[Influence of the social deprivation index on outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic]. / Influencia del índice de privación social en resultados durante la pandemia de COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: To see the relationship between the population deprivation index and the use of the health services, adverse evolution and mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: Retrospective cohort study of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection from March 1, 2020 to January 9, 2022. The data collected included sociodemographic data, comorbidities and prescribed baseline treatments, other baseline data and the deprivation index, estimated by census section. Multivariable multilevel logistic regression models were performed for each outcome variable: death, poor outcome (defined as death or intensive care unit), hospital admission, and emergency room visits. RESULTS: The cohort consists of 371,237 people with SARS-CoV-2 infection. In the multivariable models, a higher risk of death or poor evolution or hospital admission or emergency room visit was observed within the quintiles with the greatest deprivation compared to the quintile with the least. For the risk of being hospitalized or going to the emergency room, there were differences between most quintiles. It has also been observed that these differences occurred in the first and third periods of the pandemic for mortality and poor outcome, and in all due for the risk of being admitted or going to the emergency room. CONCLUSIONS: The groups with the highest level of deprivation have had worse outcomes compared to the groups with lower deprivation rates. It is necessary to carry out interventions that minimize these inequalities.

Clinical prediction rules for adverse evolution in patients with COVID-19 by the Omicron variant.

OBJECTIVE: We identify factors related to SARS-CoV-2 infection linked to hospitalization, ICU admission, and mortality and develop clinical prediction rules. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of 380,081 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection from March 1, 2020 to January 9, 2022, including a subsample of 46,402 patients who attended Emergency Departments (EDs) having data on vital signs. For derivation and external validation of the prediction rule, two different periods were considered: before and after emergence of the Omicron variant, respectively. Data collected included sociodemographic data, COVID-19 vaccination status, baseline comorbidities and treatments, other background data and vital signs at triage at EDs. The predictive models for the EDs and the whole samples were developed using multivariate logistic regression models using Lasso penalization. RESULTS: In the multivariable models, common predictive factors of death among EDs patients were greater age; being male; having no vaccination, dementia; heart failure; liver and kidney disease; hemiplegia or paraplegia; coagulopathy; interstitial pulmonary disease; malignant tumors; use chronic systemic use of steroids, higher temperature, low O2 saturation and altered blood pressure-heart rate. The predictors of an adverse evolution were the same, with the exception of liver disease and the inclusion of cystic fibrosis. Similar predictors were found to be related to hospital admission, including liver disease, arterial hypertension, and basal prescription of immunosuppressants. Similarly, models for the whole sample, without vital signs, are presented. CONCLUSIONS: We propose risk scales, based on basic information, easily-calculable, high-predictive that also function with the current Omicron variant and may help manage such patients in primary, emergency, and hospital care.

Vivencias e impacto en la calidad de vida de personas con COVID persistente / Experiences and impact on the quality of life of people with long COVID

Objetivo: Explorar las vivencias de las personas con COVID persistente en el País Vasco transcurrido más de 1 año desde el inicio de la pandemia, con el fin de comprender su impacto en la salud y en el ámbito social, así como detectar posibles áreas de mejora en la asistencia que reciben estas personas con el fin de desarrollar programas de salud que apoyen su recuperación. Método: Estudio cualitativo fenomenológico. Como técnica de recogida de datos se realizaron entrevistas en profundidad hasta la saturación del discurso. Se incluyeron pacientes mayores de edad con sintomatología de COVID persistente con un tiempo de evolución mayor de 12 semanas. El contacto con los/las pacientes se realizó a través del Colectivo COVID Persistente de Euskadi. Las entrevistas se realizaron y grabaron con la aplicación ZOOM. Se realizó una trascripción literal de las entrevistas y posteriormente un análisis temático, identificando las primeras unidades de significado y asignando códigos que se agruparon después en las diferentes categorías. Resultados: Participaron 20 pacientes. Del análisis de los discursos emergieron tres categorías principales: 1) afectación/impacto en la calidad de vida de los/las pacientes; 2) detección de mejoras en la asistencia sanitaria; y 3) aspectos que reconfortan. Conclusiones: Este estudio evidencia el importante impacto en la calidad de vida que sufren estas personas. Es necesario diseñar políticas sanitarias que favorezcan el abordaje personalizado, integral y multidisciplinario de tales pacientes. (AU)

