Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives

Original Article

Excess mortality in older adults and cumulative excess mortality across all ages during the COVID-19 pandemic in the 20 countries with the highest mortality rates worldwide: Chiranjib Chakraborty, Manojit Bhattacharya, Sang-Soo Lee; Osong Public Health Res Perspect. 2025;16(1):42-58. Published online February 13, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2024.0186

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Graphical Abstract Abstract PDF Supplementary Material: Objectives
Mortality statistics during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are crucial for the allocation of medical care resources and public health decision-making. This study was initiated to investigate the excess mortality among older adults during the pandemic. Our research focuses on 2 primary areas. First, we analyzed the cumulative excess mortality across all age groups to assess the global impact and specifically examined the top 20 countries with the highest mortality rates during the pandemic. Second, we explored excess deaths among older adults by categorizing data from the years 2020 and 2021 into age groups: 65–74, 75–84, and above 85.
Methods
We analyzed data from the top 20 countries with the highest mortality rates globally, focusing on 3 components: all-cause mortality means, expected deaths mean, and excess deaths mean for both older men and women.
Results
Although excess mortality is higher among older men and women across all 3 age groups (65–74, 75–84, and >85), the highest mean excess mortality was observed in women over the age of 85.
Conclusion
The results indicate that the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus had a disproportionately intense impact on older women. We developed 2 types of statistical models using the data: a binomial distribution model and a correlation coefficient model, both considering the mean excess deaths in older men and women across these 3 age groups. Estimating the excess mortality among older adults will aid in the formulation of healthcare policies for this demographic.

Review Articles

Pandemics: past, present, and future: multitasking challenges in need of cross-disciplinary, transdisciplinary, and multidisciplinary collaborative solutions: Amir Khorram-Manesh, Frederick Martin Burkle Jr, Krzysztof Goniewicz; Osong Public Health Res Perspect. 2024;15(4):267-285. Published online July 23, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2023.0372

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Graphical Abstract Abstract PDF

The extensive history of pandemics has spanned many centuries, profoundly impacting societies, economies, and public health, and thereby shaping the course of history in various ways. Advances in medicine, science, and public health practices have played a pivotal role in mitigating the effects of pandemics over time. This review explores the scientific landscape of contemporary pandemics, examining their diverse and complex nature. It goes beyond the biological aspects of pandemics to consider socioeconomic, environmental, and technological factors. Through a scientific lens, this study aims to understand the complexities of pandemics and contribute to the expanding knowledge base that helps humanity strengthen its defenses against global health threats. By elucidating the enigmas of pandemics, the study hopes to foster a more resilient and prepared global health environment. Highlighting the importance of a multidisciplinary, cross-disciplinary, and transdisciplinary approach, this exploration emphasizes the critical need to integrate biological, socioeconomic, environmental, and technological domains to develop more robust defenses against these global health challenges.

Citations

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Hazrat Bilal, Muhammad Nadeem Khan, Sabir Khan, Muhammad Shafiq, Wenjie Fang, Rahat Ullah Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Xiaohui Li, Qiao-Li Lv, Bin Xu
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Amir Khorram-Manesh, Krzysztof Goniewicz, Frederick M. Burkle
Challenges.2024; 15(3): 37. CrossRef
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Medicine.2024; 103(49): e40777. CrossRef

Public health agencies’ use of social media for communication during pandemics: a scoping review of the literature: Babatunde Abiodun Balogun, Anne Hogden, Nenagh Kemp, Lin Yang, Maria Agaliotis; Osong Public Health Res Perspect. 2023;14(4):235-251. Published online August 9, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2023.0095

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Graphical Abstract Abstract PDF Supplementary Material

Public health agencies (PHAs) have increasingly incorporated social media into their communication mix during successive pandemics in the 21st century. However, the quality, timing, and accuracy of their health messages have varied significantly, resulting in mixed outcomes for communication, audience engagement, and pandemic management. This study aimed to identify factors influencing the effectiveness of pandemic-related health messages shared by PHAs on social media and to report their impact on public engagement as documented in the literature. A scoping literature review was conducted following a predefined protocol. An electronic search of 7 relevant databases and 5 grey literature repositories yielded 9,714 papers published between January 2003 and November 2022. Seventy-three papers were deemed eligible and selected for review. The results underscored the insufficiency of social media guidance policies for PHAs. Six themes were identified: message source, message topic, message style, message timing, content credibility and reliability, and message recipient profile. These themes encompassed 20 variables that could inform PHAs’ social media public health communication during pandemics. Additionally, the findings revealed potential interconnectedness among the variables, and this study concluded by proposing a conceptual model that expands upon existing theoretical foundations for developing and evaluating pandemic-related health messaging.

