Smoking Prevalence and COVID-19 in Europe

Abstract Introduction This ecological study investigates the association between smoking prevalence and COVID-19 occurrence and mortality in 38 European nations as of May 30, 2020. Methods Data were collected from Our World in Data. Regression analysis was conducted to adjust for potential confounding factors such as economic activity (gross domestic product), the rate of COVID-19 testing, and the stringency of COVID-19 control policies. Results There was a statistically significant negative association between smoking prevalence and the prevalence of COVID-19 across the 38 European nations after controlling for confounding factors (p = 0.001). A strong association was found between the prevalence of COVID-19 per million people and economic activity (p = 0.002) and the rate of COVID-19 testing (p = 0.0006). Nations with stricter policy enactment showed fewer COVID-19 cases per million people, but the association was not significant (p = 0.122). Delaying policy enactment was associated with a greater prevalence of COVID-19 (p = 0.0535). Evidence of a direct association between smoking prevalence and COVID-19 mortality was not found (p = 0.626). There was a strong positive association between COVID-19 mortality rate and the prevalence of COVID-19 cases (p < 0.0001) as well as the proportion of the population over 65 years of age (p = 0.0034) and a negative association with the rate of COVID-19 testing (p = 0.0023). Conclusions We found a negative association between smoking prevalence and COVID-19 occurrence at the population level in 38 European countries. This association may not imply a true or causal relationship, and smoking is not advocated as a prevention or treatment of COVID-19. Implications Given the evidence of this ecological study, and of several other studies that found an underrepresentation of smoking prevalence in hospitalized cases, it may be worth examining, in laboratory experiments and controlled human trials, if nicotine offers any protection against COVID-19. Most importantly, to date, no study, including this one, supports the view that smoking acts as a treatment intervention or prophylaxis to reduce the impact or ameliorate the negative health impacts of COVID-19.

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Cell-type heterogeneity in adipose tissue is associated with complex traits and reveals disease-relevant cell-specific eQTLs

10.1101/283929 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Craig A. Glastonbury ◽

Alexessander Couto Alves ◽

Julia S. El-Sayed Moustafa ◽

Kerrin S. Small

Keyword(s):

Adipose Tissue ◽

Complex Traits ◽

Positive Association ◽

Population Level ◽

Fat Distribution ◽

Cell Types ◽

Cellular Heterogeneity ◽

Tissue Cell ◽

Cell Type ◽

The Impact

AbstractAdipose tissue is comprised of a heterogeneous collection of cell-types which can differentially impact disease phenotypes. We investigated cell-type heterogeneity in two population-level subcutaneous adipose tissue RNAseq datasets (TwinsUK, N =766 and GTEx, N=326). We find that adipose cell-type composition is heritable and confirm the positive association between macrophage proportion and obesity (BMI), but find a stronger BMI-independent association with DXA-derived body-fat distribution traits. Cellular heterogeneity can confound ‘omic analyses, but is rarely taken into account in analysis of solid-tissue transcriptomes. We benchmark the impact of adipose tissue cell-composition on a range of standard analyses, including phenotypegene expression association, co-expression networks and cis-eQTL discovery. We applied G x Cell Type Proportion interaction models to identify 26 cell-type specific eQTLs in 20 genes, including 4 autoimmune disease GWAS loci, demonstrating the potential of in silico deconvolution of bulk tissue to identify cell-type restricted regulatory variants.

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Association between Duration of Exercise (MET Hours per Week) and the Risk of Decreased eGFR: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on a Large Chinese Population

Journal of Diabetes Research ◽

10.1155/2019/5874603 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

Jie Wang ◽

Yijun Li ◽

Kang Chen ◽

Wenhua Yan ◽

Anping Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Positive Association ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Moderate Intensity ◽

Confounding Factors ◽

Moderate Intensity Exercise ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Logistic Analysis ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Intensity Of Exercise ◽

