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Objectives: We compared socio-demographic characteristics, health-related variables, vaccination-related beliefs and attitudes, vaccination acceptance, and personality traits of individuals who vaccinated against COVID-19 and who did not vaccinate by December 2021.Methods: This cross-sectional study used data of 10,642 adult participants from the Corona Immunitas eCohort, an age-stratified random sample of the population of several cantons in Switzerland. We used multivariable logistic regression models to explore associations of vaccination status with socio-demographic, health, and behavioral factors.Results: Non-vaccinated individuals represented 12.4% of the sample. Compared to vaccinated individuals, non-vaccinated individuals were more likely to be younger, healthier, employed, have lower income, not worried about their health, have previously tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection, express lower vaccination acceptance, and/or report higher conscientiousness. Among non-vaccinated individuals, 19.9% and 21.3% had low confidence in the safety and effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, respectively. However, 29.1% and 26.7% of individuals with concerns about vaccine effectiveness and side effects at baseline, respectively vaccinated during the study period.Conclusion: In addition to known socio-demographic and health-related factors, non-vaccination was associated with concerns regarding vaccine safety and effectiveness., + ID der Publikation: unilu_68453 + Sprache: Englisch + Letzte Aktualisierung: 2023-06-30 12:14:10

During the 2020/2021 winter, the labour market was under the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Changes in socioeconomic resources during this period could have influenced individual mental health. This association may have been mitigated or exacerbated by subjective risk perceptions, such as perceived risk of getting infected with SARS-CoV-2 or perception of the national economic situation. Therefore, we aimed to determine if changes in financial resources and employment situation during and after the second COVID-19 wave were prospectively associated with depression, anxiety and stress, and whether perceptions of the national economic situation and of the risk of getting infected modified this association. Methods: One thousand seven hundred fifty nine participants from a nation-wide population-based eCohort in Switzerland were followed between November 2020 and September 2021. Financial resources and employment status were assessed twice (Nov2020–Mar2021, May–Jul 2021). Mental health was assessed after the second measurement of financial resources and employment status, using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). We modelled DASS-21 scores with linear regression, adjusting for demographics, health status, social relationships and changes in workload, and tested interactions with subjective risk perceptions. Results: We observed scores above thresholds for normal levels for 16% (95%CI = 15–18) of participants for depression, 8% (95%CI = 7–10) for anxiety, and 10% (95%CI = 9–12) for stress. Compared to continuously comfortable or sufficient financial resources, continuously precarious or insufficient resources were associated with worse scores for all outcomes. Increased financial resources were associated with higher anxiety. In the working-age group, shifting from full to part-time employment was associated with higher stress and anxiety. Perceiving the Swiss economic situation as worrisome was associated with higher anxiety in participants who lost financial resources or had continuously precarious or insufficient resources. Conclusion: This study confirms the association of economic stressors and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and highlights the exacerbating role of subjective risk perception on this association., + ID der Publikation: unilu_68003 + Sprache: Englisch + Letzte Aktualisierung: 2023-03-24 09:56:56

Background: The few studies that have examined associations between greenspace and lung function in adulthood have yielded conflicting results and none have examined whether the rate of lung function decline is affected. Objective: We explored the association between residential greenspace and change in lung function over 20 years in 5559 adults from 22 centers in 11 countries participating in the population-based, international European Community Respiratory Health Survey. Methods: Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were measured by spirometry when participants were approximately 35 (1990-1994), 44 (1999-2003), and 55 (2010-2014) years old. Greenness was assessed as the mean Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) in 500 m, 300 m, and 100 m circular buffers around the residential addresses at the time of lung function measurement. Green spaces were defined as the presence of agricultural, natural, or urban green spaces in a circular 300 m buffer. Associations of these greenspace parameters with the rate of lung function change were assessed using adjusted linear mixed effects regression models with random intercepts for subjects nested within centers. Sensitivity analyses considered air pollution exposures. Results: A 0.2-increase (average interquartile range) in NDVI in the 500 m buffer was consistently associated with a faster decline in FVC (-1.25 mL/year [95% confidence interval: -2.18 to -0.33]). These associations were especially pronounced in females and those living in areas with low PM10 levels. We found no consistent associations with FEV1 and the FEV1/FVC ratio. Residing near forests or urban green spaces was associated with a faster decline in FEV1, while agricultural land and forests were related to a greater decline in FVC. Conclusions: More residential greenspace was not associated with better lung function in middle-aged European adults. Instead, we observed slight but consistent declines in lung function parameters. The potentially detrimental association requires verification in future studies.

