The American Heart Association, in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health, annually reports the most up-to-date statistics related to heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular risk factors, including core health behaviors (smoking, physical activity, diet, and weight) and health factors (cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose control) that contribute to cardiovascular health. The Statistical Update presents the latest data on a range of major clinical heart and circulatory disease conditions (including stroke, congenital heart disease, rhythm disorders, subclinical atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, heart failure, valvular disease, venous disease, and peripheral artery disease) and the associated outcomes (including quality of care, procedures, and economic costs).The American Heart Association, through its Statistics Committee, continuously monitors and evaluates sources of data on heart disease and stroke in the United States to provide the most current information available in the annual Statistical Update. The 2022 Statistical Update is the product of a full year's worth of effort by dedicated volunteer clinicians and scientists, committed government professionals, and American Heart Association staff members. This year's edition includes data on the monitoring and benefits of cardiovascular health in the population and an enhanced focus on social determinants of health, adverse pregnancy outcomes, vascular contributions to brain health, and the global burden of cardiovascular disease and healthy life expectancy.Each of the chapters in the Statistical Update focuses on a different topic related to heart disease and stroke statistics.The Statistical Update represents a critical resource for the lay public, policymakers, media professionals, clinicians, health care administrators, researchers, health advocates, and others seeking the best available data on these factors and conditions. 

https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001052

Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2022 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association

On behalf of Mr. Koichiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, it is my great pleasure to welcome you all to this international scientific conference. Drylands are often considered fragile ecosystems, yet they have a remarkable resilience to stress. They are home to unique and well-adapted plant and animal species that we need to conserve. Some of the world’s greatest cultures and belief systems have originated in drylands. On the other hand, desertification and land degradation in drylands often result in poverty and cause environmental refugees to abandon their homes. These problems can only be addressed in a holistic manner, based on sound scientific research and findings. Solutions to the problems of dryland degradation need to be communicated as widely as possible through education at all levels. These are many reasons why UNESCO – within its mandate of science, education, culture and communication – took the intiative to organize this conference. And we are glad that so many partners have responded to our call. UNESCO considers this conference as its main contribution to the observance of the International Year of Deserts and Desertification in 2006. We have deliberately chosen the title ‘The Future of Drylands’ as we feel it is time to redefine our priorities for science, education and governance in the drylands based on 50 years of scientific research in arid and semi-arid zones. In fact UNESCO has one of the longest traditions, within the UN system, of addressing dryland problems from an interdisciplinary, scientific point of view. In 1955, the ‘International Arid Land Meetings’ were held in Socorro, New Mexico (USA). They were organized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), sponsored by UNESCO and supported by the Rockefeller Foundation. One important output of the International Arid Land Meetings was a book entitled The Future of Drylands, edited by Gilbert F. White and published in

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Background: The American Heart Association, in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health, annually reports the most up-to-date statistics related to heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular risk factors, including core health behaviors (smoking, physical activity, diet, and weight) and health factors (cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose control) that contribute to cardiovascular health. The Statistical Update presents the latest data on a range of major clinical heart and circulatory disease conditions (including stroke, congenital heart disease, rhythm disorders, subclinical atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, heart failure, valvular disease, venous disease, and peripheral artery disease) and the associated outcomes (including quality of care, procedures, and economic costs). Methods: The American Heart Association, through its Epidemiology and Prevention Statistics Committee, continuously monitors and evaluates sources of data on heart disease and stroke in the United States to provide the most current information available in the annual Statistical Update with review of published literature through the year before writing. The 2023 Statistical Update is the product of a full year’s worth of effort in 2022 by dedicated volunteer clinicians and scientists, committed government professionals, and American Heart Association staff members. The American Heart Association strives to further understand and help heal health problems inflicted by structural racism, a public health crisis that can significantly damage physical and mental health and perpetuate disparities in access to health care, education, income, housing, and several other factors vital to healthy lives. This year’s edition includes additional COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) publications, as well as data on the monitoring and benefits of cardiovascular health in the population, with an enhanced focus on health equity across several key domains. Results: Each of the chapters in the Statistical Update focuses on a different topic related to heart disease and stroke statistics. Conclusions: The Statistical Update represents a critical resource for the lay public, policymakers, media professionals, clinicians, health care administrators, researchers, health advocates, and others seeking the best available data on these factors and conditions. 

Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2023 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association

The impact of COVID-19 on social life has been drastic and global. However, the different numbers of cases and different actions in different countries have been leading to various interesting yet unexplored effects on human behavior. In the present study, we compare the physical activity and recreational screen time of a representative sample of 1711 4- to 17-year-olds before and during the strictest time of the first COVID-19 lockdown in Germany. We found that sports activity declined whereas recreational screen time increased. However, a substantial increase in habitual physical activities leads to an overall increase in physical activity among children and adolescents in Germany. The effects differ in size but not in their direction between age groups and are stable for boys and girls. We conclude from this natural experiment that physical activity among children and adolescents is highly context-driven and mutual and does not act as a functional opposite to recreational screen time.

/pdf/physical-activity-and-screen-time-of-children-and-1nmcr9slf0.pdf

Physical activity and screen time of children and adolescents before and during the COVID-19 lockdown in Germany: a natural experiment.

Importance
School closures as part of broader social lockdown measures during the COVID-19 pandemic may be associated with the health and well-being of children and adolescents.


Objective
To review published reports on the association of school closures during broader social lockdown with mental health, health behaviors, and well-being in children and adolescents aged 0 to 19 years, excluding associations with transmission of infection.


Evidence Review
Eleven databases were searched from inception to September 2020, and machine learning was applied for screening articles. A total of 16 817 records were screened, 151 were reviewed in full text, and 36 studies were included. Quality assessment was tailored to study type. A narrative synthesis of results was undertaken because data did not allow meta-analysis.


Findings
A total of 36 studies from 11 countries were identified, involving a total of 79 781 children and adolescents and 18 028 parents, which occurred during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (February to July 2020). All evaluated school closure as part of broader social lockdown during the first COVID-19 wave, and the duration of school closure ranged from 1 week to 3 months. Of those, 9 (25%) were longitudinal pre-post studies, 5 (14%) were cohort, 21 (58%) were cross-sectional, and 1 (3%) was a modeling study. Thirteen studies (36%) were high quality, 17 (47%) were medium quality, and 6 (17%) were low quality. Twenty-three studies (64%) were published, 8 (22%) were online reports, and 5 (14%) were preprints. Twenty-five studies (69%) concerning mental health identified associations across emotional, behavioral, and restlessness/inattention problems; 18% to 60% of children and adolescents scored above risk thresholds for distress, particularly anxiety and depressive symptoms, and 2 studies reported no significant association with suicide. Three studies reported that child protection referrals were lower than expected number of referrals originating in schools. Three studies suggested higher screen time usage, 2 studies reported greater social media use, and 6 studies reported lower physical activity. Studies on sleep (10 studies) and diet (5 studies) provided inconclusive evidence on harms.


Conclusions and Relevance
In this narrative synthesis of reports from the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, studies of short-term school closures as part of social lockdown measures reported adverse mental health symptoms and health behaviors among children and adolescents. Associations between school closure and health outcomes and behaviors could not be separated from broader lockdown measures.

School Closures During Social Lockdown and Mental Health, Health Behaviors, and Well-being Among Children and Adolescents During the First COVID-19 Wave: A Systematic Review.

COVID-19 restrictions such as the closure of schools and parks, and the cancellation of youth sports and activity classes around the United States may prevent children from achieving recommended levels of physical activity (PA). This study examined the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on PA and sedentary behavior (SB) in U.S. children. Parents and legal guardians of U.S. children (ages 5–13) were recruited through convenience sampling and completed an online survey between April 25–May 16, 2020. Measures included an assessment of their child’s previous day PA and SB by indicating time spent in 11 common types of PA and 12 common types of SB for children. Parents also reported perceived changes in levels of PA and SB between the pre-COVID-19 (February 2020) and early-COVID-19 (April–May 2020) periods. Additionally, parents reported locations (e.g., home/garage, parks/trails, gyms/fitness centers) where their children had performed PA and their children’s use of remote/streaming services for PA. From parent reports, children (N = 211) (53% female, 13% Hispanic, Mage = 8.73 [SD = 2.58] years) represented 35 states and the District of Columbia. The most common physical activities during the early-COVID-19 period were free play/unstructured activity (e.g., running around, tag) (90% of children) and going for a walk (55% of children). Children engaged in about 90 min of school-related sitting and over 8 h of leisure-related sitting a day. Parents of older children (ages 9–13) vs. younger children (ages 5–8) perceived greater decreases in PA and greater increases in SB from the pre- to early-COVID-19 periods. Children were more likely to perform PA at home indoors or on neighborhood streets during the early- vs. pre-COVID-19 periods. About a third of children used remote/streaming services for activity classes and lessons during the early-COVID-19 period. Short-term changes in PA and SB in reaction to COVID-19 may become permanently entrenched, leading to increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease in children. Programmatic and policy strategies should be geared towards promoting PA and reducing SB over the next 12 months.

