scholarly journals Workplace Contact Patterns in England during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Analysis of the Virus Watch prospective cohort study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Beale ◽  
Susan J Hoskins ◽  
Thomas Edward Byrne ◽  
Erica Wing Lam Fong ◽  
Ellen Fragaszy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Prospective Cohort Study ◽  
Prospective Cohort ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Contact Patterns ◽  
Predicted Probability ◽  
Community Transmission ◽  
Area Of Concern ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Close Contacts

Background: Workplaces are an important potential source of SARS-CoV-2 exposure; however, investigation into workplace contact patterns is lacking. This study aimed to investigate how workplace attendance and features of contact varied between occupations and over time during the COVID-19 pandemic in England. Methods: Data were obtained from electronic contact diaries submitted between November 2020 and November 2021 by employed/self-employed prospective cohort study participants (n=4,616). We used mixed models to investigate the main effects and potential interactions between occupation and time for: workplace attendance, number of people in shared workspace, time spent sharing workspace, number of close contacts, and usage of face coverings. Findings: Workplace attendance and contact patterns varied across occupations and time. The predicted probability of intense space sharing during the day was highest for healthcare (78% [95% CI: 75-81%]) and education workers (64% [59%-69%]), who also had the highest probabilities for larger numbers of close contacts (36% [32%-40%] and 38% [33%-43%] respectively). Education workers also demonstrated relatively low predicted probability (51% [44%-57%]) of wearing a face covering during close contact. Across all occupational groups, levels of workspace sharing and close contact were higher and usage of face coverings at work lower in later phases of the pandemic compared to earlier phases. Interpretation: Major variations in patterns of workplace contact and mask use are likely to contribute to differential COVID-19 risk. Across occupations, increasing workplace contact and reduced usage of face coverings presents an area of concern given ongoing high levels of community transmission and emergence of variants.

scholarly journals Clinical features and outcomes of discharged coronavirus disease 2019 patients: a prospective cohort study

QJM ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 113 (9) ◽  
pp. 657-665 ◽  
Author(s):  
X Wang ◽  
H Xu ◽  
H Jiang ◽  
L Wang ◽  
C Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Prospective Cohort Study ◽  
Prospective Cohort ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Post Discharge ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Discharged Patients ◽  
Suspected Recurrence

Summary Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic but the follow-up data of discharged patients was barely described. Aim To investigate clinical outcomes, distribution of quarantine locations and the infection status of the contacts of COVID-19 patients after discharge. Design A prospective cohort study. Methods Demographics, baseline characteristics of 131 COVID-19 patients discharged from 3 February 2020 to 21 February 2020 in Wuhan, China were collected and analyzed by reviewing the medical records retrospectively. Post-hospitalization data related to clinical outcomes, quarantine locations and close contact history were obtained by following up the patients every week up to 4 weeks. Results Fifty-three (40.05%) patients on discharge had cough (29.01%), fatigue (7.63%), expectoration (6.11%), chest tightness (6.11%), dyspnea (3.82%), chest pain (3.05%) and palpitation (1.53%). These symptoms constantly declined in 4 weeks post-discharge. Transient fever recurred in 11 (8.4%) patients. Among the discharged patients, 78 (59.5%) underwent chest CT and 2 (1.53%) showed deterioration. A total of 94 (71.8%) patients received SARS-CoV-2 retest and 8 (6.10%) reported positive. Seven (2.29%) patients were readmitted because of fever or positive SARS-CoV-2 retest. After discharge, 121 (92.37%) and 4 (3.05%) patients were self-quarantined at home or community spots, respectively, after a close contact with 167 persons in total who were free of COVID-19 at the endpoint of study. Conclusion The majority of COVID-19 patients after discharge were in the course of recovery. Readmission was required in rare cases due to suspected recurrence of COVID-19. Although no contacted infection observed, appropriate self-quarantine and regular re-examination are necessary, particularly for those who have recurred symptoms.

scholarly journals Long term impact on lung function of patients with moderate and severe COVID-19. A prospective cohort study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonia Qureshi ◽  
Nosheen Nasir ◽  
Naveed Haroon Rashid ◽  
Naveed Ahmed ◽  
Zoya Haq ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Lung Function ◽  
Prospective Cohort Study ◽  
Prospective Cohort ◽  
List Type ◽  
Long Term Impact ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
The Impact

