Invited Speakers
Prof. Matthew A. Stults-Kolehmainen
Columbia University, United States
Prof. Matthew A. Stults-Kolehmainen
Columbia University, United States
Invited Speech: ‘I want to move my body – right now!’ New ideas about motivation for physical activity
Biography:
Exercise Physiologist, Yale - New Haven Hospital;
Adjunct Associate Professor, Teachers College, Columbia University, United States
Matthew Stults-Kolehmainen, PhD FACSM ACSM EP-C is an exercise physiologist (clinical role) at Yale - New Haven Hospital (New Haven, Connecticut) and Adjunct Associate Professor in Applied Physiology at Teachers College – Columbia University (New York, New York). His Ph.D. is from The University of Texas-Austin with post-doctoral and fellowship training at Yale Medical School, Teachers College - Columbia University and the University of Jyväskylä (Finland). He has authored 38 scholarly articles and book chapters. His research focuses on exercise, motivation and stress, and his clinical specialty is in bariatric surgery and the role of exercise in weight management.
Abstract:
Physically active behaviors are the product of multi-factorial processes involving cognitive, emotional and motivational factors, the latter of which has become of central interest. There has been a call to understand how motivation for physical activity works in the moment or right now. In other words, one’s motivation for movement likely varies in the moment, just as their actual movement behavior varies moment-by-moment. This conceptual understanding of motivation states stands in contrast to the more conventional understanding of motivation as relating to traits (e.g., “I am not a motivated person”) or enduring characteristics of a person (e.g., “Recently, I have felt ready to exercise”). In 2005, Kavanaugh and colleagues, first described the concept of affectively-charged motivation states (ACMS) – desires, wants, cravings and urges – as applied to health behaviors (e.g., smoking, drinking, eating snacks, etc.). Ostensibly, desires and wants are weaker motivation states while urges and cravings feel stronger, may last longer and may have a greater impact on behavior. Our group recently expanded how motivation states apply to movement and sedentary behaviors as proposed in the WANT model (Wants and Aversions for Neuromuscular Tasks). This framework describes how desires and urges to move and rest reflect a range of motivational inputs that can result in ACMS being complementary or act in opposition. Thus, they are loosely coupled and operate asymmetrically in response to various situations and a range of stimuli, from stressful circumstances to meditation. A series of 11 studies has recently been concluded to validate this model. Also, a new instrument, called the CRAVE, was developed to assess these states. These studies demonstrate that motivation states change rapidly, are highly influenced by preceding behaviors, and are related - yet distinct - from sensations of energy and fatigue. Furthermore, they operate in a circadian waveform to influence behavior.
Dr. Roger Ho
National University of Singapore, Singapore
Dr. Roger Ho
National University of Singapore, Singapore
Invited Speech: The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in China: from the beginning to now
Biography:
Associate Professor, National University of Singapore
Senior Consultant Psychiatris
Institute for Health Innovation and Technology, National University of Singapore, Singapore
Dr Roger Ho is an Associate Professor and Senior Consultant Psychiatrist at the National University of Singapore. He is the Principal Investigator of the Institute for Health Innovation and Technology at NUS.
His research focuses on global mental health and infrared light brain imaging. He obtained his medical degree (MBBS) and higher research degree (MD) from the University of Hong Kong. He is a Fellow and Member of more than ten Royal Colleges of Psychiatrists and Physicians worldwide.
He has published more than 450 papers. In 2021, he had been named one of the highly cited researchers in the world by the Clarivate Analytics.
Abstract:
In this presentation, Dr Roger Ho shared his research findings that were conducted in the early stage of COVID-19 pandemic in China. He collaborated with academics from Huaibei Normal University as well as psychiatrists and mental health professionals in Chongqing, China. These studies focused on the general population, psychiatric patients and workers. The study teams identified the psychological impact, risk and protective factors for mental health in the early stage of pandemic. Then the study teams performed cross-cultural comparison on the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress as well as risk and protective factors between China and other countries. As the COVID-19 pandemic is evolving in China and other countries, the impact on mental health changes. Dr Ho will present recent research findings on the impact of mental health in China and propose strategies to safeguard mental health.
Prof. Samuel F. Sears
East Carolina University, United States
Prof. Samuel F. Sears
East Carolina University, United States
Invited Speech: COVID and the Cardiac Patient Experience
Biography:
Professor, East Carolina University
Department of Psychology
Department of Cardiovascular Sciences
East Carolina Heart Institute
United States
Samuel F. Sears, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Departments of Psychology and Cardiovascular Sciences at East Carolina University. Dr. Sears has published over 200 articles in the research literature and has well over 10, 000 citations. Dr. Sears continues to practice and teach health psychology in cardiology clinics at the East Carolina Heart Institute at East Carolina University. Dr. Sears received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. (1995) in clinical health psychology from the University of Florida.
Abstract:
The COVID-19 pandemic produced profound changes in the daily lives and lifestyles of people around the world. For the cardiac patient, the virus represented a potential threat that magnified risks associated with cardiovascular disease and its management. The purpose of this presentation is to identify the psychological and behavioral consequences of COVID for the cardiovascular patient. Specific emphasis will be placed on the role of physical activity, disease management and emotional management during the pandemic by heart patients. Multiple research studies have indicated increased psychological distress and both on-target and off-target disease management behaviors. Clinical implications for this research and managing these changes will be discussed.
Prof. Michael Tee
University of the Philippines Manila, Philippine
Prof. Michael Tee
University of the Philippines Manila, Philippine
Invited Speech: Health Insights during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Biography:
Professor, University of the Philippines Manila, Philippine
Vice chairman of the South East Asian One Health University Network
Dr. Michael L. Tee is a Professor and University Scientist at the University of the Philippines Manila. He is currently the chairman of the Philippine One Health University Network and Vice Chairman of the Southeast Asia One Health University Network. He is a specialist in internal medicine and rheumatology. His research interests originally focused on autoimmune diseases such as lupus, gout, and rheumatoid arthritis. However, as COVID19 developed into a pandemic, Dr. Tee initiated several studies that aimed to guide policy directions in government response. He is a fellow of the OCTA Research Group, a well-recognized independent science advice provider for COVID-19 in the Philippines.
Abstract:
As vaccination continues to successfully bring down mortality associated with COVID-19, we begin to confront the impact of this infection on individuals who survived. In this talk, we will discuss the enduring effects of COVID19 on hospitalized patients, and on patients who were either asymptomatic or had only mild symptoms during the period of infection. We will also discuss the psychological and mental health issues that stem from national public health policies issued to control the spread of the virus. Finally, we will present data on factors that influence vaccine hesitancy, and attempt to present an analysis on how it can be overcome.
