Genomic Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Healthcare Workers: A Critical Sentinel Group for Monitoring the SARS-CoV-2 Variant Shift.

SARS-CoV-2 genome surveillance is important for monitoring risk groups and health workers as well as data on new cases and mortality rate due to COVID-19. We characterized the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 variants from May 2021 to April 2022 in the state of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil, and evaluated the similarity between variants present in the population and healthcare workers (HCW). A total of 5291 sequenced genomes demonstrated the circulation of 55 strains and four variants of concern (Alpha, Delta, Gamma and Omicron-sublineages BA.1 and BA.2). The number of cases was relatively low in May 2021, but the number of deaths was higher with the Gamma variant. There was a significant increase in both numbers between December 2021 and February 2022, peaking in mid-January 2022, when the Omicron variant dominated. After May 2021, two distinct variant groups (Delta and Omicron) were observed, equally distributed among the five Santa Catarina mesoregions. Moreover, from November 2021 to February 2022, similar variant profiles between HCW and the general population were observed, and a quicker shift from Delta to Omicron in HCW than in the general population. This demonstrates the importance of HCW as a sentinel group for monitoring disease trends in the general population.

Association between healthy food environment and metabolic syndrome, waist circumference, and systolic blood pressure in older adults in Southern Brazil.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between healthy food outlet proximity, metabolic syndrome (MS), and two of its components, waist circumference (WC) and systolic blood pressure (SBP), in older adults (63-107 years old, median age 73 years) living in Florianópolis, South Brazil in 2013-2014. This is a cross-sectional analysis of the second wave of the EpiFloripa Aging Cohort Study. Individual-level data on MS, WC, SBP, and socio-demographic and health-related characteristics were collected from face to face interviews. The healthy food environment was assessed via the number and types of establishments present. The residences of older adult participants were georeferenced using Geographical Information System (GIS) software. The number of each type of food establishment in a 500 m buffer around the each residence was determined. Multivariate linear regression was used to test association between food outlet proximity and continuous outcomes (SBP and WC), and multiple logistic regression was used to examine the relations between the predictor variables and the dichotomous outcome of MS (yes/no). The study revealed that greater frequency of supermarkets and restaurants in the neighborhood was associated with a lower likelihood of having MS. WC was lower in individuals living in places with greater availability of greengrocers' shops and restaurants. The results demonstrated that the number of establishments in a neighborhood is associated with cardiometabolic outcomes, and the likelihood of MS and increased WC is lower for older adults who live in neighborhoods with more access to establishments that sell foundational components of a healthy diet.