Global impacts of COVID-19 on lifestyles and health and preparation preferences: An international survey of 30 countries

• Published in: Journal of global health 2023-08, Vol.13, p.06031-06031, Article 06031
• Main Authors: Li, Jiaying, Fong, Daniel Yee Tak, Lok, Kris Yuet Wan, Wong, Janet Yuen Ha, Man Ho, Mandy, Choi, Edmond Pui Hang, Pandian, Vinciya, Davidson, Patricia M, Duan, Wenjie, Tarrant, Marie, Lee, Jung Jae, Lin, Chia-Chin, Akingbade, Oluwadamilare, Alabdulwahhab, Khalid M, Ahmad, Mohammad Shakil, Alboraie, Mohamed, Alzahrani, Meshari A, Bilimale, Anil S, Boonpatcharanon, Sawitree, Byiringiro, Samuel, Hasan, Muhammad Kamil Che, Schettini, Luisa Clausi, Corzo, Walter, De Leon, Josephine M, De Leon, Anjanette S, Deek, Hiba, Efficace, Fabio, El Nayal, Mayssah A, El-Raey, Fathiya, Ensaldo-Carrasco, Eduardo, Escotorin, Pilar, Fadodun, Oluwadamilola Agnes, Fawole, Israel Opeyemi, Goh, Yong-Shian Shawn, Irawan, Devi, Khan, Naimah Ebrahim, Koirala, Binu, Krishna, Ashish, Kwok, Cannas, Le, Tung Thanh, Leal, Daniela Giambruno, Lezana-Fernández, Miguel Ángel, Manirambona, Emery, Mantoani, Leandro Cruz, Meneses-González, Fernando, Mohamed, Iman Elmahdi, Mukeshimana, Madeleine, Nguyen, Chinh Thi Minh, Nguyen, Huong Thi Thanh, Nguyen, Khanh Thi, Nguyen, Son Truong, Nurumal, Mohd Said, Nzabonimana, Aimable, Omer, Nagla Abdelrahim Mohamed Ahmed, Ogungbe, Oluwabunmi, Poon, Angela Chiu Yin, Reséndiz-Rodriguez, Areli, Puang-Ngern, Busayasachee, Sagun, Ceryl G, Shaik, Riyaz Ahmed, Shankar, Nikhil Gauri, Sommer, Kathrin, Toro, Edgardo, Tran, Hanh Thi Hong, Urgel, Elvira L, Uwiringiyimana, Emmanuel, Vanichbuncha, Tita, Youssef, Naglaa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alcohol; Body mass index; Cooking; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Economic development; Food; Global health; Income; Lifestyles; Likert scale; Pandemics; Questionnaires; Smoking; Social networks; Sociodemographics
• ISSN: 2047-2978; 2047-2986
• DOI: 10.7189/JOGH.13.06031

The health area being greatest impacted by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and residents' perspective to better prepare for future pandemic remain unknown. We aimed to assess and make cross-country and cross-region comparisons of the global impacts of COVID-19 and preparation preferences of pandemic. We recruited adults in 30 countries covering all World Health Organization (WHO) regions from July 2020 to August 2021. 5 Likert-point scales were used to measure their perceived change in 32 aspects due to COVID-19 (-2 = substantially reduced to 2 = substantially increased) and perceived importance of 13 preparations (1 = not important to 5 = extremely important). Samples were stratified by age and gender in the corresponding countries. Multidimensional preference analysis displays disparities between 30 countries, WHO regions, economic development levels, and COVID-19 severity levels. 16 512 adults participated, with 10 351 females. Among 32 aspects of impact, the most affected were having a meal at home (mean (m) = 0.84, standard error (SE) = 0.01), cooking at home (m = 0.78, SE = 0.01), social activities (m = -0.68, SE = 0.01), duration of screen time (m = 0.67, SE = 0.01), and duration of sitting (m = 0.59, SE = 0.01). Alcohol (m = -0.36, SE = 0.01) and tobacco (m = -0.38, SE = 0.01) consumption declined moderately. Among 13 preparations, respondents rated medicine delivery (m = 3.50, SE = 0.01), getting prescribed medicine in a hospital visit / follow-up in a community pharmacy (m = 3.37, SE = 0.01), and online shopping (m = 3.33, SE = 0.02) as the most important. The multidimensional preference analysis showed the European Region, Region of the Americas, Western Pacific Region and countries with a high-income level or medium to high COVID-19 severity were more adversely impacted on sitting and screen time duration and social activities, whereas other regions and countries experienced more cooking and eating at home. Countries with a high-income level or medium to high COVID-19 severity reported higher perceived mental burden and emotional distress. Except for low- and lower-middle-income countries, medicine delivery was always prioritised. Global increasing sitting and screen time and limiting social activities deserve as much attention as mental health. Besides, the pandemic has ushered in a notable enhancement in lifestyle of home cooking and eating, while simultaneously reducing the consumption of tobacco and alcohol. A health care system and tec