Prof. Tran Xuan Bach
Hanoi Medical University, Vietnam
Prof. Tran Xuan Bach
Hanoi Medical University, Vietnam
Invited Speech: Developing an early warning system for COVID-19 pandemic responses in Vietnam
Assoc. Prof. Bach Tran, Hanoi Medical University, Vietnam
Bach Tran is Vice Head of Department of Health Economics at Hanoi Medical University, Vietnam, and Adjunct Professor at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, USA. His research interests include the application of epidemiological-economic models to explore the determinants of infectious diseases outbreaks, assess nations’ vulnerability, and identify effective system and human behavioral responses. He has extensive experience in research, surveillance and evaluation of global health threats in South-East Asia. Much of his work centers on determining cost-effective interventions, assessing health services and innovations, and strengthening health systems, particularly related to HIV/AIDS and emerging diseases.
Dr. Christina Kwauk
Kwauk and Associates, United States
Dr. Christina Kwauk
Kwauk and Associates, United States
Invited Speech: Working with decisionmakers to accelerate the adoption of a New Green Learning Agenda
Biography:
Kwauk and Associates, United States
Christina Kwauk is a social scientist and policy analyst with expertise on girls’ education, 21st century skills and youth empowerment, and the intersections of gender, education, and climate change. Christina is co-editor of Curriculum and Learning for Climate Action: Toward an SDG 4.7 Roadmap for Systems Change and co-author of What Works in Girls’ Education: Evidence for the World’s Best Investment. She has published numerous policy papers, including “The new green learning agenda: Approaches to quality education for climate empowerment.” Christina is an education consultant, research director at Unbounded Associates, and Head of Climate and Education at The Education Commission.
Abstract:
Globally, decisionmakers understand the importance of education for climate action. But when it comes to moving from knowledge to action, decisionmakers have been slow to shift. Part of the challenge is identifying pathways that align enough with the normative priorities of governments and institutions but that also carry the seeds of transformative change--enough to allow implementers to tackle underlying inequitable and unjust social systems at scale. In the case of education, this means encouraging education decisionmakers to see themselves (and their work) in a larger system of systems--to see education, its role and its purpose, as embedded across sectors rather than as its own silo.
This presentation will describe ongoing work with decisionmakers and stakeholders working to do just that. It will introduce a guiding framework, a New Green Learning Agenda, for education systems that speaks to a range of priorities for ministries of education yet is also oriented to the achievement of climate action and climate justice. The presentation will also provide examples of how this agenda can be and has been translated for diverse audiences, from non-formal education to postsecondary institutions, from education decisionmakers to workforce development, and more. The goal of this presentation will be to illustrate what the next evolution for education could look like.
Dr. Tricia Seow
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Dr. Tricia Seow
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Invited Speech: Learning to Take Action: Environmental Citizenship & Sustainability Education
Biography:
Assistant Head/ Humanities and Social Studies Academic Group
Co-Chair/ Sustainability Learning Lab
National Institute of Education
Nanyang Technological University
Singapore
Dr Tricia Seow’s research interests include sustainability and environmental education in both classroom and field-based settings. She also actively engages in research related to teacher subject identities and professional practice. Dr Seow currently serves as an Assistant Head of the Humanities and Social Studies Academic Group and is co-chair of the Sustainability Learning Lab at the National Institute of Education. An active member of the geography and teaching fraternity, Dr Seow is a Core Team member of the Geography Subject Chapter, Academy of Singapore Teachers, and serves as the Honorary-General Secretary of the Southeast Asia Geographers Association.
Abstract:
What is the purpose of sustainability education? What should young people learn in their formative years? In this talk, I argue that sustainability education should prepare students for environmental citizenship, allowing them to participate in substantive debates related to environmental policy and regulation. It should also prepare youths to fulfil their obligations and duties in safeguarding the environment for the common good. There is general agreement that schools and higher institutions of learning should help young people develop the knowledge they will need to understand and engage with important environmental issues affecting society. This includes both scientific and environmental knowledge, as well as competences like data literacy - the collection, analysis and communication of relevant environmental data. Research in environmental education further suggests that students should learn about environmental management in an authentic manner. Inquiry-based learning, problem-based learning and experiential learning have become major pedagogical tools to this end.
While fostering such environmental knowledge and competencies is undoubtedly important to the nurturing of environmental citizens, I argue it is insufficient. Students, in fact, need to gain knowledge of how to take environmental action. Future environmental citizens need to gain practical experience in addressing environmental issues in the public sphere. Schools will need to take reach out to government, non-governmental and grassroots organisations to provide students with opportunities to identify authentic problems and implement context-based solutions. Drawing on research and experience in the Singapore context, I will provide examples of what sustainability education for environmental citizenship might look like.
Dr. Lucy Richardson
Monash University, Australia
Dr. Lucy Richardson
Monash University, Australia
Invited Speech: Integrating Climate Change Communications within Higher Education
Biography:
Post Doctoral Research Fellow at Monash University’s Climate Change Communication Research Hub
Dr Richardson’s current research focuses on understanding how people think, feel, and act regarding climate change, and how they respond to climate change messaging. Her broader research interests sit at the intersection of environmental science, communication, and social psychology. She is co-editor of the Research Handbook on Communicating Climate Change (Edward Elgar, 2020), and teaches the university's Climate Change Communication unit. Dr Richardson was also a member of the 2021 Commonwealth Futures Climate Research Cohort of the Association of Commonwealth Universities and the British Council.
Abstract:
As Sir David Attenborough said: “Saving our planet is now a communications challenge. We know what to do, we just need the will.” Higher education institutions prepare our future workforce for their roles in society--societies that are becoming more and more impacted by climate change while mitigation actions across the world have been delayed and are currently insufficient to keep global warming within safe limits. Climate change is beginning to impact every aspect of our societies, from food production, to national security, to health and our wider economies. Due to the complex nature of climate change, it’s impacts, and solutions, every discipline taught in higher education has a role to play in helping mitigate and adapt to climate change, including lawyers, engineers, nurses, economists, social scientists, artists, and more. The communication of climate change faces unique challenges due to the nature of climate change itself, and the nature of individuals and societies across the world. It is unlike communication on most other issues, and requires specific skills and understanding to communicate effectively. To ensure our students graduate with the skills they need to support the world to address climate change, they need to understand how to communicate on this issue effectively within their discipline, with other disciplines, and with the wider public. In this presentation, I will outline the importance of climate change communication, some of the different approaches that the tertiary education sector could use to integrate climate change communication into its programs, and use an Australian case study as an example of one approach along with some challenges and enablers in the Australian context.
