The effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on patient visits to the emergency department and hospitalizations in medical wards in an Israeli medical center

Background The Covid-19 pandemic began in Israel on February 2020. Between February and October 2020, 2 periods of lockdown were imposed on Israeli population. Objective To assess the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on visits to the emergency department (ED) and on hospitalizations in medical wards in Israel’s Chaim Sheba Medical Center, and to compare the effect during the first and second lockdowns. Methods Data regarding the number of visits of non-Covid-19 patients to the ED and the number of admissions to the medical wards, were extracted from the computerized system of the hospital. Data were analyzed for patients' characteristics, length of stay in the medical wards, in hospital mortality and the rate of 7 and 30 days re-hospitalization, and compared to the same period during 2019. Results Total visits to the Sheba ED during March-October decreased by 18.5%. The most dramatic decrease occurred during the first lockdown. The number of patients admitted to the Sheba medical wards decreased by 28% (P < 0.05). The length of stay decreased from 3.69 days during 2019 to 3.42 days during 2020 (P < 0.01). The most pronounced decrease in the length of stay was observed during the second month of the first lockdown. During the pandemic, hospitalized patients at Sheba were older and were less likely to be males. The in-hospital absolute non-COVID mortality decreased from 913 to 858 respectively. Conclusions The Covid-19 crisis emphasizes the role of medical wards in the care of complex patients. Medical wards in Israel were at the frontline of Israel's battle against this pandemic, while continuing to treat very complex non-Covid patients. To avoid burnout of the medical staff who treat very intensively complex patients, we believe these wards should be strengthen with specialists having expertise in treating these patients. Due to our insights, the Sheba medical Center is now redesigning the concept of how intensive care beds should be managed in a big tertiary center.

Loneliness, Depression, and Anxiety Experienced by the Israeli Population During the First COVID-19 Lockdown: A Cross-sectional Survey

This research letter presents our study, which sought to evaluate the differences in the prevalence of self-reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, and loneliness between younger and older generations at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the younger generation is generally less accustomed to facing and dealing with adversity and illness, we hypothesized that adolescents and younger adults would have a higher prevalence of depression, anxiety, and loneliness as compared to the older generation. It must be emphasized that this survey was conducted during the first COVID-19 lockdown that occurred in Israel from mid-March 2020 to early May 2020. This was a time when businesses were closed, individuals and families were isolated at home with very limited social contact, and feelings of fear and panic were fueled by the electronic media.

Morale and Perceived Threats as Predictors of Psychological Coping with Distress in Pandemic and Armed Conflict Times

The present study investigated predictors of psychological coping with adversity responses during the COVID-19 pandemic and an armed conflict. Two paired samples that represented the Israeli population that was exposed to both adversities were compared. Respondents rated five different psychological coping responses associated with the two adversities, such as anxiety or individual resilience. Perceived security, pandemic, economic, and political risks, as well as level of morale, were rated. Two major findings were disclosed by two path analyses. Morale improved the predictions of the varied coping responses in both the pandemic and conflict and was the best predictor of four out of five responses and the second-best predictor of the fifth response. Contrary to previous studies, our findings revealed that the concept of a single major predictor of coping responses under distress is an overgeneralization. In both cases, the coping responses were better explained by other perceived risks rather than by the risk of the investigated adversity. Rather than assume that a perceived security threat accounts for low levels of public moods, it is vital to study the antecedents of coping responses and to empirically examine additional potential predictors.

Influenza vaccination should have no border: cost-effectiveness of cross-border subsidy

Background Influenza is a substantial cause of morbidity and mortality for Israel and the Palestinian territory. Given the extensive interaction between the two populations, vaccination in one population may indirectly benefit the other via reduced transmission. Due to the mobility and extensive contacts, Palestinians employed in Israel could be a prime target for vaccination. Methods To evaluate the epidemiological and the economic benefits conferred by vaccinating Palestinians employed in Israel, we developed a model of influenza transmission within and between Israel and the West Bank. We parameterized the contact patterns underlying transmission by conducting a survey among Palestinians employed in Israel, and integrating survey results with traffic patterns and socio-demographic data. Results Vaccinating 50% of Palestinian workers is predicted to reduce the annual influenza burden by 28,745 cases (95% CI: 15,031-50,717) and 37.7 deaths (95% CI: 19·9–65·5) for the Israeli population, and by 32,9900 cases (95% CI: 14,379-51,531) and 20.2 deaths (CI 95%: 9·8–31·5) for the Palestinian population. Further, we found that as the indirect protection was so substantial, funding such a vaccination campaign would be cost-saving from the Israeli Ministry of Health perspective. Conclusions Offering influenza vaccination to Palestinians employed in Israel could efficiently reduce morbidity and mortality within both Israel and the Palestinian territory.