The Impact

Background. Physical activity is effective in preventing chronic diseases. However, the impact of different durations of exercise on human health is unknown, especially among people with diabetes or prediabetes. Objective. To explore the relationship between high MET hours per week and the change in glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in the total population and different subgroups. Methods. A total of 43767 individuals from eight provinces, in China, were recruited. Logistic analysis was used to investigate the association. Participants were divided into 3 groups based on MET hours per week. The primary outcome was an eGFR≤90 mL/min/1.73 m2. Results. The average eGFR was 100.10 (92.43-106.43) mL/min/1.732. Logistic regression analysis revealed that more than 7.5 MET hours per week (equivalent to more than 150 minutes of moderate-intensity of exercise) was associated with the higher risk of the decreased eGFR even after adjusting for confounding factors (7.5 to <21: OR=1.18, 95% CI [1.09, 1.29]; ≥21: OR=1.12, 95% CI [1.05, 1.19], p for trend: 0.0047). After adjusting for confounding factors, in stratified analyses, there still existed a significant relationship among participants aged from 55 to less than 65 years, but not among participants younger than 55 or older than 65 years. Similarly, there existed a positive association between high MET hours per week and the decreased eGFR in participants without diabetes and prediabetes, but not in participants with diabetes or prediabetes, and the interactions of age and diabetic states were found. However, there was no significant difference in women or men. Conclusions. More than 7.5 MET hours per week (equivalent to more than 150 minutes per week or 60 minutes per day of moderate-intensity exercise) was associated with decreased eGFR among participants aged from 55 to less than 65 years and participants without diabetes and prediabetes, but not among participants aged younger than 55 years and older than 65 years and participants with diabetes or prediabetes. The importance of planning individualized physical activities is highlighted.

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A dynamic modelling analysis of the impact of tobacco control programs on population-level nicotine dependence

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-81460-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Adam Skinner ◽

Jo-An Occhipinti ◽

Nathaniel D. Osgood

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Tobacco Control ◽

Nicotine Dependence ◽

Smoking Prevalence ◽

Population Level ◽

Smoking Behaviour ◽

Health Interventions ◽

Public Health Interventions ◽

Control Programs ◽

The Impact

AbstractAccording to the ‘hardening hypothesis’, average nicotine dependence will increase as less dependent smokers quit relatively easily in response to effective public health interventions, so that sustained progress in reducing smoking prevalence will depend on shifting the emphasis of tobacco control programs towards intensive treatment of heavily dependent smokers (who comprise an increasing fraction of continuing smokers). We used a system dynamics model of smoking behaviour to explore the potential for hardening in a population of smokers exposed to effective tobacco control measures over an extended period. Policy-induced increases in the per capita cessation rate are shown to lead inevitably to a decline in the proportion of smokers who are heavily dependent, contrary to the hardening hypothesis. Changes in smoking behaviour in Australia over the period 2001‒2016 resulted in substantial decreases in current smoking prevalence (from 23.1% in 2001 to 14.6% in 2016) and the proportion of heavily dependent smokers in the smoking population (from 52.1% to 36.9%). Public health interventions that have proved particularly effective in reducing smoking prevalence (tobacco tax increases, smoke-free environment legislation, antismoking mass media campaigns) are expected to also contribute to a decline in population-level nicotine dependence.

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State-Level Changes in Firearm Laws and Workplace Homicide Rates: United States, 2011 to 2017

American Journal of Public Health ◽

10.2105/ajph.2019.305405 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 110 (2) ◽

pp. 230-236

Author(s):

Erika L. Sabbath ◽

Summer Sherburne Hawkins ◽

Christopher F. Baum

Keyword(s):

Ecological Study ◽

State Level ◽

Population Level ◽

Regulatory Environment ◽

Homicide Rates ◽

Mortality And Morbidity ◽

Morbidity Burden ◽

Background Checks ◽

Working People ◽

The Impact

Objectives. To test whether year-over-year strengthening of state-level firearm laws is associated with decreases in workplace homicide rates. Methods. In this time-series ecological study of working people in all 50 US states, we used federal data on workplace homicides by state and year from 2011 to 2017, linked to an index of state–year firearm laws, to characterize the regulatory environment (overall and within legislative categories). We used generalized linear regression to model associations between changes in firearm laws and changes in workplace homicide rates the following year. Results. From 2011 to 2017, more than 3000 people died as a result of workplace homicides; over that period, 23 states strengthened firearm regulations and 23 weakened them. We modeled the impact of states strengthening laws within the interquartile range (IQR; equivalent to adding 20.5 firearm laws). This change was associated with a 3.7% reduction in the workplace homicide rate (95% confidence interval [CI] = −3.86, −3.51). Positive IQR changes in specific categories of firearm laws—concealed carry permitting (−5.79%; 95% CI = −6.09, −3.51), domestic violence–related restrictions (−5.31%; 95% CI = −5.57, −5.05), and background checks (−5.07%; 95% CI = −5.32, −4.82)—were also associated with significant reductions. Conclusions. Strengthening state-level firearm laws may reduce the population-level mortality and morbidity burden posed by workplace homicides.