Mr. Mahesh Pradhan
UN Environment Programme
Mr. Mahesh Pradhan
UN Environment Programme
Invited Speech: Environmental education in addressing the triple planetary crises and sustainable development goals
Biography:
UN Environment Programme, United Nations
With nearly three decades of experience with the UN Environment Programme, Mr Pradhan was appointed as COBSEA Coordinator on 1 June 2022 and is currently based in Bangkok, Thailand. During 2019-22, Mr Pradhan coordinated UNEP’s global portfolio on sustainable nutrient management. Prior to this, he was based at UNEP’s International Environmental Technology Centre (IETC) in Osaka, Japan, where he focused on holistic waste management, waste to energy, and disaster waste management. Earlier, Mr Pradhan served as head of UNEP’s global environmental and training unit, based at UNEP headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya during 2011-2016.
Abstract:
Environmental Education has come a long way since the first UN Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm in 1972, which is 50 years ago. With the adoption of Agenda 21 in 1992 in Rio, EE was highlighted in Chapter 35. Education also cuts across all the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, with the Transforming Education Summit taking place in conjunction with the UN General Assembly in September 2022. Education plays a foundational role in tackling the triple and interlinked planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, which in turn are linked to planetary and human health.
Prof. DeeDee M. Bennett Gayle
University at Albany, United States
Prof. DeeDee M. Bennett Gayle
University at Albany, United States
Invited Speech: Household Hazard Adjustments in Response to Climate Change
Biography:
Associate Professor, Emergency Management
Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security
College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity
University at Albany, State University of New York, United States
dmbennett@albany.edu
DeeDee M. Bennett Gayle, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cybersecurity at the University at Albany, State University of New York. Dr. Bennett Gayle broadly examines the influence and integration of advanced technologies on the practice of emergency management and for use by vulnerable populations. She is the director of the Social Vulnerability Lab within her college. With over 50 publications, her work is published in various journals, and she has presented at several conferences related to emergency management, disability, wireless technology, and future studies. She is co-editor of the edited book volume Social Vulnerability to COVID-19: Impacts of Technology Adoption and Information Behavior, currently in publication with Springer Nature Publishing. Dr. Bennett Gayle received her Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University in Fire and Emergency Management. She has a unique academic background, having received both her M.S. in Public Policy and B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. She is an Advisory Board Member for the Institute for Diversity and Inclusion in Emergency Management (I-DIEM).
Abstract:
Climate projections anticipate that many people will be displaced due to the massive population centers situated along the coast, especially in the United States (U.S.). Migration, federal buyouts, home elevations, and evacuation (and other hazard adjustments) are all predicated on the decisions made at the household level. The climate projects do not always consider household characteristics and social vulnerabilities beyond assets to fully understand decision-making at the household level. Disparate impacts and outcomes are often related to hazard adjustments that lead to displacement. These hazard adjustments often contribute to more difficulty for socially vulnerable populations, namely racial and ethnic minorities. In this presentation, the impacts and strategies of minoritized households in the U.S. in response to climate change are reviewed. The key characteristics and vulnerabilities related to decision-making at the household level are highlighted in preparation for a more extensive qualitative study to understand why and how households make hazard adjustments in response to climate change.
Dr. Ian Ryan
University at Albany, United States
Dr. Ian Ryan
University at Albany, United States
Invited Speech: Ultrafine Particles and Hospital Visits for Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases in New York State, 2013-2018
Biography:
University at Albany, State University of New York, United States
Dr. Ryan received two master’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, one in Public Health and the other in Public Affairs. He then earned his PhD in environmental health sciences from the State University of New York at Albany. In the last three years, Dr. Ryan has published several papers related to the human health impacts of air pollution, extreme heat, disasters, and other environmental exposures. He has also presented on the specific topic of Ultrafine Particles at multiple international conferences.
Abstract:
Introduction: Ultrafine particles are a unique public health challenge due to their size. However, limited studies have examined their impacts on human health, especially across seasons and demographics. This study evaluated the effect of ultrafine particle exposure on chronic lower respiratory diseases in New York State, 2013-2018. Methods: We estimated how ultrafine particle exposure led to chronic lower respiratory disease-related emergency department visits using a case-crossover design and conditional logistic regression. GEOS-Chem-APM, a state-of-the-art chemical transport model with a size-resolved particle microphysics model, generated air pollution simulation data. We then matched ultrafine particle exposure estimates to geocoded health records for asthma, bronchiectasis, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, unspecified bronchitis, and other chronic airway obstructions. In addition, we assessed interactions with age, ethnicity, race, sex, meteorological factors, and season. Results: Each interquartile range increase in ultrafine particle exposure led to a 0.4% increased risk of a respiratory-related emergency department visit on lag 0-0 (95% CI: 0.2-0.5%) and peaked at 1.8% on lag 0-6 (95% CI: 1.6-2.0%). The highest risk was in the subtype emphysema (lag 0-5: 4.2%, 95% CI: 0.2-8.4%), followed by asthma, chronic bronchitis, other chronic airway obstructions, and unspecified bronchitis (lag 0-6, excess risk range: 1.5-2.0%). We also found significant interactions with seasons (especially fall), mild thermal conditions (temperature/RH <=90th percentile), for children (<18), and among males (lag 0-6, excess risk range: 1.0-2.8%). Conclusion: In this study, UFP exposure increased CLRD-related ED visits across all seasons and demographics, yet these associations varied according to a host of factors, which requires more research
Dr. Xiaobo Xue Romeiko
University at Albany, United States
Dr. Xiaobo Xue Romeiko
University at Albany, United States
Invited Speech: Comparing Several Machine Learning Models to Predict Power Outages
Biography:
Xiaobo Xue Romeiko, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Environmental Health Sciences
School of Public Health
University at Albany, State University of New York, United States
Dr. Romeiko is an associate professor hosted at the Department of Environmental Health Sciences of the University at Albany. Dr. Romeiko gained her doctoral degree at the University of Pittsburgh and worked at the US Environmental Protection Agency prior to joining in the University at Albany. Dr. Romeiko’s research focuses on advancing quantitative approaches for assessing environmental health impacts of the interconnected food, energy and water systems.
Abstract:
Power outage (PO) became a pressing national concern due to its increasing frequencies and devastating consequences. Accurately predicting PO is urgently required for disaster preparedness and management. In order to accurately predict the numbers of PO interruptions and affected customers, this study built six different machine learning models based upon a comprehensive set of input variables reflecting infrastructure, weather, land use, soil and neighborhood characteristics. These six models included Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Random forest, eXtreme Gradient Boosting, Support Vector Machine (SVM), linear regression, and Poisson regression. This study also ranked the importance of input variables by using Morris Sensitivity analysis. The model comparison suggested that ANN model presented the highest predictive accuracy for numbers of interruptions. Differently, Xgboost model presented the highest predictive accuracy for the numbers of affected customers. Hurricane, rainfall, overall power generation, winter storm and grassland ranked as the top five features for the numbers of interruptions. Similarly, hurricane, rainfall and overall power generation remained the top three features for the numbers of affected customers. However, the fourth and fifth features for the numbers of affected customers were switched to flooding and population density. Overall, these findings suggested that the PO occurrence and coverage are complex interplay among extreme weather, power infrastructure, land use and population density.