From Isolation to Containment: Perceived Fear of Infectivity and Protective Behavioral Changes during the COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign

In the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, maintenance of protective behavior is a continued challenge in the effort to contain the spread of the virus. A cross-sectional study via an internet questionnaire was utilized to elucidate changes in compliance to protective behavior among the Israeli population (n = 1120), after the beginning of the vaccination campaign. Comparison was made between individuals who were previously infected with the virus, those who received one dose of inoculation with the vaccine, and individuals that were neither infected or vaccinated. The study results indicate that those who were previously infected with the COVID-19 virus were less careful about mask wearing (18.8%) and social distancing (29.7%), as compared to the other examined groups (regarding mask wearing, 8.2% and 11.6% respectively, and with regard to social distancing 12.8% and 19.2%) and may require targeted risk communication campaigns to address this population. Furthermore, the study revealed that those that were non-Jewish (as compared to Jewish study counterparts) or that were older (19+) were more vigilant in their protective behavior (29.6% vs. 11.2% respectively for social distancing and 29.6% vs. 11.1% respectively for mask wearing). Despite a successful initial vaccination campaign in Israel, public health officials need to engage all members of the public to unremittingly observe compliance to directed health guidelines, to ensure that the results of previous governmental efforts in fighting the pandemic (such as lockdowns) will be effectively sustained, and the road to containment will be hastened.

Pulling Together – The Protective Role of Belongingness for Depression, Suicidal Ideation and Behavior Among Suicide-Bereaved Individuals

Background: While belongingness has frequently been investigated in the general population as an antidote to experiencing depression, suicidal thoughts, and suicidal behavior, it has rarely been evaluated as a protective factor among individuals bereaved by suicide. Aims: We examined whether perceived belongingness could moderate the differences between suicide-bereaved, suicide-exposed, and nonexposed respondents regarding depression, suicide ideation, and suicide attempts. Method: We conducted an online survey of the adult Israeli population ( N = 806), with 203 suicide-bereaved, 266 suicide-exposed, and 377 nonexposed respondents. Participants completed several questionnaires tapping depression and suicidality as well as perceived belongingness levels. Results: Individuals bereaved by suicide reported the highest levels of depression, suicide ideation, and suicide attempts in comparison with suicide-exposed and nonexposed individuals. However, belongingness was found to moderate these distinctions concerning suicide ideation and suicide attempts. Limitations: Belongingness was assessed by only a single question, and the online survey suffered from a relatively high nonresponse rate. Conclusion: Our results suggest that belongingness may act as a potent antidote to the adverse mental health consequences among individuals bereaved by suicide. Clinicians should accord adequate attention to fostering social connectedness among their clients bereaved by suicide.

BNT162b2 mRNA vaccinations in Israel: understanding the impact and improving the vaccination policies by redefining the immunized population

By the end of February 2021, when 48% of the Israeli population was immune, the number of new positive COVID-19 cases significantly dropped across all ages. Understanding which parameters influenced this drop and how to minimize the number of hospitalizations and overall positive cases is urgently needed. In this study we conducted an observational analysis which included COVID-19 data with over 12,000,000 PCR tests from 250 cities in Israel. In addition, we performed a simulation of different vaccination campaigns to find the optimal policy. Our analysis revealed that cities with younger populations reached a decrease in new cases when a lower percentage of their residents were immunized, showing that median age is a crucial parameter effecting overall immunity, while other parameters appeared to be insignificant. This variance between cities is explained by recalculating the immunized population and multiplying each individual by a factor symbolizing the impact of their age on the spread on the virus. This factor is easily calculated from historical data of positive cases per age. The simulation proves that prioritizing different age groups or changing the rate of vaccinations drastically effects the overall hospitalizations and positive cases.

P616 Sustainability of thiopurines monotherapy in ulcerative colitis: a nationwide analysis from the epi-IIRN cohort

Background Thiopurines have been long used to maintain remission in ulcerative colitis (UC) but are also associated with toxicity and therapeutic failure. We aimed to assess the sustainability rate of thiopurines commenced as monotherapy in UC, and to explore predictors of sustainability. Methods This study was performed on data from four Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), covering 98% of the Israeli population. We included all biologic-naïve UC patients diagnosed after 2005 and treated with thiopurines monotherapy for at least three months. Treatment with 5- aminosalicylic acid (ASA) was allowed if initiated prior to or during the first three months from initiation of thiopurines. Sustainability was defined as continued thiopurines treatment without switching therapy, adding biologics or requiring surgery. At most one short steroid course was allowed. Cox regression model was used to explore estimated predictors to sustainability. Results A total of 1,897 (370 [20%] pediatric-onset and 1,527 [80%] adults) thiopurines-treated patients were included with a 15,033 person-years of follow-up. The median time from UC diagnosis to initiation of thiopurines was 12.7 months (IQR 4.6–30.9), and the median treatment duration was 13.0 months (6.3–28.4). Sustainability rate was evident in 92% of patients after 6 months from initiation of thiopurines and 83%, 65% and 42% at one, three and five years, thereafter. Sustainability was associated with early initiation of thiopurines during disease course (HR 0.99 [95%CI 0.985–0.995]) and lack of 5-ASA at initiation of thiopurines (HR 0.7 [95%CI 0.6–0.8]). Conclusion As many as two thirds of biologic-naïve UC patients treated with thiopurines monotherapy sustain this treatment after five years, especially when initiated early and without 5-ASA.