Additional file 1. Supplementary figures and tables

This deliverable describes the results of the joint pesticide survey ’SPECIMEn’ in five partner countries: Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Spain and the Netherlands. It also contains a report on the implementation of a study conducted in Switzerland, which has a different design, but data was harmonised as much as possible. In all participating partner countries, urine samples have been collected in two seasons, i.e., winter 2019/2020 and summer 2020. Per country at least 100 locations have been included, of which about half are located in so-called hotspot areas. On the collected urine samples, a harmonised suspect screening method was applied to detect multiple pesticide-related markers. The deliverable describes the results obtained with this analysis.

BACKGROUND: Subjective well-being is an important target in the COVID-19 pandemic. Residential greenness may help cope with stress and hence influence subjective well-being during this mentally and physically challenging time. METHODS: We analysed the association between residential greenness and life satisfaction in 9,444 adults in the COVCO-Basel cohort. We assessed if the association is modified by age, sex, household income, financial worries, canton of residence, or month of study entry. In addition, we assessed if the association is attributed to specific types of greenspace or accessibility to greenspace. RESULTS: The association between residential greenness and life satisfaction varied by age groups, household income, and financial worries. Residential greenness was positively associated with life satisfaction in those with high household income and the least financially worried, and negatively associated with life satisfaction in the youngest age group (18–29 years) and the most financially worried. Living closer to a forest, but not to a park or an agricultural area, was associated with lower life satisfaction in the youngest age group. CONCLUSIONS: Residential greenness effects on life satisfaction vary according to sociodemographic characteristics. Living in a greener area does not benefit all dwellers in Basel and its region equally, with the most apparent benefit for those with high household income and without financial concerns., Swiss Medical Weekly, 152, ISSN:1424-7860, ISSN:1424-3997

A restrictive spirometry pattern is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Whether practicing regular physical activity protects against this pattern has never been studied. We estimated the association between regular physical activity and the incidence of restrictive spirometry pattern. Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and physical activity were assessed between 2000–2002 in the ECRHS (n=2,757, 39-67 years) and SAPALDIA (n=2,610, 36–82 years) population-based European cohorts, and again approximately 10-years later (2010–2013). Subjects with restrictive or obstructive spirometry pattern at baseline were excluded. We assessed the association of being active at baseline (defined as being physically active ≥2-3 times/wk for ≥1 h) with restrictive spirometry pattern at follow-up (defined as a post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC ≥Lower Limit of Normal and FVC

Additional file 1: Additional Table 1. Baseline characteristics at SAPALDIA 1 of participants who reached the age of 55+ at the time of the SAPALDIA4 55+ health assessments, stratified by participation status in the current study. Additional Table 2. Summary of model fit indices for 1 to 6 latent classes at SAPALDIA4. Additional Table 3. Summary of model fit indices for 1 to 6 latent classes at SAPALDIA3. Additional Table 4. Proportions and class-specific probabilities for the 3 latent classes at SAPALDIA4. Additional Table 5. Proportions and class-specific probabilities for the 3 latent classes at SAPALDIA3. Additional Table 6. Descriptive differences in sex, age and education between the three latent classes, SAPALDIA4. Additional Table 6. Descriptive differences in sex, age and education between the three latent classes, SAPALDIA4. Additional Fig. 1. Descriptive differences of median HRQoL scores of the three latent classes (without adjustment for physical activity) at SAPALDIA4. Additional Table 7. Cross-sectional adjusted HQRoL associations of categories combining physical activity with latent classes (A7A) as well as metabolic syndrome (A7B) (SAPALDIA4). Additional Table 8. Cross-sectional associations of composite variable categories defined by latent classes (A8A) and metabolic syndrome (A8B), respectively, and physical activity status, with median levels of HRQoL, subjects not reporting any cardiovascular disease (SAPALDIA4). Additional Table 9. Prospective associations of composite variable categories defined by latent classes (A9A) and metabolic syndrome (A9B), respectively, and physical activity status at SAPALDIA3, with median levels of HRQoL at SAPALDIA4, adjusted for respective HRQoL domain at SAPALDIA3, subjects not reporting any cardiovascular at SAPALDIA4. Additional Table 10. Cross-sectional associations of composite variable categories defined by latent classes (A10A) and metabolic syndrome (A10B), respectively, and physical activity status with health service utilization in the last 12 months, subjects not reporting any cardiovascular (SAPALDIA4).