Objective: To explore the experiences of people with persistent COVID in the Basque Country more than a year after the start of the pandemic, in order to understand the health and social impact it has, as well as to detect possible areas for improvement in the care that these people receive in order to develop health programms to support their recovery. Method: Qualitative phenomenological study. In-depth interviews will be carried out as a data collection technique until saturation of the discourse. Patients of legal age who present persistent COVID symptomatology with an evolution time of more than 12 weeks were included. Contact with the patients was made through the Basque Long COVID Collective. The interviews were carried out and recorded through the ZOOM application. After the literal transcription of the interviews, the thematic analysis will be carried out, identifying the first units of meaning and assigning codes that will later be grouped into the different categories. Results: 20 patients participated. A total of three main categories emerged from the analysis of the discourses: 1) affecting/impacting patients’ quality of life; 2) identifying improvements in healthcare; and 3) comforting aspects. Conclusions: This study shows the significant impact on the quality of life suffered by these people. It is necessary to design health policies that favour a personalised, comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to these patients. (AU)

Influencia del índice de privación social en resultados durante la pandemia de COVID-19 / Influence of the social deprivation index on outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objetivo: Determinar la relación del índice de privación de la población con la utilización del sistema sanitario, la mala evolución y la mortalidad durante la pandemia de COVID-19. Método: Estudio de cohorte retrospectivo de personas con infección por SARS-CoV-2 del 1 de marzo de 2020 al 9 de enero de 2022. Se recopilaron datos sociodemográficos, comorbilidad y tratamientos basales prescritos, otros datos basales y el índice de privación, estimado por sección censal. Se realizaron modelos multivariable de regresión logística multinivel para cada variable de resultado: fallecimiento, mala evolución (definida como fallecimiento o ingreso en la unidad de cuidados intensivos), ingreso y visitas a urgencias. Resultados: La cohorte se compone de 371.237 personas con infección por SARS-CoV-2. En los modelos multivariable se observó un mayor riesgo de fallecimiento, de mala evolución, de ingreso hospitalario o de visita a urgencias en los quintiles de mayor privación en comparación con el quintil de menor privación. Para el riesgo de ser hospitalizado o de acudir a urgencias, en términos generales hubo diferencias entre todos los quintiles. También se observó que estas diferencias se daban en el primer y el tercer periodos de la pandemia para la mortalidad y la mala evolución, y en todos para el riesgo de ser ingresado o de acudir a urgencias. Conclusiones: Los colectivos con mayor nivel de privación han tenido mayores tasas de mortalidad y de ingreso en comparación con los colectivos con unas tasas de privación más bajas. Es necesario realizar intervenciones que minimicen estas desigualdades. (AU)

Objective: To see the relationship between the population deprivation index and the use of the health services, adverse evolution and mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: Retrospective cohort study of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection from March 1, 2020 to January 9, 2022. The data collected included sociodemographic data, comorbidities and prescribed baseline treatments, other baseline data and the deprivation index, estimated by census section. Multivariable multilevel logistic regression models were performed for each outcome variable: death, poor outcome (defined as death or intensive care unit), hospital admission, and emergency room visits. Results: The cohort consists of 371,237 people with SARS-CoV-2 infection. In the multivariable models, a higher risk of death or poor evolution or hospital admission or emergency room visit was observed within the quintiles with the greatest deprivation compared to the quintile with the least. For the risk of being hospitalized or going to the emergency room, there were differences between most quintiles. It has also been observed that these differences occurred in the first and third periods of the pandemic for mortality and poor outcome, and in all due for the risk of being admitted or going to the emergency room. Conclusions: The groups with the highest level of deprivation have had worse outcomes compared to the groups with lower deprivation rates. It is necessary to carry out interventions that minimize these inequalities. (AU)

[Experiences and impact on the quality of life of people with long COVID]. / Vivencias e impacto en la calidad de vida de personas con COVID persistente.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the experiences of people with persistent COVID in the Basque Country more than a year after the start of the pandemic, in order to understand the health and social impact it has, as well as to detect possible areas for improvement in the care that these people receive in order to develop health programms to support their recovery. METHOD: Qualitative phenomenological study. In-depth interviews will be carried out as a data collection technique until saturation of the discourse. Patients of legal age who present persistent COVID symptomatology with an evolution time of more than 12 weeks were included. Contact with the patients was made through the Basque Long COVID Collective. The interviews were carried out and recorded through the ZOOM application. After the literal transcription of the interviews, the thematic analysis will be carried out, identifying the first units of meaning and assigning codes that will later be grouped into the different categories. RESULTS: 20 patients participated. A total of three main categories emerged from the analysis of the discourses: 1) affecting/impacting patients' quality of life; 2) identifying improvements in healthcare; and 3) comforting aspects. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the significant impact on the quality of life suffered by these people. It is necessary to design health policies that favour a personalised, comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to these patients.

