Population Health Research Brief Series

National COVID-19 trends mask large differences in trends across U.S. states. Reductions in March & April were due almost entirely to declines in New York. The failure of other states to enact strong physical distancing protocols and/or reopening too early has led to our current national surge in cases.

COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania have been concentrated in eastern urban counties this far. However, the 14-day incident rate has recently begun increasing in several rural counties that have high prevalence of several chronic health conditions that increase risk of severe complications and death from COVID-19.

The deadliest weather-related health outcomes in the U.S. are heat-related. Older adults – especially those in the most urban and rural areas of the US - are at high risk of heat-related death.

Adults with intellectual and/or developmental disability living in group homes in New York are at higher risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes, including death.

As New York’s regions move through their various phases of reopening businesses and recreations activities, policymakers and residents should be mindful of the underlying health vulnerabilities and the higher COVID-19 mortality risk in several of NY’s rural counties. Is your county at high risk?

This brief features the stories of a nurse and national guardsman from Central NY who served on the frontline of the COVID-19 response during the early days of the outbreak in New York City. These frontline workers described patient overcrowding, equipment shortages, feeling physically and emotionally exhausted, and lessons learned from their experiences.

Adults with Down syndrome often die at earlier ages than their peers in the general population.

Although police brutality and COVID-19 are separate tragedies, they intersect. This brief describes how, from COVID-19 to police brutality, the U.S. black population consistently bears the burden of life-threatening consequences due to structural racism throughout multiple institutions.

While the re-opening of the U.S. economy promises a return to work for some, this may not be the case for many displaced workers with disabilities. This issue brief describes the intricacies of employability of workers with disabilities .

A large share of U.S. adults report feelings of anxiety and depression during COVID-19. The interactive figure allows you to explore demographic differences in reports of depression and anxiety among U.S. adults during COVID-19.

Riot control tactics pose a risk to the health and safety of protestors. This issue brief examines the health implications of riot control methods such as tear gas, pepper spray, and “less than lethal” munitions and the role of such techniques in recent protests.

Drowning is the 3rd leading cause of unintentional injury-related death in the world for all age groups, with one third of fatal and nonfatal drownings occurring with the hours of 4pm and 8pm. This data slice gives helpful advice on how to stay safe while cooling off.

How can you show compassion and empathy without draining your emotional energy? This issue brief provides tips on how to set personal boundaries to prevent emotional exhaustion.

COVID-19 has presented an onslaught of change and uncertainty, leaving many people feeling isolated and disconnected. This brief describes strategies we can try to protect our mental health during this uncertain time.

COVID-19 has tragically demonstrated the serious threat that pandemics and other disasters pose to older adults’ health, safety, and well-being. What role can senior centers and senior villages play in protecting older adults’ health and building their resilience during COVID-19 and other disasters?

Women have consistently been responsible for more child and elder care than men in the U.S. This disparity continues during COVID-19 and is affecting women’s work.

This brief describes how prolonged periods of solitude affect our mental health and provides some strategies for how we can protect our mental and emotional health as we reengage with society.

This brief explains how too much media consumption (including the news) can affect your psychological and physiological wellbeing and provides strategies for monitoring your media consumption.