Dr. Xinlei Deng
University at Albany, United States
Dr. Xinlei Deng
University at Albany, United States
Invited Speech: Identifying joint impacts of sun radiation, temperature, humidity, and rain duration on triggering mental disorders using a high-resolution weather monitoring system
Biography:
Department of Environmental Health Sciences, the State University of New York at Albany
Dr. Deng is a postdoctoral fellow from the Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, US. His research interest focuses on the application of remote sensing techniques, geospatial analysis, and machine learning methods in public health. He has rich experience of building spatial models to develop high-resolution gridded datasets and building several online predictive models for practical application. His recent works include investigating the health impacts of ultrafine particles on renal diseases, developing high-resolution gridded meteorological datasets, assessing the effects of multiple meteorological factors on mental disorders, and developing indexes for aging related outcomes.
Abstract:
Background
Mental disorders (MDs) are behavioral or mental patterns that cause significant distress or impairment of personal functioning. Previously, temperature has been linked to MDs, but most studies suffered from exposure misclassification due to limited monitoring sites. We aimed to assess whether multiple meteorological factors could jointly trigger MD-related emergency department (ED) visits in warm season, using a highly dense weather monitoring system.
Methods
We conducted a time-stratified, case-crossover study. MDs-related ED visits (primary diagnosis) from May-October 2017-2018 were obtained from New York State (NYS) discharge database. We obtained solar radiation (SR), relative humidity (RH), temperature, heat index (HI), and rainfall from Mesonet, a real-time monitoring system spaced about 17 miles (126 stations) across NYS. We used conditional logistic regression to assess the weather-MD associations.
Results
For each interquartile range (IQR) increase, both SR (excess risk (ER): 4.9%, 95% CI: 3.2-6.7%) and RH (ER: 4.0%, 95% CI: 2.6-5.4%) showed the largest risk for MD-related ED visits at lag 0-9 days. While temperature presented a short-term risk (highest ER at lag 0-2 days: 3.7%, 95% CI: 2.5-4.9%), HI increased risk over a two-week period (ER range: 3.7-4.5%), and rainfall hours showed an inverse association with MDs (ER: -0.5%, 95% CI: 0.9-(-0.1)%). Additionally, we observed stronger association of SR, RH, temperature, and HI in September and October. Combination of high SR, RH, and temperature displayed the largest increase in MDs (ER: 7.49%, 95% CI: 3.95-11.15%). The weather-MD association was stronger for psychoactive substance usage, mood disorders, adult behavior disorders, males, Hispanics, African Americans, individuals aged 46-65, or Medicare patients.
Conclusions
Hot and humid weather, especially the joint effect of high sun radiation, temperature and relative humidity showed the highest risk of MD diseases. We found stronger weather-MD associations in summer transitional months, males, and minority groups. These findings also need further confirmation.
Dr. Arshad Nair
University at Albany, United States
Dr. Arshad Nair
University at Albany, United States
Invited Speech: Race-ethnicity disparities in COVID-19 outcomes may be worsened by shorter- and long-term aerosol pollutants exposure
Biography:
Postdoctoral Associate, University at Albany, State University of New York, United States
Arshad Arjunan Nair is a Postdoctoral Associate at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Albany’s Atmospheric Sciences Research Center and School of Public Health. He received his PhD in the Atmospheric Sciences from SUNY Albany and his Dual-Degree BS-MS in Physics from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune. Dr. Nair has contributed significantly to our understanding of various impacts of atmospheric ammonia and aerosols on weather & climate and air quality using synergistic approaches that have cross-disciplinary implications. An atmospheric physicist by training, he seeks to apply additional strengths in data science, numerical modeling, and machine learning & artificial intelligence towards our collective efforts at mitigating the climate crisis through improved understanding and modeling of the Earth system and its impacts on human health and well-being. Dr. Nair has a strong publication record, is an effective research communicator, has served as a reviewer for the NSF, Science, and multiple other journals, and mentors historically underrepresented and socioeconomically disadvantaged STEM students.
Abstract:
BACKGROUND AND AIM: The importance of ultrafine particles (UFP or PM0.1) exposure to respiratory disease has been identified. However, its effect (and that of PM2.5) on COVID-19 outcomes remain unknown. This study aims to identify and quantify shorter- and long-term aerosol impacts on COVID-19 in context of disparate outcomes observed for minority race-ethnicity groups in New York State (NYS).
METHODS:
COVID-19 outcomes included infection, hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and deaths reported by the CDC COVID-19 Case Surveillance Restricted Access Detailed Data, 2020–2022. UFP&PM2.5 data were simulated by a global three-dimensional chemical transport model with state-of-the-science aerosol microphysical processes extensively validated with observations. For shorter-term (0–30 lag days) UFP&PM2.5 exposure, Distributed Lag Non-linear Model (DLNM), were used to examine the association with county-level adjusting for meteorological factors. Long-term (average level of 2013–2020) -COVID association was assessed by Negative Binomial Mixed Models adjusting for county-level confounders. County-level confounders from the Census Bureau, Behavioral Survey, and Homeland Infrastructure Data were used.
RESULTS: Compared to White, Hispanic/Black subgroups had greater excess risk of COVID-19 infection (+25%), hospitalization (+31%), ICU admission (+60%), and death (+5.5%). Excess risk per IQR increase for long-term UFP (PM2.5) exposure was significant for COVID-19 hospitalization: +40%;95%-CI=20.5– 63.6% (+22%;18.8–25.5%), ICU admission: +44%;39.1–49.2% (+24%;18.6–30.5%), and death: +40%;38.0–42.4% (+19%;8.2–30.7%). For short-term exposure, risks for all COVID-19 outcomes were elevated (RRs range from 1–4.6, all p 2000 #·cm−3 and PM2.5 > 6.3 µg·m−3.
CONCLUSIONS: Both shorter- and long-term exposure to aerosols increased the risk of COVID-19 infection and subsequent outcomes, with ultrafine particles (UFP) exerting larger effects than PM2.5, and with greater likelihood. The UFP and PM2.5-associated risks were disproportionately higher for race-ethnicity minorities (particularly Hispanic and Black) and for their economically vulnerable subgroups.