Modelling the risk of hospital admission of lab confirmed SARS-CoV-2-infected patients in primary care: a population-based study.

The objectives of this study are to develop a predictive model of hospital admission for COVID-19 to help in the activation of emergency services, early referrals from primary care, and the improvement of clinical decision-making in emergency room services. The method is the retrospective cohort study of 49,750 patients with microbiological confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The sample was randomly divided into two subsamples, for the purposes of derivation and validation of the prediction rule (60% and 40%, respectively). Data collected for this study included sociodemographic data, baseline comorbidities, baseline treatments, and other background data. Multilevel analyses with generalized estimated equations were used to develop the predictive model. Male sex and the gradual effect of age were the main risk factors for hospital admission. Regarding baseline comorbidities, coagulopathies, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes with organ damage, and liver disease were among the five most notable. Flu vaccination was a risk factor for hospital admission. Drugs that increased risk were chronic systemic steroids, immunosuppressants, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and NSAIDs. The AUC of the risk score was 0.821 and 0.828 in the derivation and validation samples, respectively. Based on the risk score, five risk groups were derived with hospital admission ranging from 2.94 to 51.87%. In conclusion, we propose a classification system for people with COVID-19 with a higher risk of hospitalization, and indirectly with it a greater severity of the disease, easy to be completed both in primary care, as well as in emergency services and in hospital emergency room to help in clinical decision-making.Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04463706.

Percepciones y vivencias de escolares de 7 a 8 años del País Vasco durante la alerta sanitaria COVID-19 / Perceptions and experiences of 7-8 year old schoolchildren in the Basque Country during the COVID-19 health alert

Objetivo: Explorar las experiencias y las vivencias de escolares de 7-8 años en una situación excepcional de alerta sanitaria en la que se han aplicado a la población estrictas medidas de confinamiento. Método: Estudio cualitativo exploratorio a través del análisis de ilustraciones realizadas por 71 escolares de 7-8 años de edad. El análisis se llevó a cabo según el marco teórico de Rose. Se realizó análisis descriptivo de los datos sociodemográficos. Resultados: Del análisis del contenido emergieron cinco categorías: 1) sentimientos de tristeza y miedo; 2) importancia del núcleo familiar, seguridad y protección; 3) hábitos de vida sedentarios durante el confinamiento; 4) infraestructuras de las viviendas y desigualdades sociales (la vida tras una ventana); y 5) respuesta social, lucha colectiva y de los/las profesionales de la salud. Conclusiones: La situación de pandemia de COVID-19 y las medidas estrictas de confinamiento han tenido un importante impacto en la población escolar, que es la que ha vivido las mayores restricciones. La infraestructura del hogar se ha mostrado como un claro diferenciador que ahonda en las desigualdades sociales y el impacto que la situación tiene en los/las escolares. Es necesario ampliar los estudios acerca del impacto psicosocial que esta situación va a tener a largo plazo en su salud física y mental. (AU)

Objective: To explore the experiences of schoolchildren in an exceptional health alert situation in which strict confinement measures have been applied to the population. Method: Qualitative exploratory study through the analysis of illustrations carried out by schoolchildren aged 7 to 8. The analysis was carried out according to Rose's theoretical framework. Descriptive analysis of socio-demographic data was performed. Results: Five categories emerged from the analysis of the content: 1) feelings of sadness and fear; 2) importance of the family nucleus, safety and protection; 3) sedentary living habits during confinement; 4) housing infrastructure and social inequalities (life through a window); and 5) social response, collective struggle and through health professionals. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic situation and the strict confinement measures have had a significant impact on the school population, who had experienced the greatest restrictions. Household infrastructure has been shown to be a clear differentiator that deepens social inequalities and the impact that the situation has on school children. More studies are needed on the long-term psychosocial impact of this situation on their physical and mental health.

