The first half of 2020 saw the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV -2), a novel coronavirus that in a matter of weeks became a global pandemic with unparalleled consequences. It took only about three months from the time of the first diagnosis on December 31, 2019, in Wuhan, China, for the virus to be diagnosed in countries essentially all over the world. According to an article published in the November 2020 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology, lessons are beginning to emerge that make it possible to sharpen thinking about COVID-19 by viewing it through the lens of population health science. Epidemiology lends itself to a focus on categorical outcomes, aiming to understand causes of cases. An infectious disease pandemic also lends itself naturally to categorical thinking. By contrast, a dimensional approach aims to expand that lens beyond simple case categorization, to thinking of the fuller range of health manifestation.
COVID-19 dynamics indicate that population health is best served by thinking dimensionally across a range of health indicators, expanding the focus beyond clearly defined categorical outcomes, even in the case of an infectious disease pandemic. This recognition frames how to think about the causes of the pandemic and how that might shape approaches to it. Deaths from the virus might be due to a disease that is uncurable or one that overwhelms the health system. Hence, there also should be interest in hospitalization rates and in the availability of acute care if it is needed to look after those sick with coronavirus. Economic indicators and their health consequences also should be of concern to population health, including increases in cardiovascular disease, depression, and suicide, all of which have been associated with adverse economic conditions. Even in the case of a single infection, thinking of a dichotomous outcome (being infected or not) underlies a variety of causes and outcomes that are important both for understanding the pandemic consequences and guiding what to do to mitigate these consequences.
More November 2020 TRENDS Articles
COVID-19: A DELICATE COEVOLUTIONARY DANCE
Discusses how an evolutionary perspective can advance understanding of the relationship between this virus and the human race. Read More
CHANGING OF THE GUARD
Looks at factors that will affect legislation and health policy outcomes as a new Administration is poised to occupy the White House in January 2021. Read More
HEALTH REFORM DEVELOPMENTS
Point out the impact that the coronavirus has had on health policy, along with some observations of a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the Affordable Care Act and what to expect from a Biden Administration. Read More
DEVELOPMENTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Describes the volume and repayment of federal student education loans and the degree to which racial disparities have an impact on debt burdens. Read More
QUICK STAT (SHORT, TIMELY, AND TOPICAL)
Chronic Pain And High-Impact Chronic Pain Among U.S. Adults: 2019
Black, Hispanic Patients Hospitalized For COVID-19 At Disproportionately High Rates
Exploration Of The Link Between Obstructive Sleep Apnea And Autoimmune Disease
Pre-Recorded Audio Messages Help Improve Outcomes For Patients With Heart Failure Read More
AVAILABLE RESOURCES ACCESSIBLE ELECTRONICALLY
State Of Lung Cancer In The U.S.
A Global Grand Challenge Of Achieving Healthy Human Longevity
U.S. Maternal Death Rates Are The Highest Among Wealthy Countries Read More
POPULATION HEALTH SCIENCE AND THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Examines how dynamics of this disease indicate that population health is best served by thinking dimensionally across a range of health indicators, expanding the focus beyond clearly defined categorical outcomes. Read More
MOVING FROM A GERM THEORY OF DISEASE TO THE MICROBIAL THEORY OF HEALTH
Pertains to a shift regarding the role of microbes in disease and health that necessitates a change in the approaches taken to design targeted infection control. Read More