KEYWORDS: COVID-19, ultrafine aerosol, particulate matter, environmental justice, socioeconomics
Prof. Hezhong Tian
Beijing Normal University, China
Prof. Hezhong Tian
Beijing Normal University, China
Invited Speech: Evolution of air pollution in China and the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic
Biography:
School of Environment / Center of Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, China
Prof. Hezhong Tian got his Ph.D. on Environmental Science and Engineering from the School of Environment at Tsinghua University. His main research interests include development and application on emission inventory of hazardous air pollutants (covering conventional air pollutants like SO2, NOx, PM; and non-conventional or emerging air pollutants such as heavy metals and trace elements like Hg, Pb, As, Cd, Cr, Ni, etc.) on multiple temporal-spatial scales and sectoral dimensions (global, continental, country, city clusters, urban); Regional air quality simulation with chemical models like WRF-CMAQ/Chem and GEOS-Chem; Source apportionment of regional PM2.5 and O3 pollution; and Exposure risks of airborne toxic pollutants. As the first or corresponding authors, Prof. Tian has published over 100 peer reviewed papers on international SCI-TOP journals, including ES&T, ACP, JGR-Atmosphere, Journal of Hazardous Materials, and Science of the Total Environment. His papers have been cited by over 6700 times, with a Google h-index of 44 and i10-index of 80. Therein, 4 of papers are listed as ESI Highly Cited Papers.
Abstract:
Airborne trace elements (TEs) pose a notable threat to human health due to their toxicity and carcinogenicity, whereas their exposures and associated health risks in China remain unclear. Here, we present a nationwide assessment of spatiotemporal exposure to 11 airborne trace elements (TEs) in China by coupling a bottom-up comprehensive emission inventory with a modified CMAQ model capable of TEs simulation, and the associated exposure health risks of 11 TEs are evaluated by using a set of risk assessment models. In addition, to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect public health, governments throughout the world have imposed strict lockdown measures, and the unprecedented decline in human activities caused by the COVID-19 lockdown provides a unique natural-triggered experimental chance to explore the possible impacts of anthropogenic emissions change on air quality. Here, we applied a machine learning algorithm (random forest model) and Theil–Sen regression technique to differentiate meteorological and long-term trends effects on several air pollutants concentrations in North China and attempted to precisely identify changes in their concentrations ascribed to lockdown measures.
Dr. Wangjian Zhang
Sun Yat-sen University, China
Dr. Wangjian Zhang
Sun Yat-sen University, China
Invited Speech: How clinical biomarkers mediate the impact of VD deficiency on the occurrence and severity of COVID-19
Biography:
Associate Professor, Department of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University，Guangzhou, China
Dr. Zhang’s work mainly focuses on the statistical modeling of health impact of extreme weather events associated with climate change including extreme heat events, natural disasters as well as consequent social events such as power outages. His research also covers the modeling of the adverse health impact of major air pollutants such as particles and the concentration of its compositions from different sources. Dr. Zhang’s recent work clarifies environmental health issues using state-of-the-art causal inference methods. He and his team improved the framework of assessing the population vulnerability to the health impact of environmental exposures based on the time series analysis and machine learning algorithms. Additionally, his research work also involves the survival analysis, nomogram and interactive online platform for survivorship predictions.
Abstract:
Background: Several studies found that vitamin D deficiency (VDD) reduce COVID-19 infection and severity, but the potential biological pathways remain unclear. This study evaluated how the VDD-COVID occurrence and severity associations were mediated by clinical biomarkers.
Methods: This case-control study compared the VDD rates between 815 healthy controls and 62 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 admitted to our institution, 2/16/2020-3/16/2020. Cases were categorized into mild/moderate and severe/critical disease. We evaluated the mediation effect of biomarkers on the pathway between VDD and COVID-19 related outcomes by using Causal Mediation Analysis. The diagnostic values of biomarkers in predicting risk of COVID-19 infection and severity among VDD individuals was also evaluated by using ROC curves.
Results: VDD rate was significantly higher among COVID-19 patients compared to healthy individuals (41.94% vs 23.68%), and higher among severe cases compared to mild ones (80% vs 34.62%). The VDD-and COVID-19 infection association was mediated by serum hemoglobin, RBC count, total protein, eosinophil, eosinophil ratio, urea nitrogen, and cardiac creatine kinase. The association between VDD and COVID-19 severity was mediated by neutrophil ratio. Among VDD individuals, serum albumin, total protein, hemoglobin were the top predictors of COVID-19 infection (AUC: 0.86-0.97)), and serum albumin, neutrophil ratio, lymphocyte ratio and blood glucose were the top predictors of COVID-19 severity (AUC: 0.91-0.97).
Conclusion: This study suggests that VDD-COVID infection/severity associations may be mediated by concentration of serum protein, hemoglobin, RBC and neutrophil ratio. These biomarkers may play an important role in predicting infections and severity of COVID-19 among VDD individuals.
Dr. Matthew Browning
Clemson University, United States
Dr. Matthew Browning
Clemson University, United States
Invited Speech: Where and when green space matters most for our health?
Biography:
Associate Professor, Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Director, Virtual Reality & Nature Lab
Clemson University, United States
Dr. Browning's 15-year research career encompasses three domains: nature, health, and virtual reality. He directs the Virtual Reality & Nature Lab (VRN) at Clemson University, where he is an Associate Professor in Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management. The VRN researches the therapeutic effects of both physical and simulated environments on human health and looks for ways to evaluate and enhance the frequency, richness, and meaningfulness of human-nature interactions. Dr. Browning has published over 75 peer-reviewed articles and ranks among the top 15 most productive/cited scholars on nature and health based on PubMed metrics.
Abstract:
Demographic and environmental factors likely moderate the relationship between human health and nature. These factors may influence how nature-based interventions and policies impact population health. This talk summarizes the findings from our recently published reviews on effect modification by urbanicity, sex/gender, socioeconomic status (SES), and race.
Findings before the pandemic were extracted from April 2019 searches in five databases. We found 37 articles that modification by urbanicity, 62 that examined sex/gender, and 90 that examined SES/race. Regarding urbanicity, three times as many studies showed stronger associations for more urban areas than less urban areas. Associations for more urban areas were strongest for cardiovascular-related, birth, and mortality outcomes and greenspace measured within 500-m. Regarding sex/gender, most analyses found stronger associations for women than men. Associations for women were strongest for obesity-related outcomes and mortality, greenness vs. parks, and greenspace measured within 500-m. Regarding SES/race, studies suggested that lower-SES people showed stronger associations than more affluent people, particularly concerning parks vs. greenness. No notable differences were found between racial/ethnic groups.
Findings during the pandemic were retrieved from articles published between March 2020 to December 2021 using three databases. We found four articles that examined effect modification by sex/gender, seven that examined SES, and three that examined race. These articles reported disparate findings and, in most cases, no considerable effect modification.