/pdf/early-effects-of-the-covid-19-pandemic-on-physical-activity-4p3yebcqhk.pdf

Early effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity and sedentary behavior in children living in the U.S.

COVID-19 restrictions and social-distancing may inhibit adults from attaining recommended levels of physical activity. This study examined early impact of COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity in adults during the first two months of restrictions in the U.S. and how physical activity locations were associated with physical activity levels during this period. Adults (N = 268) completed an online survey between April 10-May 25, 2020. Participants reported minutes of vigorous, moderate, and walking physical activity for past 7 days (early-COVID-19) and for a typical week in February 2020 (pre-COVID-19). Adults reported locations (e.g., home/garage, parks/trails) were they were active over the past 7 days. Past 12-month step count data were extracted from participants' personal smartphones. Participants (18-74 years old, 22% Hispanic/Latino, 81% female) showed reductions in vigorous (M diff  = -66.9 min/week), moderate (M diff  = -92.4 min/week), walking (M diff -70.8 min/week), and step counts (M diff  = -2232 steps/day) from the pre- to early-COVID19 periods. Reductions in walking and steps were larger for low-income and Hispanic/Latino adults. During early-COVID19, more vigorous and moderate activity were reported by those who were active in their home/garage or driveway/yard, and more steps were recorded by those who were active on the roads in their neighborhood or at parks/trails. We observed a decline in adults' physical activity during the first two months of the COVID-19 pandemic based on retrospective self-report and device-based measures. Although these restrictions were necessary to slow the spread of the virus, data indicate that there may be unintended consequences on health-related behaviors.

Early effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity locations and behaviors in adults living in the United States.

Ecological momentary assessment of eating and dietary intake behaviors in children and adolescents: A systematic review of the literature.

Background: COVID-19 restrictions such as closure of schools and parks, and the cancellation of youth sports and activity classes around the U.S may prevent children from achieving recommended levels of physical activity. 
Method: Parents of U.S. children (ages 5-13) completed an online survey between April 25-May 16, 2020 assessing their child’s physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB), perceived changes in PA and SB, and locations for PA. 
Results: Children (N = 211) were 53% female and 13% Hispanic. Parents of older vs. younger children perceived greater decreases in PA and greater increases in SB from the pre- (Feb 2020) to -early-COVID-19 (April-May 2020) periods. Children were more likely to perform PA at home or on neighborhood streets during the early- vs pre-COVID-19 periods. 
Conclusion: Short-term changes in PA and SB in reaction to COVID-19 may become permanently entrenched, leading to increased risk of obesity and diabetes in children.

/pdf/early-effects-of-the-covid-19-pandemic-on-physical-activity-4awrvq7pdp.pdf

Early Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in U.S. Children

Purpose: To examine the early impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity in U.S. adults, and whether changes in physical activity levels differed by demographics.
Method: U.S. adults (N = 262) completed an online survey between April 10-May 5, 2020. Using the short-form International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), participants reported minutes of vigorous, moderate, and walking physical activity for a typical week in February 2020 (pre-COVID-19) and for the past 7 days (early-COVID-19). 
Results: Participants (82% female, 20% Hispanic, 41% overweight/obese) ranged in age from 18-79 (M=32.9, SD=12.3) years. On average, vigorous intensity (-61.7 min/week, 37% decrease), moderate intensity (-84.1 min/week, 47% decrease), and walking (-104.4 min/week, 33% decrease) physical activity were significantly reduced, with greater reductions for adults who were not working, Hispanic, or from lower income households. Conclusion: Vulnerable population sub-groups may be harder hit by the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of its impact on health-related behaviors.

/pdf/early-effects-of-the-covid-19-pandemic-on-physical-activity-4rprqosjz9.pdf

Bridgette Do

Papers

Early effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity and sedentary behavior in children living in the U.S.

Early effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity locations and behaviors in adults living in the United States.

Ecological momentary assessment of eating and dietary intake behaviors in children and adolescents: A systematic review of the literature.

Early Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in U.S. Children

Early Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical Activity in U.S. Adults