[Perceptions and experiences of 7-8 year old schoolchildren in the Basque Country during the COVID-19 health alert]. / Percepciones y vivencias de escolares de 7 a 8 años del País Vasco durante la alerta sanitaria COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the experiences of schoolchildren in an exceptional health alert situation in which strict confinement measures have been applied to the population. METHOD: Qualitative exploratory study through the analysis of illustrations carried out by schoolchildren aged 7 to 8. The analysis was carried out according to Rose's theoretical framework. Descriptive analysis of socio-demographic data was performed. RESULTS: Five categories emerged from the analysis of the content: 1) feelings of sadness and fear; 2) importance of the family nucleus, safety and protection; 3) sedentary living habits during confinement; 4) housing infrastructure and social inequalities (life through a window); and 5) social response, collective struggle and through health professionals. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic situation and the strict confinement measures have had a significant impact on the school population, who had experienced the greatest restrictions. Household infrastructure has been shown to be a clear differentiator that deepens social inequalities and the impact that the situation has on school children. More studies are needed on the long-term psychosocial impact of this situation on their physical and mental health.

[Low transmission of SARS-CoV-2 at school settings: a population-based study in the Basque Country.] / Baja transmisión del SARS-CoV-2 en el ámbito escolar: estudio poblacional en Euskadi.

OBJECTIVE: Studies about SARS-CoV-2 transmission at school settings have been outbreaks or schools clusters. There are scarce population-based studies has been studied. We aimed at describing SARS-CoV-2 school-related transmission and its relationship with baseline community cumulative incidence rate in the Basque Country after school reopening in order to inform Public Health decision-making. METHODS: We conducted a scholar surveillance population-based study of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from 7 September to 31 October 2020. We calculated percentages of cases in school-age population, secondary attack rates by education level among close contacts and correlation between population´s and scholars´ incidence rates at municipal level. RESULTS: There were 35,477 SARS-CoV-2 laboratory confirmed cases. Among them, 7.65% happened at school settings. Secondary attack rate at schools ranged from 2.9%, in preschools to 7.1% in high schools; Scholars caused a household and social secondary attack rate from 13% (high scholars) to 23.2% (elementary scholars). We found a low correlation between population´s and scholars´ incidence rates at municipal level (R2=0.047). CONCLUSIONS: Secondary attack rate at school settings increased as educational level did; conversely, to social and family secondary attack rate, that decreased with higher educational level. School attendance, during a SARS-CoV-2 high transmission period showed feasible and did not rise transmission. These findings happened under strict non-pharmaceutical measures at school settings and proper epidemiological surveillance, including tracing of laboratory confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 looking for close contacts, isolation and testing of close contacts during isolation period. The different degree of transmission of the circulating variants in the different periods of the pandemic must also be taken into account.

OBJETIVO: La transmisión del SARS-CoV-2 en escolares se ha estudiado en brotes o en conjuntos de escuelas y apenas hay estudios poblacionales. El objetivo de este estudio fue describir la transmisión de SARS-CoV-2 relacionada con el ámbito escolar y su relación con la incidencia acumulada comunitaria en Euskadi tras la reapertura de las escuelas para contribuir a la toma de decisiones en salud pública. METODOS: Se trató de un estudio poblacional, basado en el sistema de vigilancia epidemiológica, que analizó la transmisión de SARS-CoV-2 en el ámbito escolar tras la reapertura escolar el 7 de septiembre de 2020 hasta el 31 octubre de 2020. Se calcularon porcentajes de casos en población escolar, tasas de ataque secundaria por nivel educativo entre contactos estrechos, así como la correlación entre tasas de incidencia acumulada municipal y tasa en escolares. RESULTADOS: Se diagnosticaron 35.477 casos confirmados de SARS-CoV-2. Entre ellos el 7,65% sucedieron en el ámbito escolar. La tasa de ataque secundaria en dicho ámbito osciló entre un 2,9%, en educación infantil y un 7,1% en bachiller; los alumnos causaron, en el ámbito familiar y social, tasas de ataque secundarias de entre un 13% (bachiller) y un 23,2% (educación primaria). Encontramos una baja correlación entre las tasas de incidencia acumulada a nivel municipal y la de los escolares (R2=0,047). CONCLUSIONES: La tasa de ataque secundaria en ámbito escolar aumentó según el grado escolar, al contrario que la del ámbito social y familiar que disminuyó. La educación presencial no condujo a un incremento de la transmisión de SARS-CoV-2. Estos hallazgos sucedieron bajo estrictas medidas no farmacológicas en el ámbito escolar y una vigilancia epidemiológica adecuada que incluyó la búsqueda de contactos estrechos de casos de SARS-CoV-2 confirmados por laboratorio, así como el aislamiento y testeo de los contactos estrechos durante el periodo de aislamiento. Ha de tenerse en cuenta también, el diferente grado de transmisión de las variantes circulantes en los diferentes periodos de la pandemia.