Urban dwellers, lower-SES populations, and women may benefit more from nature contact than their counterparts, but the pandemic likely changed people’s differential use and derived benefits of greenspace. Longitudinal and experimental studies are needed to verify the robustness of these conclusions. Still, they support the potential value of overcoming health disparities through nature-based interventions and policies for some vulnerable populations.
Ms. Angelia Sia
National Parks Board, Singapore
Ms. Angelia Sia
National Parks Board, Singapore
Invited Speech: People-Nature Interactions and Wellbeing - A Case Study in a Tropical City
National Parks Board, Singapore
Biography:
Ms. Angelia Sia is Deputy Director with the National Parks Board, Singapore. She is currently a PhD candidate with the Department of Psychological Medicine at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Her research investigates the well-being benefits associated with the interactions between people and nature in cities. Angelia received her first degree from the NUS and Master of Business Administration from Imperial College London. Apart from research, she has interest in writing and is the chief editor of the award-winning magazine CITYGREEN.
Abstract:
It is widely acknowledged that ‘time in nature’ brings a range of benefits to city-dwellers, from increasing physical activity level to improving mental health. Supported by theoretical frameworks, notably the Stress Reduction Theory and Attention Restoration Theory, it is understood that natural environments, with the presence of elements like vegetation and water, have an advantage over built ones, in providing ‘relief from stress’ and ‘soft fascination’ that restores individuals from attentional fatigue. Singapore, a city state with high population density, has a longstanding focus on making provision for urban parks and greenery in tandem with urban development. In particular, the National Parks Board recognizes the role of greenery in enhancing the well-being of people. This presentation shares evidence-based insights on the benefits of various nature-based interventions introduced in Singapore.
Dr. Agnieszka Olszewska-Guizzo
NeuroLandscape Foundation, Poland
Dr. Agnieszka Olszewska-Guizzo
NeuroLandscape Foundation, Poland
Invited Speech: Neuroscience for Designing Urban Geen Spaces: Contemplative Landscape exposure for mental health
Biography:
President& Co-FOunder of NeuroLandscape Foundation, Warsaw, Poland (www.neurolandscape.org)
PhD in Landscape Architecture and Urban Ecology. She utilized neuropsychophysiology tools to evaluate the relationship between the design of the everyday environment and mental health and well-being of urban residents and people suffering from mental disorders. She introduced and operationalized the concept of Contemplative Landscapes and proposed a tool for designers called a Contemplative Landscape Model. It is a quantitative expert-based scale for assessing and classifying views, based on their mental health benefits through passive observation. She is the President and Co-founder of NeuroLandscape research NGO In her work, she strives to implement scientific research into practical actions to promote mental health in cities.
Abstract:
Urban living is associated with a high prevalence of mental health issues, so new interventions and research approaches toward an evidence-based, healthy urban environment are on the rise.
Exposure to nature within the city and the provision of more access to green spaces seem to be very beneficial and promising solutions for improving many health outcomes in urban populations.
One of the key mechanisms for that seems to be the sensory exposure to natural scenery and elements typical of the natural world which induces calming effects in the brain and nervous system. This presentation will cover the concept of Contemplative Landscapes research, which explored the feature of the urban green scenery that induces a desirable response in the brain of individuals, passively exposed to them in the natural setting. The main finding of the EEG and fNIRS experiment, conducted in Singapore between 2018 and 2021 will be discussed and landscape features contributing to the mental benefits will be briefly introduced.
Dr. Carmel Bouclaous
Lebanese American University, Lebanon
Dr. Carmel Bouclaous
Lebanese American University, Lebanon
Invited Speech: Numeracy Skills in Lebanese Adults with Diabetes
Biography:
Assistant Professor, Gilbert and Rose-Marie
Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese American University (LAU), Lebanon
Dr. Carmel Bouclaous is Assistant Professor affiliated to the Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese American University (LAU), Lebanon. She teaches social medicine, global health, and nutrition. Her research focuses on the effects of the social, political and economic environments on health and health disparities among host and refugee populations. She is member of a WHO expert panel on health literacy and member of the research committee of the Consortium of Universities for Global Health. Dr Bouclaous serves as Advisor to the Lebanese Medical Students’ International Committee (LeMSIC)-LAU section and the LAU Medical Students’ Association (MSA).
Abstract:
Introduction: This study assessed numeracy skills in Lebanese adults with diabetes as a proxy for diabetes control since numeracy skills are required in the interpretation of blood glucose meter data and food labels, insulin pump dosage, and determination of dietary carbohydrate intake. Methods: The questionnaire included the Diabetes Numeracy Test-15 (DNT-15) and items on sociodemographic and health-related factors. It was completed by 299 adults with diabetes, mean age 47.4±19.8 years. Results: Numeracy skills were higher in males, single individuals, in type 1 diabetes, controlled HbA1c, with income and higher educational level, and prior visit to a dietician. Conclusion: Interventions are needed to improve the numeracy skills of individuals with diabetes in order to prevent health complications and promote appropriate self-management behaviors.
Ms. Pham Thi Thu Huong
National Taiwan University, Taiwan
Ms. Pham Thi Thu Huong
National Taiwan University, Taiwan
Invited Speech: The Correlation between Psychiatric Morbidity and COVID-19 Stressors: A Nationwide Community Survey in Taiwan
Biography:
School of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
Ms Pham Thi Thu Huong is lecturer in Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Hanoi Medical University and National Institute of Mental Health, Bach Mai hospital, Vietnam. Currently, she is completing Ph.D degree at the School of Nursing College of Medicine, National Taiwan University.
Her research focuses on understanding patients with treatment-resistant depression, suicide assessment/prevention, sexual health care, mental health and COVID-19, caregiver burden. She is passionate about developing nurse-led intervention for patients with treatment-resistant depression and suicidal individuals, promote mental health in low-and middle-income countries, mainly in Vietnam. Her latest publications include “The influence of research follow-up during COVID-19 pandemic on mental distress and resilience: a multicenter cohort study in treatment-resistant depression” (International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2022); “Association of suicide risk and community integration among patients with treatment-resistant depression” (Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2022); “The impact of COVID-19 stressors on Psychological distress and suicidality in a Nationwide Community Survey in Taiwan” (Scientific Report, 2022).
Abstract:
Study Objectives: COVID-19 stressors and psychological stress response are important correlates of suicide risks under the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between psychiatric morbidity and COVID-19 stressors among the general population during the outbreak of COVID-19 in July 2020 throughout Taiwan.
Methods: A nationwide population-based survey was conducted using a computer-assisted telephone interview system with a stratified, proportional randomization method for the survey. The questionnaire comprised demographic variables, psychological distress assessed by the five-item Brief Symptom Rating Scale and independent psychosocial variables including COVID-19 stressors, and health-related self-efficacy.