This document comprises supplementary materials and methods and extended data for the paper entitled: "Variants associated with HHIP expression have sex-differential effects on lung function", which has been submitted to Wellcome Open Research. Main materials and methods and funding can be found in the main manuscript document.

These summary statistics are derived from a genome-wide sex interaction study on spirometry-based lung function traits (forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), the ratio of FEV1 and FVC (FEV1/FVC), and peak expiratory flow (PEF) in UK Biobank. Summary statistics are contained within the following files (one for each outcome). Coordinates are genome build hg19 (GRCh37).FawcettKA_prePMID_FEV1.tsv.gzFawcettKA_prePMID_FEV1_FVC_ratio.tsv.gzFawcettKA_prePMID_FVC.tsv.gzFawcettKA_prePMID_PEF.tsv.gzThe following columns are provided: variant_id, p_value, chromosome, base_pair_location, effect_allele, other_allele, effect_allele_frequency, beta, and standard_errorThis study used anonymised data from UK Biobank (RRID: SCR_012815), which comprises over 500,000 volunteer participants aged 40-69 years recruited across Great Britain between 2006 and 2010. The protocol and consent were approved by the UK Biobank’s Research Ethics Committee. Our analysis was conducted under approved UK Biobank data application number 648. Individuals were included in this study if (i) they had no missing data for sex, age, height, and smoking status, (ii) their spirometry data passed quality control, as described previously (Shrine et al. Nat Genet. 2019;51(3):481-93. Epub 2019/02/26. doi: 10.1038/s41588-018-0321-7. PubMed PMID: 30804560; PubMed Central PMCID: PMCPMC6397078), (iii) their genetically inferred sex matched their reported sex, (iv) they had genome-wide imputed genetic data, (v) they were of genetically determined European ancestry, and (vi) they were not first- or second-degree relatives of any other individual included in the study. In total, 303,612 individuals met these criteria.Participants' DNA was genotyped using either the Affymetrix Axiom(r) UK BiLEVE array or the Affymetrix Axiom(r) UK Biobank array (Bycroft et al., Nature. 2018 Oct;562(7726):203-209). Genotypes were imputed based on the Human Reference Consortium (HRC panel, as described elsewhere (Bycroft et al.). Variants with minor allele frequency (MAF)Spirometry-based lung function traits FEV1, FEV1/FVC, FVC, and PEF were pre-adjusted for age, age-squared, standing height and smoking status and the residuals rank-transformed to normality using the rntransform function of the GenABEL package (RRID: SCR_001842) in R (RRID: SCR_001905). To test each imputed autosomal variant for an interaction effect, a linear regression model with genotype (additive effect), sex, genotype-by-sex interaction, genotyping array and the first ten ancestry-based principal components included as covariates was implemented using Plink 2.0 software (RRID: SCR_001757) (https://www.cog-genomics.org/plink/2.0/).For further details see the manuscript: Variants associated with HHIP expression have sex-differential effects on lung function. Wellcome Open Research.

