Letter to the editor: Other Consequences. COVID-19 and underestimated public health crisis

Cognitive Alterations Associated with Remission and Alcohol Dependence Severity in Ethnically Diverse Patients of Siberia

Background

Impaired cognition in individuals with alcohol dependence may be associated with increased relapse risk. It has been recorded in more than half of patients during six months after treatment. In certain ethnic groups, for example, Tuvinians, the indigenous people of Siberia, relapses occur in extremely short periods of one to three months after treatment. An approach currently used to alcohol dependence treatment may be less effective for these patients.

Objective

The study aimed to investigate cognitive sequelae in indigenous Tuvinian patients with alcohol dependence.

Methods

The sample included 166 patients, 74 of indigenous ethnicity (Tuvinians) and 92 non-indigenous white patients. Data on inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, attention, and working memory were collected from all the patients and processed using cluster analysis. The clustering data were then complemented by indicators of disorder dynamics, impulsivity, and emotion regulation.

Results

The clustering procedure revealed groups with severe cognitive sequelae. More than four-fold attention decrease was found in 43.5% of non-indigenous patients, and more impaired cognitive flexibility was revealed among 60.8% of indigenous patients. Groups with severe cognitive sequelae had higher impulsivity, maladaptive emotion regulation, more hospitalizations, faster disease progression, and shorter remissions. The latter was significantly reduced to 90 days on average in the severe group of indigenous patients versus 135 days of remission in the non-indigenous severe group.

Conclusion

Results obtained may advance tailored intervention in alcohol-dependent patients of the indigenous Tuvinian ethnicity. While little is still known about the alcohol dependence course and consequences in the indigenous Tuvinians of Siberia, this study contributes to the global mental health data on alcohol abuse and dependence in indigenous communities.

Health behavior in Russia during the COVID-19 pandemic

In this article, we report results from a nationwide survey on pandemic-related health behavior in Russia. A total of 2,771 respondents aged 18 to 82 were interviewed between January 21 and March 3, 2021. The survey included questions on perceived vulnerability to coronavirus, prevention-related health behavior, readiness for vaccination, and general awareness about COVID-19. Descriptive data showed that 21.2% of respondents reported high vulnerability to the coronavirus, and 25% expressed fear. Moreover, 38.7% of the surveyed individuals reported low trust in vaccination efficacy, and 57.5% were unwilling to take a vaccine, which was much higher than the official data. Based on the evidence obtained, four types of health behavior during the pandemic were constructed. Rational (29.3%) and denying (28.6%) behaviors prevailed in men, while women were found to more likely behave with a vaccine-hesitant demeanor (35.7%). Educational background affected the proportion of respondents with the denying type of health behavior, who were also of younger age. The rational behavioral type was found to be more common among respondents aged above 50 years and prevailed as well among individuals with university degrees. The middle-aged population of Russia was highly compliant with prevention-related health practices; however, vaccine hesitancy was also high among them. Furthermore, health behaviors varied significantly across the Federal Districts of Russia. We are convinced that our results contribute to existing public health practices and may help improve communication campaigns to cause positive health behaviors.

Did Depression, Schizophrenia, and Alcohol Use Increase During the COVID-19 Pandemic Even in Low-Risk Regions? An Analysis of the 2017-2020 National Health Insurance Data in Tottori Prefecture

Background

This study aimed to determine whether the COVID-19 pandemic increased the number of medical consultations for depression, schizophrenia, and alcohol dependence in low-risk regions.

Methods

National Health Insurance enrolments from March 2017 to March 2021 in Tottori Prefecture, Japan, where there were minimal COVID-19 cases in 2020, were included in this study. The all-cause mortality and proportion of National Health Insurance members with depression, schizophrenia, and alcohol dependence in the financial years (FY) 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 were calculated. The proportion in FY 2020 was compared with the average proportion from FY2017 to FY2019 and the proportion in FY2019.

Results

The all-cause mortality for men aged 80-99 years and women aged 70-89 years decreased in FY2020. The proportion of men aged 20-29 years with depression increased to 4.1% in FY2020 compared with 3.0% in FY2019, while the proportion of women aged 20-29 years with depression was 4.4% in FY2017, 4.8% in FY2018, 4.8% in FY2019, and 5.5% in FY2020, confirming an increasing trend from before the COVID-19 pandemic. The proportion of men aged 30-39 years and 60-69 years with schizophrenia increased and that of women aged 40-49 years, 60-69 years, and 90-99 years with schizophrenia also increased, even before the pandemic. The proportion of people with alcohol use disorder has not changed significantly since FY2017.

Conclusion

The pandemic has led to an increased proportion of men aged 20-29 years with depression, even in low-risk regions.

Features of the attitude to vaccination against COVID-19 in Russia

Background. 1.5 years after the registration of the first vaccine against COVID-19 in Russia, national herd immunity reached only 49.7%. It is obvious that the success of vaccination measures depends on the readiness of the population for immunization and their attitude to the vaccine.

The aim of the study was to research the attitude to vaccination against a new coronavirus infection among various socio-demographic population groups in Russia.

Materials and methods. The study was conducted online by distributing via social networks a direct link to an electronic form with questions about the attitude to the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination. A total of 2,786 people (of whom 66.9% were women) aged 16 to 77 years took part in the online survey.

Results. It was shown that distrust of vaccination was more often expressed by women and younger people.  A targeted approach to these population groups can improve the results of awareness-raising and preventive measures in the context of an ongoing pandemic.