Covid-19 NEAR
Covid-19 data collected within NEAR
The local databases in NEAR: H-70, SNAC-K, SNAC-N, SNAC-B, SHARE-Sweden and SWEOLD are collecting data on Covid-19.
The Gothenburg H70 Birth Cohort Studies started collecting Covid-19 data via surveys between December 2020 and January 2021, where 1103 participated who were 75-76 years old and born 1944 were included. This was financially supported by FORMAS. The survey includes questions about attitude towards Covid-19 vaccination, lifestyle habits, feelings of worry, contact with healthcare, and Covid-19-related symptoms. During March 2021, the Gothenburg H70 Birth Cohort Studies will collect data on antibodies for Covid-19 using the same sample. This is a collaboration between Folkhälsomyndigheten, Försvarsmakten, Mikrobiologen Sahlgrenska och Smittskydd Västra Götalandsregionen.
The Swedish National study on Aging and Care (SNAC)- Kungsholmen, Blekinge and Nordanstig
In SNAC-K, 1231 participants, who were 69 years and older, underwent a telephone interview between May and September 2020.
In SNAC-B, 583 participants, who were 60-100 years old, underwent a telephone interview between August 2020 and February 2021.
In SNAC-N, 158 participants, who were 72 years and older, underwent a telephone interview between May and December 2020.
Information about health status, covid-19 related symptoms, mental health and cognition, physical activity, psychosocial consequences and formal and informal care during the pandemic were collected. Additional interviews are planned to be carried out in 2021-2022.
SHARE-Sweden: A specific Corona questionnaire has been carried out in 27 European countries via telephone from June until August 2020. For SHARE-Sweden, 1365 persons aged 50 years and older participated. To study the long-term impact of Covid-19, the SHARE Corona questionnaire will also be conducted in 2021.
The Swedish Panel Study of Living Conditions of the Oldest Old (SWEOLD) will collect Covid-19 data during the spring and summer of 2021 via telephone. Approximately 2500 persons aged 76 and older will be invited to participate. This study is financed by the Swedish Research Council (VR) and FORMAS/FORTE.
Pia Lundgren (nurse) during a covid interview for SNAC-K.
Photo: Mai Engström, Äldrecentrum.
Aspects of rehabilitation after Covid-19 in older people – a European perspective
KI´s resource team “for the health of the population of older people during COVID-19” will hold a webinar where researchers from Belgium, Italy and Sweden will present follow-up data and other negative consequences on older peoples’ health due to the pandemic. The webinar is held in English.
During this seminar, the NEAR Director, Laura Fratiglioni, will talk about the collateral damage on life and health of older adults in central Stockholm and the NEAR Scientific Advisory Board Member, Professor Miia Kivipelto, will talk about the outbreaks impact on brain health and prevention strategies:
experiences from FINGER and World-Wide FINGERS.
Wednesday 3 February, 11.45 AM–13.30 PM
On Zoom: https://ki-se.zoom.us/j/64989239565
Grants for COVID-19 research on older persons
The NEAR Steering Board member and PI of SWEOLD, Carin Lennartsson has been granted funding of 2 500 000 SEK from FORMAS to collect data and research materials linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. The project is entitled “The Swedish Panel Study of Living Conditions of the Oldest Old – SWEOLD COVID-19”.
The project provides a unique opportunity to study changes in several aspects of living conditions, such as physical and mental health, health-related behaviours and social relations. The Swedish Panel Study of Living Conditions of the Oldest Old – SWEOLD will be used to carry out a telephone-based interview study related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Questions directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic will be asked, as well as questions regularly included in the study. An analysis of how older adults have perceived and adhered to the flow of information and specific recommendations will also be conducted.
Webinar 10 November: Covid-19 and elderly care in three Nordic countries
KI’s resource group for the health of the elderly during covid-19 invites to a webinar where prominent researchers from Norway, Denmark and Sweden present and discuss the Covid-19 pandemic in relation to the organization of elderly care in each country.
(In respective language. Not in English)
Tuesday 10 November, 11:30AM–1:15PM
On Zoom: https://ki-se.zoom.us/j/61182752103
Covid-19 hit hardest in young and socially vulnerable populations in Stockholm
The areas in the Stockholm region that were the hardest hit by Covid-19 in the early pandemic phase during spring 2020, were characterized by a younger population in combination with lower socioeconomic status. This is shown in an article in British Medical Journal Global Health, by researchers from ARC/NEAR and the Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet.
The findings can be important in the development of future shielding strategies against future resurgences of the COVID-19 infection or other pandemics.
Read the full article by Amaia Calderón-Larrañaga and coworkers (Open Access)
To hear more about this join the seminar on November 17th entitled: “COVID-19 seminar with Alessandra Marengoni, Amaia Calderón-Larrañaga and Giorgi Beridze” hosted by the Aging Research Center (ARC) using this link: Covid-19 seminar ARC
Report from the webinar on Medical care of elderly during the Covid-19 pandemic
The webinar “Medical care of elderly during the Covid-19 pandemic, with eight months of experience” took place online on 12 October. The webinar (in English and Swedish) can be watched in full length below and the program here.
It was introduced by Professor Maria Eriksdotter and Ole Petter Ottersen, President of Karolinska Institutet. The opening lecturer was Professor Kaisu Pitkälä, University of Helsinki, who presented the successful Finnish work with controlling their Covid-19 outbreaks, their mobile testing teams and measures to mitigate the spread.
Experiences from the Stockholm geriatric health care was shared by Dr Martin Annetorp, who showed how useful data collection had been made despite the very difficult circumstances and Professor Dorota Religa, who pointed to the importance of frailty estimates in the care for the elderly.
In the final talk, Christian Molnar, head dr of the special care units in Stockholm, shared his experiences of the practical difficulties during the growing pandemic.
Professor Kaisu Pitkälä answering questions.
Zoom-webinar: medical care of elderly during the Covid-19 pandemic, with eight months of experience
The resource group for elderly’s health with regard to Covid-19 at Karolinska Institutet is offering a lunch webinar on Monday, 12 October, at 11:45AM–1:30 PM. NEAR’s director, Laura Fratiglioni, will co-moderate the session on experiences from Finland. The webinar will be held both in English and Swedish (for regional reporting).
New report: Beyond chronological age – Risk profiles, frailty and multimorbidty in Covid-19 among older persons, Forte Fokus
The NEAR Director and Professor Laura Fratiglioni, NEAR Database Coordinator Alexander Darin-Mattsson, PhD, and the NEAR Scientific Coordinator and Associate Professor Debora Rizzuto are among the authors of the report entitled: “Beyond chronological age – Risk profiles, frailty and multimorbidity and vulnerability for Covid-19″ ” in Forte’s new series “Forte Fokus”.
The long-term consequences of the Corona crisis are difficult to predict and there is a great need to extend our knowledge. Even though many questions remain unanswered, existing knowledge can be indicative. In the series “Forte Fokus”, the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare (Forte) has asked a few researchers to summarize their research related to the pandemic.
Grant for COVID-19 research on the elderly
The Swedish Research Council has decided on grants regarding the call för COVID-19 research. NEAR’s Director Laura Fratiglioni received 1.68 MSEK för her application on “Indirect damage of COVID-19 in the elderly: short-term and long-term health effects of the outbreak of the epidemic”.
Laura Fratiglioni
