Date of Award

January 2021

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Public Health (MPH)

Department

School of Public Health

First Advisor

Linda Niccolai

Abstract

Introduction: COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by infection with the virus, SARS-CoV-2. Transmission of the virus can occur in both symptomatic and asymptomatic cases making controlling the spread challenging. Point prevalence testing in long term care facilitates has been found to be a useful strategy in detecting cases and managing COVID-19 outbreaks. The impact of this control strategy on severe outcomes of disease in residents of these facilities has not been fully characterized.Methods: Active surveillance of COVID-19 in long term care facilities in Connecticut began in April 2020, with point prevalence surveys beginning in May 2020. Data was collected for 34 facilities from a statewide surveillance system and confirmed through Connecticut’s Electronic Disease Surveillance System. Data from April 2020 to December 2020 was analyzed to assess the association between point prevalence testing and severe outcomes. Results: Overall, there were 2,244 PCR positive residents in 34 facilities between April 2020 and December 2020. Of this group, 18.4 % were hospitalized and 25.9% died. Increasing age and hospitalization were significantly associated with an increased risk of mortality (p<0.001) while males had a significantly higher risk of hospitalization (p<0.001). The number of point prevalence surveys conducted by a facility was not significantly associated with either the case fatality ratio or hospitalization rate within the facility. Conclusions: Understanding the benefits of point prevalence surveys in LTCFs is important when looking at the cost effectiveness of the survey and creating recommendations and policies. There was no association found between the number of point prevalence studies and severe disease outcomes of residents. Future studies could further investigate the association between the reason for testing a resident and severe disease outcomes.

Comments

This is an Open Access Thesis.

Download
Open Access

This Article is Open Access

Share

COinS