Background Short-term exposure to air pollution has adverse effects among patients with asthma, but whether long-term exposure to air pollution is a cause of adult-onset asthma is unclear. Objective We aimed to investigate the association between air pollution and adult onset asthma. Methods Asthma incidence was prospectively assessed in six European cohorts. Exposures studied were annual average concentrations at home addresses for nitrogen oxides assessed for 23,704 participants (including 1,257 incident cases) and particulate matter (PM) assessed for 17,909 participants through ESCAPE land-use regression models and traffic exposure indicators. Meta-analyses of cohort-specific logistic regression on asthma incidence were performed. Models were adjusted for age, sex, overweight, education, and smoking and included city/area within each cohort as a random effect. Results In this longitudinal analysis, asthma incidence was positively, but not significantly, associated with all exposure metrics, except for PMcoarse. Positive associations of borderline significance were observed for nitrogen dioxide [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.10; 95% CI: 0.99, 1.21 per 10 μg/m3; p = 0.10] and nitrogen oxides (adjusted OR = 1.04; 95% CI: 0.99, 1.08 per 20 μg/m3; p = 0.08). Nonsignificant positive associations were estimated for PM10 (adjusted OR = 1.04; 95% CI: 0.88, 1.23 per 10 μg/m3), PM2.5 (adjusted OR = 1.04; 95% CI: 0.88, 1.23 per 5 μg/m3), PM2.5absorbance (adjusted OR = 1.06; 95% CI: 0.95, 1.19 per 10–5/m), traffic load (adjusted OR = 1.10; 95% CI: 0.93, 1.30 per 4 million vehicles × meters/day on major roads in a 100-m buffer), and traffic intensity (adjusted OR = 1.10; 95% CI: 0.93, 1.30 per 5,000 vehicles/day on the nearest road). A nonsignificant negative association was estimated for PMcoarse (adjusted OR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.87, 1.14 per 5 μg/m3). Conclusions Results suggest a deleterious effect of ambient air pollution on asthma incidence in adults. Further research with improved personal-level exposure assessment (vs. residential exposure assessment only) and phenotypic characterization is needed. Citation Jacquemin B, Siroux V, Sanchez M, Carsin AE, Schikowski T, Adam M, Bellisario V, Buschka A, Bono R, Brunekreef B, Cai Y, Cirach M, Clavel-Chapelon F, Declercq C, de Marco R, de Nazelle A, Ducret-Stich RE, Ferretti VV, Gerbase MW, Hardy R, Heinrich J, Janson C, Jarvis D, Al Kanaani Z, Keidel D, Kuh D, Le Moual N, Nieuwenhuijsen MJ, Marcon A, Modig L, Pin I, Rochat T, Schindler C, Sugiri D, Stempfelet M, Temam S, Tsai MY, Varraso R, Vienneau D, Vierkötter A, Hansell AL, Krämer U, Probst-Hensch NM, Sunyer J, Künzli N, Kauffmann F. 2015. Ambient air pollution and adult asthma incidence in six European cohorts (ESCAPE). Environ Health Perspect 123:613–621; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1408206

Background: Whether genetic predisposition for intermediate Alpha1-Antitrysin (AAT) deficiency modifies the association between environmental and occupational exposure and lung function decline is ...

The Swiss Cohort Study on Air Pollution and Lung Diseases in Adults (SAPALDIA), conducted in 1991 (SAPALDIA 1) in eight areas among 9,651 randomly selected adults aged 18-60 years, reported associations among the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, nitrogen dioxide, and particles with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 10 microg/m3. Later, 8,047 subjects reenrolled in 2002 (SAPALDIA 2). The effects of individually assigned traffic exposures on reported respiratory symptoms were estimated, while controlling for socioeconomic and exposure- and health-related factors. The risk of attacks of breathlessness increased for all subjects by 13% (95% confidence interval: 3, 24) per 500-m increment in the length of main street segments within 200 m of the home and decreased in never smokers by 12% (95% confidence interval: 0, 22) per 100-m increment in distance from home to a main street. Living within 20 m of a main street increased the risks of regular phlegm by 15% (95% confidence interval: 0, 31) and wheezing with breathing problems by 34% (95% confidence interval: 0, 79) in never smokers. In 2002, the effects related to road distance were different from those in 1991, which could be due to changes in the traffic pollution mixture. These findings among a general population provide strong confirmation that living near busy streets leads to adverse respiratory health effects.