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The impact of ectoparasitism on thermoregulation in Yarrow’s Spiny Lizards (Sceloporus jarrovii)

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/cjz-2019-0017 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 97 (11) ◽

pp. 1004-1012 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

N. Johnson ◽

A.H. Lymburner ◽

G. Blouin-Demers

Keyword(s):

Body Temperature ◽

Immune Responses ◽

Positive Association ◽

Elevational Gradient ◽

High Elevation ◽

Negative Association ◽

The Mean ◽

The Impact ◽

Ectoparasite Load

Parasites are ubiquitous and can have large impacts on the fitness of their hosts. The effects of ectoparasites on physiology, behaviour, and immune function suggest that they could be part of the factors which impact thermoregulation. We tested the hypothesis that ectoparasites impact thermoregulation in Yarrow’s Spiny Lizards (Sceloporus jarrovii Cope in Yarrow, 1875) living along an elevational gradient. We predicted a positive association between ectoparasite load and body temperature (Tb), and a negative association between ectoparasite load and effectiveness of thermoregulation (de – db index). We also predicted that the impacts of ectoparasites would be greatest at high elevation where thermal quality of the environment is low because the costs of thermoregulation increase with elevation and these costs can impact thermal immune responses. We found a significant association between the number of chiggers (Trombiculoidea) harboured by lizards and Tb that depended on elevation, but no association between ectoparasite load and de – db index. The mean chigger infection rate was associated with a ΔTb of +0.18 °C at low elevation (consistent with fever) and of –1.07 °C at high elevation (consistent with hypothermia). These findings suggest that parasitism by chiggers impacts lizard Tb in a way that depends on environmental thermal quality.

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An Examination of the Impact of Tax Avoidance on the Readability of Tax Footnotes

Journal of the American Taxation Association ◽

10.2308/atax-51812 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 40 (1) ◽

pp. 1-29 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Kerry K. Inger ◽

Michele D. Meckfessel ◽

Mi (Jamie) Zhou ◽

Weiguo (Patrick) Fan

Keyword(s):

Tax Avoidance ◽

Primary Source ◽

Positive Association ◽

Negative Association ◽

Trade Off ◽

Tax Returns ◽

Tax Savings ◽

The Impact ◽

Source Of Information

ABSTRACT Due to the proprietary nature of tax returns, the tax footnote is the primary source of information for stakeholders about a firm's tax position. However, studies suggest the tax authority acquires information in tax disclosures, creating a trade-off for managers on whether to provide decision-useful information for stakeholders or conceal information from the tax authority. We investigate this trade-off by examining the readability of tax footnotes. We find a positive association between tax avoidance and tax footnote readability for firms with tax avoidance below the industry-year median, consistent with managers highlighting good performance in the form of tax savings with straightforward disclosures. In contrast, we find a negative association between tax avoidance and tax footnote readability for firms with levels of tax avoidance above the industry-year median, consistent with managers concealing tax avoidance from the tax authority. Reinforcing these results, we find that investors place a premium (discount) on tax avoidance when the tax footnote is straightforward in firms with tax avoidance below (above) the industry-year median.

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The Impact of Partners' Economic Incentives on Audit Quality in Big 4 Partnerships

The Accounting Review ◽

10.2308/tar-2018-0109 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Simon Dekeyser ◽

Ann Gaeremynck ◽

W. Robert Knechel ◽

Marleen Willekens

Keyword(s):

Audit Quality ◽

Positive Association ◽

Economic Incentives ◽

Negative Association ◽

Client Characteristics ◽

Financial Situation ◽

Audit Firm ◽

Big 4 ◽

Audit Firms ◽

The Impact

Economic incentives are fundamental for understanding auditor behavior. In this paper, we investigate the association between the extent of partners' fee-based compensation, partners' observable net wealth, and audit quality. Using a sample of Belgian Big 4 audit firms and their predominantly private clients, our results suggest a negative association between audit quality and partner fee-based compensation, and a positive association between audit quality and partner observable net wealth. Moreover, our results show that the latter association is most significant when a partner is carrying a lot of debt, which indicates that a partner's financial situation may affect audit quality. The extent of fee-based incentives also varies among partners of the same audit firm. Furthermore, partner and client characteristics differ based on the extent of fee-based compensation. Our findings should be of interest to regulators and audit firms as they suggest that audit partner's economic incentives significantly affect audit quality.

