the way different ethnic groups in Israel followed the laws of the state to protect themselves covid-19 pandemicThere was also disparity in the quality of life among the survivors in these areas. One year after infection, Israeli Arabs and Druze report a larger decline in quality of life than Jews, according to a new study published by researchers at Bar-Ilan University (BIU) in Ramat Gan.
The study, part of a larger cohort project in which researchers routinely followed people who had been infected with the virus to assess various aspects of their health, highlighted a significant discrepancy between Arabs and Druze and Jews. Went. Conclusion, published in International Journal of Public Health Under the title “Changes in quality of life after SARS-CoV-2 infection between Jewish and Arab populations in Israel: a cross-sectional study” showed that the disparity Quality of life Differences between ethnic groups persisted even after taking into account socio-economic differences.
“Given the existing health disparities in the country, we designed this study to examine the long-term effects of COVID-19 on minority groups in Israel,” explained study lead author Professor Michael Edelstein from BIU’s Azrieli Faculty of Medicine. is introduced.” He was assisted by Dr. Jelte Elsinga of the Amsterdam University Medical Center in Holland, who led the analysis.
disease burden due to pandemic
With 754 million cases and 6.8 million deaths worldwide (by February 2023), the pandemic has caused an unprecedented disease burden for an infectious agent in modern times. beyond strong influences, Long-Term Health Effects of the Pandemic He wrote, still very little is understood. Evidence suggests that 13% of infected individuals still report symptoms associated with virus infection 90 to 150 days after acute infection.
Well-being was assessed using an accepted quality of life instrument measuring five dimensions – mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. There were 881 participants in the study.
“Our results showed that, while pre-COVID quality of life among Jews, Arabs, and Druze in our study was initially comparable, at the 12-month mark after infection, Arab and Druze participants reported significantly higher quality of life than their Jewish counterparts. reported quality of life 11% lower than counterparts,” Edelstein said.
The team said their findings hold important implications for understanding the lasting effects of COVID-19 beyond the acute phase of the pandemic. Research suggests that certain populations may be more vulnerable to long-term symptoms and reduced quality of life and worsening of pre-existing health inequities. These findings not only have implications for Israel, but also provide valuable insights for global efforts to address the long-term consequences of the pandemic.
“The importance of our research lies in its ability to shed light on the ongoing impact of the pandemic, even as the disease transitions from a public health emergency to a persistent public health concern,” Edelstein stressed. “By understanding how the virus affects different communities, we can work toward developing targeted interventions and support systems to minimize long-term effects on quality of life.”
As part of a larger group project, several papers have already been published, and many more are in progress. Going forward, the researchers said they will continue to study the long-term effects of COVID-19 and the role of vaccines in mitigating the economic consequences of the pandemic on employment and income.