Results of independent external validation for NO2, using different cut-off distances for the application of local versus alpine/non-alpine LUR models (nâ =â 102). (DOCX 14 kb)

Population change in bordering countries of Switzerland over 2000â 2011. (DOCX 16 kb)

Results of independent external validation for NO2, using different cut-off distances for the application of local versus alpine/non-alpine LUR models (nâ =â 102). (DOCX 14 kb)

Study area descriptions, numbers of sites and measurement periods. (DOCX 17 kb)

Study area descriptions, numbers of sites and measurement periods. (DOCX 17 kb)

Explained variance by area and leave-one-area-out cross-validation (LOAOCV) validation. (DOCX 19 kb)

Population change in bordering countries of Switzerland over 2000â 2011. (DOCX 16 kb)

Overview of model performance of LUR models built previously for Swiss study areas. (DOCX 60 kb)

Explained variance by area and leave-one-area-out cross-validation (LOAOCV) validation. (DOCX 19 kb)

Overview of model performance of LUR models built previously for Swiss study areas. (DOCX 60 kb)

Descriptive statistics of predictor variables used in alpine, non-alpine and area-specific NO2 LUR models, and (continued) in multi-area PM2.5, PM2.5 absorbance, PM10, PMcoarse, PNC and LDSA LUR models. (DOCX 25 kb)

Process of model selection and description and evaluation of alternative LUR models, which were not eventually selected. (DOCX 34 kb)

Descriptive statistics of predictor variables used in alpine, non-alpine and area-specific NO2 LUR models, and (continued) in multi-area PM2.5, PM2.5 absorbance, PM10, PMcoarse, PNC and LDSA LUR models. (DOCX 25 kb)

Process of model selection and description and evaluation of alternative LUR models, which were not eventually selected. (DOCX 34 kb)

Background Residential greenness has been associated with health benefits, but its biological mechanism is largely unknown. Investigation of greenness-related DNA methylation profiles can contribute to mechanistic understanding of the health benefits of residential greenness. Objective To identify DNA methylation profiles associated with greenness in the immediate surroundings of the residence. Methods We analyzed genome-wide DNA methylation in 1938 blood samples (982 participants) from the Swiss Cohort Study on Air Pollution and Lung and Heart Diseases in Adults (SAPALDIA). We estimated residential greenness based on normalized difference vegetation index at 30 × 30 m cell (green30) and 500 m buffer (green500) around the residential address. We conducted epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) to identify differentially methylated CpGs and regions, and enrichment tests by comparing to the CpGs that previous EWAS identified as associated with allergy, physical activity, and allostatic load-relevant biomarkers. Results We identified no genome-wide significant CpGs, but 163 and 56 differentially methylated regions for green30 and green500, respectively. Green30-related DNA methylation profiles showed enrichments in allergy, physical activity, and allostatic load, while green500-related methylation was enriched in allergy and allostatic load. Conclusions Residential greenness may have health impacts through allergic sensitization, stress coping, or behavioral changes. Exposure to more proximal greenness may be more health-relevant.

Background: Lung function is highly heritable and differs between the sexes throughout life. However, little is known about sex-differential genetic effects on lung function. We aimed to conduct the first genome-wide genotype-by-sex interaction study on lung function to identify genetic effects that differ between males and females. Methods: We tested for interactions between 7,745,864 variants and sex on spirometry-based measures of lung function in UK Biobank (N=303,612), and sought replication in 75,696 independent individuals from the SpiroMeta consortium. Results: Five independent single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) showed genome-wide significant (P-8) interactions with sex on lung function, and 21 showed suggestive interactions (P-6). The strongest signal, from rs7697189 (chr4:145436894) on forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) (P=3.15x10-15), was replicated (P=0.016) in SpiroMeta. The C allele increased FEV1 more in males (untransformed FEV1 β=0.028 [SE 0.0022] litres) than females (β=0.009 [SE 0.0014] litres), and this effect was not accounted for by differential effects on height, smoking or pubertal age. rs7697189 resides upstream of the hedgehog-interacting protein (HHIP) gene and was previously associated with lung function and HHIP lung expression. We found HHIP expression was significantly different between the sexes (P=6.90x10-6), but we could not detect sex differential effects of rs7697189 on expression. Conclusions: We identified a novel genotype-by-sex interaction at a putative enhancer region upstream of the HHIP gene. Establishing the mechanism by which HHIP SNPs have different effects on lung function in males and females will be important for our understanding of lung health and diseases in both sexes.