure to air pollution in relation with incidence, prevalence, severity and mortality of COVID-19: a rapid systematic review

Patrick D. M. C. Katoto et al.

Summary: Multiple studies indicate that both acute and chronic exposure to air pollution can affect the epidemiology of COVID-19. However, there is a higher level of bias in existing studies regarding acute exposure compared to moderate evidence with chronic exposure. Public health interventions targeting reduction of anthropogenic pollutant sources and addressing socio-economic disparities may help mitigate the threat posed by both COVID-19 and air pollution pandemics.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH (2021)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

COVID-19 and air pollution in Vienna-a time series approach

Hanns Moshammer et al.

Summary: The study found that there is a positive correlation between nitrogen dioxide and PM10 concentration in the air and the risk of COVID-19 infection, with nitrogen dioxide having a significant impact on infection risk while particles do not. However, these pollutants do not affect COVID-19-related mortality. This suggests a potential interaction between air pollution and infectious agents.

WIENER KLINISCHE WOCHENSCHRIFT (2021)

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Article Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

Perceptions of Covid-19 lockdowns and related public health measures in Austria: a longitudinal online survey

Agata Laszewska et al.

Summary: This study compared the perceptions and experiences of the general population in Austria regarding the first and second Covid-19 lockdowns. Results showed increased concerns about family contracting Covid-19 during the second lockdown, decreased overall compliance with public health measures, and larger negative impacts on various aspects of life during the second lockdown.

BMC PUBLIC HEALTH (2021)

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Article Environmental Sciences

Concerns and Support after One Year of COVID-19 in Austria: A Qualitative Study Using Content Analysis with 1505 Participants

Yvonne Schaffler et al.

Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic and governmental restrictions have significantly impacted the daily lives of Austrians and adversely affected their mental health. The study identified government restrictions, sociopolitical developments, work and health-related issues, and economic disruptions as the greatest concerns, while social contacts were identified as the most important source of support.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH (2021)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

Association of Socioeconomic Characteristics With Disparities in COVID-19 Outcomes in Japan

Yuki Yoshikawa et al.

Summary: This study in Japan found a pattern of socioeconomic disparities in COVID-19 outcomes, similar to that observed in the US and Europe. Higher mortality rates were associated with factors such as lower household income, higher rates of public assistance recipients, unemployment, workers in close-contact industries, crowding, smoking, and obesity.

JAMA NETWORK OPEN (2021)

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Article Health Care Sciences & Services

Telehealth in Times of COVID-19: Spotlight on Austria

Maria Kletecka-Pulker et al.

Summary: The study examined the use of telemedicine and gathered experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in Austria. Results showed that 33% of patients contacted doctors using telemedical tools, with a high satisfaction rate among those with previous telehealth experience. Patients commonly used telephone to contact doctors, and over half of those surveyed saw significant advantages in telemedical aids. Satisfaction rate among telehealth service users reached 90%.

HEALTHCARE (2021)

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Article Substance Abuse

Smoking prevalence among hospitalized COVID-19 patients and its association with disease severity and mortality: an expanded re-analysis of a recent publication

Konstantinos Farsalinos et al.

Summary: This study revealed an unusually low prevalence of smoking among hospitalized COVID-19 patients, with no significant association found between smoking and disease severity but also no statistically significant link between smoking and mortality. Smokers are advised to quit due to long-term health risks, while exploring pharmaceutical nicotine and other nicotinic cholinergic agonists as potential therapeutic options.

HARM REDUCTION JOURNAL (2021)

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Article Psychology, Social

Adaptive and Dark Personality in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Predicting Health-Behavior Endorsement and the Appeal of Public-Health Messages

Pavel S. Blagov

Summary: Research suggests that individuals' personality traits are relevant to epidemiology and public-health communication in a contagious-disease context. Normal-range traits, especially agreeableness and conscientiousness, are associated with endorsement of social distancing, hygiene practices, and the appeal of health messages. On the other hand, dark traits predict lower endorsement of health behaviors.

SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PERSONALITY SCIENCE (2021)

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Review Virology