Results: In total, 2094 respondents completed the survey (female 51%). The COVID-19 stress was experienced among 45.4% of the participants, with the most prevalent stressors related to daily life and job/financial concerns. Five domains of COVID-19 stressors and health-related self-efficacy were significant risk factors linked to psychiatric morbidity. Further, the more COVID-19 stressors the participants experienced, the higher score of psychological distress they suffered in the past month.
Conclusions: The findings call for more attention on strategies of stress management and mental health promotion for the public to prevent larger scales of psychological consequences in future waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Nguyen Hoang Minh
Taipei Medical University, Taiwan
Dr. Nguyen Hoang Minh
Taipei Medical University, Taiwan
Invited Speech: Associations of COVID-19-induced lockdown with changes in eating behaviors and mental health: The potential benefit of digital healthy diet literacy
Biography:
International Ph.D. Program in Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan
He holds a Ph.D. degree from the International Ph.D. Program in Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan. His research focuses on psychological health, quality of life, health behaviors, health literacy, and infectious diseases. He has published 12 original research articles in prestigious journals (ranking Q1, Q2 in SCI, and SSCI). Currently, he is participating in several projects, including COVID-19-related research projects, mental health in the elderly in Bangladesh, and health literacy in Hongkong.
Abstract:
Background
Many countries around the world have applied restrictive measures such as lockdown to control the spread of COVID-19, which can adversely affect people's psychological health and eating habits. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the impacts of COVID-19 lockdown on changes in eating behavior and mental health; and further examine whether digital healthy diet literacy (DDL) could modify these associations.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted in Vietnam from 7th April to 31st May 2020. Data of 4348 outpatients from 11 hospitals were collected, including demographic characteristics, eating behaviors and mental health changes, DDL, comorbidities. We used logistic regression and interaction models to explore associations.
Results
COVID-19 lockdown was negatively associated with having unchanged or healthier eating behaviors (OR = 0.38; 95%CI = 0.29 – 0.51; p < 0.001) and stable or better mental health (OR = 0.77; 95%CI = 0.67 – 0.89; p < 0.001). In interaction models, the adverse impact of COVID-19 lockdown on unchanged or healthier eating was attenuated by higher DDL values from 1 SD below the mean (OR = 0.22, 95%CI = 0.15 - 0.34; p < 0.001), the mean (OR = 0.39; 95%CI = 0.30 - 0.54; p < 0.001), to 1 SD above the mean (OR = 0.70; 95%CI = 0.50 - 0.99, p = 0.048). Similarly, the negative impact of COVID-19 lockdown on stable or better mental health was attenuated by higher DDL values from 1 SD below the mean (OR = 0.60; 95%CI = 0.50 - 0.72; p < 0.001), the mean (OR = 0.79; 95%CI = 0.69 - 0.91; p = 0.001), to 1 SD above the mean (OR = 1.05; 95%CI= 0.84 - 1.30, p = 0.665).
Conclusions
The COVID-19 lockdown could adversely affect eating behavior, and mental health in outpatients. The DDL improvement could mitigate the negative impacts of the lockdown, which may help outpatients to maintain positive lifestyles and mental health.
Dr. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao
Hue University, Vietnam
Dr. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao
Hue University, Vietnam
Invited Speech: Changes in dietary patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic
Biography:
Health Personnel Training Institute, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Vietnam
Dr. Thao is currently a Researcher at Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Vietnam. She also serves as an Assistant Secretary-General of the Asian Health Literacy Association, London, UK.
Dr. Thao has an Honor Diploma Master's degree in Health Policy, Planning and Financing. Her research interests are focused on health policy, health economics, Health Technology Assessment, health literacy, e-healthy diet literacy, development and validation of research instruments, and dietary patterns. She received several international academic awards, including Corvinus Best Paper, Open Medical Institute Fellowship and Stipendium Hungaricum grants. She is the author or co-author of more than 15 peer-reviewed international publications.
Abstract:
Objective: Identification of a dietary pattern during the COVID-19 may allow for a more comprehensive understanding of how changes in patterns of consumption influence health outcomes. The purpose of this systematic review was to provide a general overview of the changes in dietary patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: PubMed electronic database was searched without publication date restrictions for the terms “COVID-19”, “coronavirus”, and “dietary pattern”. Research papers and conference abstracts were included and summarized.
Highlights: Most studies found an increment in the consumption of cereals, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meats, and nuts that occurred during the pandemic compared to the preceding period. During the COVID-19, dietary patterns globally and in most regions are neither healthy nor sustainable. The effect of COVID-19 lockdown both negatively and positively impacted dietary practices globally. Both in the short term and if sustained in the long term, these changes may have significant impacts on health-related quality of life and a considerable health burden on the economy.
Dr. Le Duc Huy
Hue University, Vietnam
Dr. Le Duc Huy
Hue University, Vietnam
Invited Speech: Global Impacts of Nutrition Deficiency and Diet Risks on COVID-19 Resilience Index During the Emergence of COVID-19 Variants: A Global Burden of Diseases Analysis
Biography:
Health Personnel Training Institute, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy - Hue University, Vietnam
Dr. Huy is a medical doctor in preventive medicine, a lecturer, and a researcher at Health Personnel Training Institute, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam. He completed the fellowship program given by the International Society for Quality in Health Care in 2021. Currently, he is pursuing the M.B.A Degree in the Master Program of Health Care Administration, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan. In addition, Dr.Huy actively participated in and reported at various international conferences regarding public health, patient safety, and health policy. His research focuses on health literacy, bibliometric study, health policy, adolescent health, and the application of artificial intelligence in health care management.
Abstract:
Background: There is little knowledge about nutrition deficiency and diet risk on COVID-19 resilience. The study explores the factors influencing the pandemic resilience index and the characteristics of countries with good performance during the Delta and Omicron variant dominance periods.
Methods: Our study included COVID-19 data from 29 countries over the first eight weeks during two periods dominated by Delta and Omicron variants. The resilience index was calculated by three indicators mortality, hospitalization rate, and ICU admission rate. Data were retrieved from different open databases (Our World in Data, Global Burden Disease data, World Bank).
Results: After controlling for vaccination rate and public health measures, no factors related to nutrition deficiency have a significant association with the COVID-19 resilience index in each variant period. Higher body mass index was strongly associated with poorer resilience index during the omicron period. However, over two periods, the countries with good performance in pandemic control have significantly lower years lost by disability caused by vitamin A deficiency, Iron deficiency, and diet risks compared with the poor performance group.
Conclusion: Country-level burden of nutrition deficiency and diet risks were significantly lower in countries with good performance of pandemic control over two periods. High body mass index was a significant factor associated with a poorer resilience index. Therefore, the government response plan for nutrition deficiency and diet risks should be paid more attention to and require further evaluation to reduce the COVID-19 burden driven by nutrition causes.
Dr. Vu Thu Giang
University of Queenslands, Australia
Dr. Vu Thu Giang
University of Queenslands, Australia
Invited Speech: Impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on health workers in Vietnam: Implications for Health System Strengthening
Biography:
University of Queenslands, Australia
Vice Director of Institute of Health Economics and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam
Ms. Giang Vu is Vice Director of the Institute of Health Economics and Technology, Vietnam and is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Queensland, Australia. She has involved extensively in many projects investigating behaviors and other risk factors affecting population health, assessing epidemic responses and preparedness and proposing potential health system reforms. Her current research focus is on impacts of contextualized factors including culture and changing environment on health behaviors, in particular use of new, emerging substance, among young people.
Abstract:
Using socio-ecological model, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on frontline healthcare workers are mapped into a multilevel system with reinforcing mechanisms between and within levels. We argue that the concurrent presence of factors within each layer, including of individual, psycho-spirit-attitudes, and working environment, interact with each other to create joint effects, many of which are harmful. Considering any element in isolation would thus prevent a complete understanding of issues faced by healthcare workers and consequently prevent forming an effective solution. It is thus logical to recommend interventions being developed as a package targeting different across layers simultaneously. Such ‘package’ of intervention would require mobilization of resources that necessitate the involvement of different sectors, industries, and levels of authority, within a country and on the international level. The proposed framework offers a systematic understanding of COVID-19 pandemic impacts on the work and life of health workers that support real-time assessment of key factors and consequently the development of effective epidemic preparedness and system responses globally.
Dr. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao
Hue University, Vietnam
Dr. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao
Hue University, Vietnam
Invited Speech: Changes in dietary patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic
Biography:
Health Personnel Training Institute, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Vietnam
Dr. Thao is currently a Researcher at Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Vietnam. She also serves as an Assistant Secretary-General of the Asian Health Literacy Association, London, UK.
Dr. Thao has an Honor Diploma Master's degree in Health Policy, Planning and Financing. Her research interests are focused on health policy, health economics, Health Technology Assessment, health literacy, e-healthy diet literacy, development and validation of research instruments, and dietary patterns. She received several international academic awards, including Corvinus Best Paper, Open Medical Institute Fellowship and Stipendium Hungaricum grants. She is the author or co-author of more than 15 peer-reviewed international publications.
Abstract:
Objective: Identification of a dietary pattern during the COVID-19 may allow for a more comprehensive understanding of how changes in patterns of consumption influence health outcomes. The purpose of this systematic review was to provide a general overview of the changes in dietary patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: PubMed electronic database was searched without publication date restrictions for the terms “COVID-19”, “coronavirus”, and “dietary pattern”. Research papers and conference abstracts were included and summarized.
Highlights: Most studies found an increment in the consumption of cereals, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meats, and nuts that occurred during the pandemic compared to the preceding period. During the COVID-19, dietary patterns globally and in most regions are neither healthy nor sustainable. The effect of COVID-19 lockdown both negatively and positively impacted dietary practices globally. Both in the short term and if sustained in the long term, these changes may have significant impacts on health-related quality of life and a considerable health burden on the economy.
Dr. Le Duc Huy
Hue University, Vietnam
Dr. Le Duc Huy
Hue University, Vietnam
Invited Speech: Global Impacts of Nutrition Deficiency and Diet Risks on COVID-19 Resilience Index During the Emergence of COVID-19 Variants: A Global Burden of Diseases Analysis
Biography:
Health Personnel Training Institute, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy - Hue University, Vietnam
Dr. Huy is a medical doctor in preventive medicine, a lecturer, and a researcher at Health Personnel Training Institute, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam. He completed the fellowship program given by the International Society for Quality in Health Care in 2021. Currently, he is pursuing the M.B.A Degree in the Master Program of Health Care Administration, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan. In addition, Dr.Huy actively participated in and reported at various international conferences regarding public health, patient safety, and health policy. His research focuses on health literacy, bibliometric study, health policy, adolescent health, and the application of artificial intelligence in health care management.
Abstract:
Background: There is little knowledge about nutrition deficiency and diet risk on COVID-19 resilience. The study explores the factors influencing the pandemic resilience index and the characteristics of countries with good performance during the Delta and Omicron variant dominance periods.
Methods: Our study included COVID-19 data from 29 countries over the first eight weeks during two periods dominated by Delta and Omicron variants. The resilience index was calculated by three indicators mortality, hospitalization rate, and ICU admission rate. Data were retrieved from different open databases (Our World in Data, Global Burden Disease data, World Bank).
Results: After controlling for vaccination rate and public health measures, no factors related to nutrition deficiency have a significant association with the COVID-19 resilience index in each variant period. Higher body mass index was strongly associated with poorer resilience index during the omicron period. However, over two periods, the countries with good performance in pandemic control have significantly lower years lost by disability caused by vitamin A deficiency, Iron deficiency, and diet risks compared with the poor performance group.
Conclusion: Country-level burden of nutrition deficiency and diet risks were significantly lower in countries with good performance of pandemic control over two periods. High body mass index was a significant factor associated with a poorer resilience index. Therefore, the government response plan for nutrition deficiency and diet risks should be paid more attention to and require further evaluation to reduce the COVID-19 burden driven by nutrition causes.
Dr. Vu Thu Giang
University of Queenslands, Australia
Dr. Vu Thu Giang
University of Queenslands, Australia
Invited Speech: Impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on health workers in Vietnam: Implications for Health System Strengthening
Biography:
University of Queenslands, Australia
Vice Director of Institute of Health Economics and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam
Ms. Giang Vu is Vice Director of the Institute of Health Economics and Technology, Vietnam and is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Queensland, Australia. She has involved extensively in many projects investigating behaviors and other risk factors affecting population health, assessing epidemic responses and preparedness and proposing potential health system reforms. Her current research focus is on impacts of contextualized factors including culture and changing environment on health behaviors, in particular use of new, emerging substance, among young people.
Abstract:
Using socio-ecological model, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on frontline healthcare workers are mapped into a multilevel system with reinforcing mechanisms between and within levels. We argue that the concurrent presence of factors within each layer, including of individual, psycho-spirit-attitudes, and working environment, interact with each other to create joint effects, many of which are harmful. Considering any element in isolation would thus prevent a complete understanding of issues faced by healthcare workers and consequently prevent forming an effective solution. It is thus logical to recommend interventions being developed as a package targeting different across layers simultaneously. Such ‘package’ of intervention would require mobilization of resources that necessitate the involvement of different sectors, industries, and levels of authority, within a country and on the international level. The proposed framework offers a systematic understanding of COVID-19 pandemic impacts on the work and life of health workers that support real-time assessment of key factors and consequently the development of effective epidemic preparedness and system responses globally.