The New York Times (2/9, Belluck) reports researchers examined millions of medical records in the US and found that “people with dementia had significantly greater risk of contracting the coronavirus, and they were much more likely to be hospitalized and die from it, than people without dementia.” The increased “risk could not be entirely explained by characteristics common to people with dementia that are known risk factors for [SARS-CoV-2 infection]: old age, living in a nursing home and having conditions like obesity, asthma, diabetes and cardiovascular disease,” because “after researchers adjusted for those factors, Americans with dementia were still twice as likely to have” been infected with SARS-CoV-2 “as of late last summer.” The findings were published in Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
        
USA Today (2/9, Rodriguez) reports the researchers also found that Black people with dementia “had nearly three times the risk of being infected with [SARS-CoV-2] as white patients did.” During the study, 73% “of Black patients with dementia were hospitalized during the study compared with about 53% of white patients,” and “23% of Black patients died compared with 19% of white patients.”
        
Healio (2/9, Ernst) and MedPage Today (2/9, George) also cover the study.

Related Links:

— “People With Dementia Are Twice as Likely to Get Covid, Huge Study Finds “Pam Belluck, The New York Times, February 9, 2021

The Houston Chronicle (2/8, Garcia) reports data from the Association of American Medical Colleges show “more than 7,500 more students applied for medical school in the U.S. last year, an increase of 17 percent,” and “nearly two dozen medical schools have seen applications jump by at least 25 percent.” In Texas, schools received 700 more applications, up 33% from the year prior according to the Texas Health Education Service. Though the “AAMC doesn’t know exactly what is behind the increase,” it points to “several likely factors, including students having more time to focus on applications while being stuck at home, as well as the nation’s current spotlight on frontline health care workers ‘extraordinary heroism’ amid the pandemic.”

Related Links:

— “Medical school applications are up in Houston. But why? “Julie Garcia, The Houston Chronicle, February 8, 2021

Healio (2/8, Miller) reports many adults in the US plan to continue certain practices aimed at curbing the spread of SARS-CoV-2 after the COVID-19 pandemic ends, according to a national survey. In the survey, 80% of respondents said they plan to continue avoiding crowds and 72% said they plan to continue wearing masks in public.

HealthDay (2/8) also covers the story.

Related Links:

— “Most Americans say they will continue preventive measures after COVID-19 pandemic ends “Janel Miller, Healio, February 8, 2021

Los Angeles Times (2/8, Cahan) reports, “As the pandemic sends thousands of recovering alcoholics into relapse, hospitals across the country have reported dramatic increases in alcohol-related admissions for critical diseases such as alcoholic hepatitis and liver failure.” The Times adds, “Specialists at hospitals affiliated with the University of Michigan, Northwestern University, Harvard University and Mount Sinai Health System in New York City said rates of admissions for alcoholic liver disease have leapt by up to 50% since March.”

Related Links:

— “As alcohol abuse rises amid pandemic, hospitals see a wave of deadly liver disease “Eli Cahan, Los Angeles Times, February 8, 2021

The Wall Street Journal (2/6, Drexler, Subscription Publication) reported that while some people have consumed more alcohol during the COVID-19 pandemic, others have decided to give it up entirely in order to avoid the risk of becoming a problem drinker.

Related Links:

— “Giving Up Alcohol in the Era of Covid-19 “Peggy Drexle, The Wall Street Journal, February 6, 2021

The New York Times (2/6, Harel) reported, “Lots of people seem to be smoking again or more during the pandemic, if anecdotal evidence and preliminary sales figures for tobacco products are any measure.” The New York Times quoted several people describing how being stuck inside, isolated, and stressed has led them to start smoking again or smoke more than they were before the pandemic.

Related Links:

— “Smokers Might Be Lighting Up More “Monica Corcoran Harel, The New York Times, February 6, 2021

Healio (2/5, Gramigna) reported,Over 20% of teens and young adults in the United States prescribed a psychoactive medication “reported misusing that drug,” researchers concluded in a study that “sought to evaluate prevalence and correlates of medical use and misuse of psychoactive prescription medications among 110,556 youth and young adults aged 12 to 25 years in the U.S.” The findings were published in the January issue of Family Medicine and Community Health.

Related Links:

— “Many teens and young adults misuse prescribed psychoactive drugs “Joe Gramigna, Healio, February 5, 2021

Healio (2/4, Michael) reports, “Transgender adults have a higher prevalence of substance use disorder diagnoses compared with cisgender adults,” researchers concluded after conducting “a cross-sectional analysis of data from the OptumLabs Data Warehouse, which include claims from individuals insured commercially or through Medicare Advantage in 2017 who had at least five medical claims reported that year.” Included in the study were data on “a total of 15,637 transgender adults” who were “matched 3:1 with 46,911 cisgender adults based on age and geographic information.” The findings were published online Feb. 4 in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “Transgender adults more likely to be diagnosed with substance use disorders “Erin Michael, Healio, February 4, 2021

US News & World Report (2/4, Cirruzzo) reports, “More than a quarter of U.S. adults who participated in an online survey given in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic were experiencing symptoms of current depression, a new report (2/4) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows, with the prevalence of mental distress highest among Hispanics.” Estimates “based on an opt-in online survey of adults 18 and over last year show that 28.6% of respondents were suffering from current depression, 18.2% had initiated or increased substance use, and 8.4% were having suicidal thoughts.” The survey “was conducted in April and May of 2020, with results based on 1,004 respondents.”

Related Links:

— “Hispanics See High Prevalence of Depression, Food Worries During COVID-19 “Chelsea Cirruzzo, US News & World Report, February 4, 2021

Healio (2/4, Gramigna) reports, “The COVID-19 pandemic appeared to shift ED use and priorities for care, particularly related to mental health, substance use and violence risk screening and prevention,” researchers concluded after capturing data on “187,508,065 ED visits, of which 6,018,318 included at least one study outcome, between December 30, 2018, and October 10, 2020.” After comparing “the median ED visit counts between March 15, 2020, and October 10, 2020, with the same period in 2019,” the study team “found that the 2020 counts were significantly higher for suicide attempts, all overdoses and opioid overdoses.” The findings were published online Feb. 3 in JAMA Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “COVID-19 pandemic has shifted ED use related to mental health, substance use, violence “Joe Gramigna, Healio, February 4, 2021