AbstractIntroductionA significant number of patients continue to recover from COVID-19; however, little is known about the lung function capacity among survivors. We aim to determine the long-term impact on lung function capacity in patients who have survived moderate or severe COVID-19 disease in a resource-poor setting.Methods and analysisThis prospective cohort study will include patients aged 15 years and above and have reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) positive for COVID 19 (nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal). Patients with a pre-existing diagnosis of obstructive or interstitial lung disease, lung fibrosis and cancers, connective tissue disorders, autoimmune conditions affecting the lungs, underlying heart disease, history of syncope and refuse to participate will be excluded. Pulmonary function will be assessed using spirometry and diffusion lung capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) at three- and six-months interval. A chest X-ray at three and six-month follow-up and CT-chest will be performed if clinically indicated after consultation with the study pulmonologist or Infectious Disease (ID) physician. Echocardiogram (ECHO) to look for pulmonary hypertension at the three months visit and repeated at six months if any abnormality is identified initially. Data analysis will be performed using standard statistical software.Ethics and disseminationThe proposal was reviewed and approved by ethics review committee (ERC) of the institution (ERC reference number 2020-4735-11311). Informed consent will be obtained from each study participant. The results will be disseminated among study participants, institutional, provincial and national level through seminars and presentations. Moreover, the scientific findings will be published in high-impact peer-reviewed medical journals.Strengths and Limitations of this study-The study has the potential to develop context-specific evidence on the long-term impact on lung function among COVID-19 survivors-Findings will play key role in understanding the impact of the disease on vital functions and help devise rehabilitative strategies to best overcome the effects of disease-This is a single-center, study recruiting only a limited number of COVID-19 survivors-The study participants may loss-to-follow up due to uncertain conditions and disease reemergence

scholarly journals Healthcare workers' SARS-CoV-2 infection rates during the second wave of the pandemic: prospective cohort study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Mette Wurtz ◽  
Martin B. Kinnerup ◽  
Kirsten Pugdal ◽  
Vivi Schlunssen ◽  
Jesper Medom Vestergaard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Incidence Rate ◽  
Prospective Cohort Study ◽  
Prospective Cohort ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Positive Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Preventive Actions ◽  
Second Wave

Objectives: To assess if healthcare workers during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic had increased SARS-CoV-2 infection rates following close contact with patients, co-workers and persons outside work with COVID-19. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Public hospital employees in Denmark. Participants: 5985 healthcare workers (88.6% women) who daily on a smartphone reported COVID-19 contact. Main outcome measures: SARS-CoV-2 infection rates defined by the first positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test recorded in a register with complete test coverage. Results: 159 positive and 35 996 negative PCR tests for SARS-CoV-2 were recorded during 514 165 person-days of follow-up November 25, 2020 - April 30, 2021. The SARS-CoV-2 infection rate for healthcare workers who during the previous 3-7 days had close contact with COVID-19 patients was 153.7 per 100 000 person-days (0.15% per day) corresponding with an incidence rate ratio of 3.17 (40 cases, 95% CI 2.15 to 4.66) when compared with no close contact with COVID-19 patients. SARS-CoV-2 incidence rate ratios following close contact with co-workers and persons outside work with COVID-19 were 2.54 (10 cases, 95% CI 1.30 to 4.96) and 17.79 (35 cases, 95% CI 12.05 to 26.28). These estimates were mutually adjusted and further adjusted for age, sex, month and number of previous PCR tests. Conclusions: Despite strong focus on preventive actions during the second wave of the pandemic, healthcare workers were still at increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection when in close contact with patients with COVID-19. The numbers affected were comparable to the numbers affected following COVID-19 contact outside work. Close contact with co-workers was also a risk factor. This stresses the need for increased focus on preventive actions to secure healthcare workers' health during ongoing and future waves of SARS-CoV-2 and other infections.

scholarly journals Prospective cohort study showing persistent HSV-2 shedding in women with genital herpes 2 years after acquisition

2017 ◽  
Vol 94 (8) ◽  
pp. 568-570 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meena Ramchandani ◽  
Stacy Selke ◽  
Amalia Magaret ◽  
Gail Barnum ◽  
Meei-Li Wu Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Prospective Cohort Study ◽  
Prospective Cohort ◽  
Initial Study ◽  
Viral Shedding ◽  
History Of ◽  
Simplex Virus ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Over Time

ObjectivesHerpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is a prevalent infection with great variability in clinical and virological manifestations among individuals. This prospective cohort study aims to evaluate the natural history of HSV-2 reactivation in the genital area in the same group of women over time.MethodsEighteen immunocompetent HSV-2 seropositive women were evaluated for viral shedding for 70 consecutive days within a median of 8 months (range 1–24 months) of HSV-2 acquisition and again approximately 2.5 years later from the original study. Participants obtained daily swabs of genital secretions for HSV PCR and recorded genital symptoms.ResultsThe viral shedding rate was 29% during the initial study and 19% in the follow-up study (32% reduction, P=0.019). Subclinical shedding rate also decreased from 24% to 13% (37% reduction, P=0.032), as did the rate of days with genital lesions from 22% to 15% (33% reduction, P=0.24). The mean copy number during viral shedding remained unchanged over time at 4.8 log10 c/mL (SD=2.0 and 1.6 during each study, respectively, P=0.33). Women with high viral shedding rates in the past were likely to continue to have high shedding rates (r=0.63, P=0.005).ConclusionsDespite some reduction, high viral shedding rates persist in women with genital HSV-2 greater than 2 years after acquisition.

scholarly journals Changes in Proteinuria on the Risk of All-Cause Mortality in People with Diabetes or Prediabetes: A Prospective Cohort Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Yang Sun ◽  
Anxin Wang ◽  
Xiaoxue Liu ◽  
Zhaoping Su ◽  
Junjuan Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Prospective Cohort Study ◽  
Mortality Risk ◽  
Prospective Cohort ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazard ◽  
Baseline Mortality ◽  
All Cause Mortality ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazard Models ◽  
Study Participants

Background. Proteinuria has been related to all-cause mortality, showing regression or progression. However, few studies have focused on the relationship between proteinuria changes and all-cause mortality. The main purpose of this paper is to examine the associations between proteinuria changes and all-cause mortality in people with diabetes or prediabetes. Methods. Dipstick proteinuria at baseline and a 2-year follow-up were determined in the participants attending the Kailuan prospective cohort study. Participants were then divided into three categories: elevated proteinuria, stable proteinuria, and reduced proteinuria. Four Cox proportional hazard models were built to access the relations of proteinuria changes to all-cause mortality, adjusting for other confounding covariates. Results. A total of 17,878 participants were finally included in this study. There were 1193 deaths after a median follow-up of 6.69 years. After adjusting for major covariates and proteinuria at baseline, mortality risk was significantly associated with elevated proteinuria (hazard ratio (HR): 1.54, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.33–1.79) and reduced proteinuria (HR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.55–0.89), compared to those with stable proteinuria. Conclusion. Proteinuria changes were independently associated with mortality risk in either diabetic or prediabetic population.

scholarly journals 1322A pilot study of faecal sample collection from prospective cohort study participants

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona Bruinsma ◽  
Graham Giles ◽  
Brigid Lynch ◽  
Theresa Whalen ◽  
Helen Tsimiklis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Prospective Cohort Study ◽  
Prospective Cohort ◽  
Faecal Sample ◽  
Sample Collection ◽  
Faecal Samples ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Gut Microbial Community

Abstract Background Faecal specimens offer a relatively accessible means of assessing the gut microbial community. We conducted a pilot study to compare the feasibility of different protocols for self-collection of faecal specimens from Australian Breakthrough Cancer (ABC) Study participants. Methods Pilot study participants were randomly selected from ABC Study participants who had not yet been invited to participate in follow-up. All pilot study participants were asked to provide a faecal sample using FOBT cards and complete a ‘day of sample’ questionnaire. Participants were randomised to 1 of 4 groups defined by combination of (i) a request (or not) to also provide a faecal sample using a tube containing 2.5ml of 95% ethanol and (ii) a request (or not) to complete a food frequency questionnaire. Results 1,136 ABC Study participants were invited to participate in the pilot study. Of the 56% that opted in, 88% returned the requested sample. Very few participants (5%) actively opted out. Overall, 49% of invited participants returned a sample. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in the percentage of participants who completed the pilot study. Conclusions The pilot study demonstrated the feasibility of self-collection of faecal samples. Increasing the time commitment and complexity (through provision of an additional sample suspended in ethanol and a FFQ) did not reduce the likelihood of successful completion. Key messages The findings demonstrate the feasibility of collecting faecal samples both on an FOBT card and in a tube containing ethanol, and a lengthy FFQ, within a prospective cohort study.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document