The first 8 weeks of the Austrian SARS-CoV-2 epidemic
<p><i>Background</i> Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV‑2) reached Austria in February 2020. This study aims to describe the first 8 weeks of the Austrian epidemic and reflect on the potential mental health consequences as known at that time.</p> <p...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2021
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| _version_ | 1797111192952504320 |
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| author | Nagel, A Łaszewska, A Haidinger, G Simon, J |
| author_facet | Nagel, A Łaszewska, A Haidinger, G Simon, J |
| author_sort | Nagel, A |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | <p><i>Background</i> Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV‑2) reached Austria in February 2020. This study aims to describe the first 8 weeks of the Austrian epidemic and reflect on the potential mental health consequences as known at that time.</p>
<p><i>Methods</i> Data on Austrian Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) epidemiological indicators and number of tests were obtained from official registers. Relative risks (RRs) of infection and death from COVID-19 were calculated for sex and age groups (< 65 years and ≥ 65 years). Public health measures introduced to reduce the spread of COVID-19 were identified via online media research. A rapid review of initial evidence on mental health consequences of the pandemic was performed in PubMed and medRxiv.</p>
<p><i>Results</i> By 21 April 2020 the case count in Austria was 14,810 after a peak of new daily infections mid-March. The RR of death for age ≥ 65 years was 80.07 (95% confidence interval, CI 52.64–121.80; p < 0.0001) compared to those aged < 65 years. In men the RR of death was 1.44 (95% CI 1.20–1.73; p < 0.0001) compared to women. Wide-ranging public health measures included avoidance of case importation, limitation of social contacts, hygiene measures, testing, case tracking, and the call for COVID-19-related research. International rates of psychiatric symptoms during the initial lockdowns exceeded typical levels: anxiety (6%–51%), depression (17%–48%) and posttraumatic stress (5%–54%).</p>
<p><i>Conclusion</i> Data show great vulnerability of older people also in Austria. Severe mental health impacts can be expected with need for proper assessment of the long-term consequences of this pandemic.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T08:05:20Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:8eadb7fb-2b93-47a9-a6e2-d630ce6db33a |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T08:05:20Z |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:8eadb7fb-2b93-47a9-a6e2-d630ce6db33a2023-10-26T15:40:59ZThe first 8 weeks of the Austrian SARS-CoV-2 epidemicJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:8eadb7fb-2b93-47a9-a6e2-d630ce6db33aEnglishSymplectic ElementsSpringer2021Nagel, AŁaszewska, AHaidinger, GSimon, J<p><i>Background</i> Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV‑2) reached Austria in February 2020. This study aims to describe the first 8 weeks of the Austrian epidemic and reflect on the potential mental health consequences as known at that time.</p> <p><i>Methods</i> Data on Austrian Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) epidemiological indicators and number of tests were obtained from official registers. Relative risks (RRs) of infection and death from COVID-19 were calculated for sex and age groups (< 65 years and ≥ 65 years). Public health measures introduced to reduce the spread of COVID-19 were identified via online media research. A rapid review of initial evidence on mental health consequences of the pandemic was performed in PubMed and medRxiv.</p> <p><i>Results</i> By 21 April 2020 the case count in Austria was 14,810 after a peak of new daily infections mid-March. The RR of death for age ≥ 65 years was 80.07 (95% confidence interval, CI 52.64–121.80; p < 0.0001) compared to those aged < 65 years. In men the RR of death was 1.44 (95% CI 1.20–1.73; p < 0.0001) compared to women. Wide-ranging public health measures included avoidance of case importation, limitation of social contacts, hygiene measures, testing, case tracking, and the call for COVID-19-related research. International rates of psychiatric symptoms during the initial lockdowns exceeded typical levels: anxiety (6%–51%), depression (17%–48%) and posttraumatic stress (5%–54%).</p> <p><i>Conclusion</i> Data show great vulnerability of older people also in Austria. Severe mental health impacts can be expected with need for proper assessment of the long-term consequences of this pandemic.</p> |
| spellingShingle | Nagel, A Łaszewska, A Haidinger, G Simon, J The first 8 weeks of the Austrian SARS-CoV-2 epidemic |
| title | The first 8 weeks of the Austrian SARS-CoV-2 epidemic |
| title_full | The first 8 weeks of the Austrian SARS-CoV-2 epidemic |
| title_fullStr | The first 8 weeks of the Austrian SARS-CoV-2 epidemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | The first 8 weeks of the Austrian SARS-CoV-2 epidemic |
| title_short | The first 8 weeks of the Austrian SARS-CoV-2 epidemic |
| title_sort | first 8 weeks of the austrian sars cov 2 epidemic |
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