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A relação entre o criticismo do treinador e a ansiedade dos atletas: O papel do mindfulness e do autojulgamento

Revista Portuguesa de Investigação Comportamental e Social ◽

10.31211/rpics.2021.7.2.216 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 43-60

Keyword(s):

Regression Model ◽

Path Analysis ◽

Positive Association ◽

Negative Association ◽

Self Report ◽

Adolescent Athletes ◽

Competitive Anxiety ◽

Mindfulness Skills ◽

Self Compassion ◽

The Impact

Background and Aim: The sample included 184 adolescent athletes (150 boys and 34 girls), aged between 12 and 18 years old, who completed a protocol of self-report instruments assessing sports anxiety (SAS-2), the perception of coach’s critical attitudes (APoCCAS), mindfulness (CAMM) and self-compassion (SCS). Method: The sample included 184 adolescent athletes (150 boys and 34 girls), aged between 12 and 18 years old, who completed a protocol of self-report instruments assessing sports anxiety (SAS-2), the perception of coach’s critical attitudes (APoCCAS), mindfulness (CAMM) and self-compassion (SCS). Results: Sports anxiety showed a positive association with critical coach attitudes and self-judgment and a negative association with mindfulness. Mindfulness revealed a negative association with self-judgment and the athletes’ perception of the coach’s critical attitudes. Self-judgment was positively associated with the athletes’ perception of the coach’s critical attitudes. The regression model explained 45% of the variance in sports anxiety, with mindfulness and self-judgment being the only predictors. Path analysis results indicated that the athlete’s mindfulness and self-judgment fully mediated the effect of the athletes’ perception of the coach’s critical attitudes on sports anxiety. Conclusions: Results suggest that athletes who perceive more critical attitudes from the coach, who have more self-judgmental attitudes, and fewer mindfulness skills tend to have higher levels of sports anxiety. The present study is innovative in showing how these variables are associated, suggesting that the development of mindfulness skills and the reduction of self-judgmental attitudes can help decrease the impact of the coach’s critical attitudes on competitive anxiety.

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Perceived Overprotection and Its Association With Quality of Life in Dementia

GeroPsych ◽

10.1024/1662-9647/a000207 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 32 (3) ◽

pp. 125-134

Author(s):

Mechthild Niemann-Mirmehdi ◽

Andreas Häusler ◽

Paul Gellert ◽

Johanna Nordheim

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Patient Autonomy ◽

Positive Association ◽

Well Being ◽

Negative Association ◽

Significant Positive Association ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

People With Dementia ◽

Mental Well Being

Abstract. To date, few studies have focused on perceived overprotection from the perspective of people with dementia (PwD). In the present examination, the association of perceived overprotection in PwD is examined as an autonomy-restricting factor and thus negative for their mental well-being. Cross-sectional data from the prospective DYADEM study of 82 patient/partner dyads (mean age = 74.26) were used to investigate the association between overprotection, perceived stress, depression, and quality of life (QoL). The analyses show that an overprotective contact style with PwD has a significant positive association with stress and depression, and has a negative association with QoL. The results emphasize the importance of avoiding an overprotective care style and supporting patient autonomy.

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Domestic Integration and Suicide in the Provinces of Canada

Crisis ◽

10.1027//0227-5910.20.2.59 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 20 (2) ◽

pp. 59-63 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Antoon A. Leenaars ◽

David Lester

Keyword(s):

Social Factors ◽

Positive Association ◽

Negative Association ◽

Birth Rates ◽

Marriage Rates ◽

Suicide Rates ◽

The Social ◽

Divorce Rates ◽

Low Levels ◽

Over Time

Canada's rate of suicide varies from province to province. The classical theory of suicide, which attempts to explain the social suicide rate, stems from Durkheim, who argued that low levels of social integration and regulation are associated with high rates of suicide. The present study explored whether social factors (divorce, marriage, and birth rates) do in fact predict suicide rates over time for each province (period studied: 1950-1990). The results showed a positive association between divorce rates and suicide rates, and a negative association between birth rates and suicide rates. Marriage rates showed no consistent association, an anomaly as compared to research from other nations.

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