Citations

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Co‐Designing a Framework for Social Media Health Communication to Young People: A Participatory Research Study
Melody Taba, Julie Ayre, Kirsten McCaffery, Diana Vassilenko, Ivan C. K. Ma, Tara Haynes, Julie Leask, Andrew Wilson, Carissa Bonner
Health Expectations.2025;[Epub] CrossRef

Original Article

Quality of life in patients treated for COVID-19–associated mucormycosis at a tertiary care hospital: Pragya Kumar, Rajath Rao UR, Nilanjan Roy, Deepika Agrawal, Shamshad Ahmad, Kranti Bhavana; Osong Public Health Res Perspect. 2023;14(2):119-128. Published online April 18, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2022.0307

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Graphical Abstract Abstract PDF

Objectives
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)–associated mucormycosis (CAM) has emerged as a formidable infection in patients with COVID-19. The aggressive management of CAM affects quality of life (QOL); thus, this study was designed to assess the QOL in patients with CAM at a tertiary healthcare institution.
Methods
This cross-sectional study of 57 patients with CAM was conducted over 6 months using a semi-structured standard questionnaire (the abbreviated World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire [WHO-BREF]) and a self-rated improvement (SRI) scale ranging from 0 to 9. Cut-off values of ≤52 and <7 were considered to indicate poor QOL and poor improvement, respectively. The correlations of QOL and SRI scores were evaluated using Spearman rho values.
Results
In total, 27 patients (47.4%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 34.9%–60.1%) and 26 patients (45.6%; 95% CI, 33.4%–58.4%) had poor QOL and poor SRI scores, respectively. The overall median (interquartile range) QOL score was 52 (41–63). Headache (adjusted B, −12.3), localized facial puffiness (adjusted B , −16.4), facial discoloration (adjusted B, −23.4), loosening of teeth (adjusted B, −18.7), and facial palsy (adjusted B, −38.5) wer e significantly associated with the QOL score in patients with CAM.
Conclusion
Approximately 1 in 2 patients with CAM had poor QOL and poor improvement. Various CAM symptoms were associated with QOL in these patients. Early recognition is the key to optimal treatment, improved outcomes, and improved QOL in patients with CAM.

Citations

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WHO BREF Quality of Life Score as a Prognostic Indicator of Survival in Patients recovered from COVID-19 Associated Rhino-Orbito-Cerebral Mucormycosis
K. Nidhin Das, Vidhu Sharma, Vishudh Mohan, Kapil Soni, Ankita Chugh, Bikram Choudhury, Amit Goyal
Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck S.2024; 76(4): 3441. CrossRef
Impact of prosthodontic rehabilitation on psychological status and quality of life in maxillectomy patients of coronavirus disease 2019-associated mucormycosis at a tertiary care center: A prospective clinical study
P. Vijayabharathi, Surabhi Rambhau Somkuwar, Santhosh Rao, Virat Galhotra, Uvashri Selvaraj
The Journal of Indian Prosthodontic Society.2024; 24(4): 351. CrossRef

Review Articles

SARS-CoV-2 in brief: from virus to prevention: Hassan Karami, Zeinab Karimi, Negin Karami; Osong Public Health Res Perspect. 2022;13(6):394-406. Published online November 28, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2022.0155

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Abstract PDF

The recent outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), ahighly transmissible virus with a likely animal origin, has posed major and unprecedentedchallenges to millions of lives across the affected nations of the world. This outbreak firstoccurred in China, and despite massive regional and global attempts shortly thereafter, itspread to other countries and caused millions of deaths worldwide. This review presents keyinformation about the characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 and its associated disease (namely,coronavirus disease 2019) and briefly discusses the origin of the virus. Herein, we also brieflysummarize the strategies used against viral spread and transmission.

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Scrutiny of COVID-19 response strategies among severely affected European nations: Shine Stephen, Alwin Issac, Rakesh Vadakkethil Radhakrishnan, Jaison Jacob, VR Vijay, Sam Jose, SM Azhar, Anoop S. Nair, Nadiya Krishnan, Rakesh Sharma, Manju Dhandapani; Osong Public Health Res Perspect. 2021;12(4):203-214. Published online July 29, 2021; DOI: https://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2021.0068

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Graphical Abstract Abstract PDF

Although the health care systems in Europe are considered the global benchmark, European nations were severely affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This manuscript aimed to examine the strategies implemented to combat the COVID-19 pandemic by France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Germany, and Russia and their outcomes in terms of the number of cases, testing, and deaths. This is the first review of its kind that extensively analyzes the preparedness, mitigation, and response strategies against the COVID-19 pandemic adopted by these nations. This paper further suggests a strategic preparedness model for future pandemics. From the analysis, we found that a decentralized approach, prompt decision-making and timely execution, coordination between local health authorities, and public participation in the implementation of strategies could substantially reduce the case fatality rate. Nations with a high percentage of gross domestic product invested in the health sector, as well as more nurses, physicians, hospital beds, intensive care unit beds, and ventilators, better managed the pandemic. Instead, nations that postponed their pandemic response by delaying tracking, tracing, testing, quarantine, and lockdown were badly affected. The lessons learned from the present pandemic could be used as a guide to prepare for further pandemics.

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