According to a new study published by Mayo Clinic researchers, the COVID-19 pandemic was linked to a 17% increase in the death rate in Minnesota during the first year of the pandemic compared to the two previous years.
Tag: COVID-19 pandemic
Pandemic put more parenting stress on mothers
A first-of-its-kind study of parents’ work arrangements during the pandemic shows that mothers working from home increased their supervisory parenting fully two hours more than fathers did, and women were also more likely to adapt their work schedules to new parenting demands.
Mothers’ alcohol use changed during the COVID-19 pandemic
Mothers drank alcohol less frequently as the COVID-19 pandemic progressed, according to a small study of Ohio women, but another result was more concerning to researchers.
Transition to Telehealth during the COVID-19 Pandemic Accompanied by Increased Utilization of Alcohol Treatment
The transition to telehealth-based care at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic was followed by an increase in initiation of and engagement with specialty alcohol treatment, according to a study of health records at one large U.S. health system. The study, published in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, found the greatest increases in odds of initiating treatment were among 18- to 34-year-olds, a group that has historically been less likely to seek treatment for alcohol problems. Notably, the transition to telehealth did not appear to worsen racial and ethnic disparities in treatment for alcohol problems and may have facilitated treatment for specific populations. The findings provide timely considerations for structuring post-pandemic models of health care for alcohol use problems.
Holiday Cheer Makes the Rounds at Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital
When the holidays roll around at Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital, so does a festive spiritual care cart pushed by Chaplain Hannah Rhiza, MDiv, BCC. Trimmed with sweets, fruit and lights, the cart brings Christmas, Kwanzaa and Hanukkah to hospital staff members where they work.
Where and with Whom College Students Drank during the COVID-19 Pandemic was Associated with Different Types of Consequences
During the COVID-19 pandemic, college students drinking outside the home or at home alone experienced a wider range of drinking consequences compared to those more frequently drinking at home with others, either in-person or virtually, according to a new study. Drinking at home also carried considerable risk. The findings, published in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, suggest that intervention and prevention efforts may be more effectively tailored by considering the contexts in which students are drinking.
Cardiothoracic Surgeon to Lead Smidt Heart Institute’s ECMO Program
The Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai has selected board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon Tyler Gunn, MD, to be the director of the Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation, or ECMO, Program in the Department of Cardiac Surgery.
Study: During Pandemic, High Blood Pressure Control Declined
Hypertension control and management worsened during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new analysis conducted at three large health systems, led by Cedars-Sinai investigators.
Considering COVID a hoax is ‘gateway’ to belief in conspiracy theories
Belief that the COVID-19 pandemic was a hoax – that its severity was exaggerated or that the virus was deliberately released for sinister reasons – functions as a “gateway” to believing in conspiracy theories generally, new research has found.
Study: Live Chat Boosts College Women’s Class Participation
Women much more enthusiastically embraced the live chat function during pandemic Zoom classes than men, according to a new UNLV study. Researchers hope the data could be a key to broadening underrepresented groups’ access to STEM disciplines as colleges incorporate technology into hybrid and even in-person courses.
Operations for diverticulitis decreased in 2020, but the degree of disease severity increased
The first year of the COVID pandemic significantly altered how patients and providers treated diverticulitis, causing a significant drop in operations to manage the disease but a corresponding increase in the proportion of more severe cases and the need for emergency surgery.
15 Years of Heart
Pioneering heart care is a tradition at Cedars-Sinai. It’s a tradition that took root in 1924, when Cedars-Sinai became home to the first electrocardiogram machine in Los Angeles.
Physical Activity May Still Not Match Pre-Covid 19 Pandemic Levels
Step counts—a measure of physical activity—were markedly lower early in the COVID-19 pandemic than pre-pandemic and remained lower, on average, in the two years following the onset of the global pandemic.

Cedars-Sinai Team Pioneers Liver Cancer Blood Test
Cedars-Sinai Cancer investigators have created a blood test that uses a technology made commonly available during the COVID-19 pandemic to detect the most common form of liver cancer—at an early enough stage that cure is possible. Their work was published online in the peer-reviewed journal Hepatology.
Q&A: Advice for a Healthy, Stress-Free Return to School
For the past two-plus years, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted children’s education and frustrated parents. Today, with the back-to-school season in full swing, Suzanne Silverstein, MA, ART, founding director of Cedars-Sinai Share & Care, and Rose Bisellach, RN, nurse manager in the Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center Emergency Room, give their best advice for starting a successful school year.
Study: Most People Infected With Omicron Didn’t Know It
The majority of people who were likely infected with the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, didn’t know they had the virus, according to a new study from Cedars-Sinai investigators. The findings are published in JAMA Network Open.
COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders served to decrease adolescent drinking
During the COVID-19 pandemic, policy interventions designed to reduce the virus’ spread included shelter-in-place (SIP) orders and phased “reopenings” of public spaces. Knowing that adult alcohol and substance use generally rose during the pandemic due to factors such as stress, boredom, worsening mental health, and increased alcohol availability, a new study sought to understand the impact of SIPs and reopenings on adolescent alcohol use in California. Analysis shows SIP decreased frequency of alcohol use. Also, compliance with SIP orders was associated with decreased frequency and quantity of use.

MONKEYPOX MEDIA ADVISORY: Infectious Disease Specialists From Regional Special Pathogen Treatment Center Available to Discuss Monkeypox Causes and Treatments
Multiple cases of monkeypox have surfaced in Europe and the U.S. that do not appear to be linked to travel, causing concern among the medical community that this infectious disease is spreading through sexual contact or other close interactions.
Quick MBA for SMEs – Chula’s Intensive and Practical Training for Business Survival during the COVID-19 Crisis
The recently-concluded and successful “Quick MBA for SMEs” social project from Chula that brought knowledge to the living room of four groups of SMEs entrepreneurs: food businesses, hotels & accommodation, health, and fashion, to help them adapt and survive the COVID-19 crisis. Watch past episodes to revive and empower your business today.
Virtual Exercise Effective for People with Arthritis and Helps Them Stay Socially Connected Too
New research presented this week at ACR Convergence, the American College of Rheumatology’s annual meeting, found that a virtual exercise program can be safe for people with musculoskeletal conditions, improved their health outcomes, and helped them feel more socially connected.
U.S. gun violence increased 30% during COVID-19 pandemic
Gun violence increased by more than 30% in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study by Penn State College of Medicine researchers.
Mayo Clinic study highlights development of remote patient monitoring program during COVID-19 pandemic
A study by Mayo Clinic investigators highlights the development and implementation of Mayo Clinic’s large-scale COVID-19 Remote Patient Monitoring Program, which has served more than 7,000 patients across 41 states.
‘Flushing’ out drug use trends early in the COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic drastically affected people’s lives, especially early on. Today, scientists report that wastewater analysis identified drugs that people turned to for relief and those that plummeted in use, between March and June 2020. They will present their results at ACS Fall 2021.
The Future of Masking Post-Vaccination
The COVID-19 vaccine is your best defense against the virus, but when and where should you continue to wear a mask? Rush infectious disease expert Michael Lin, MD, answers questions about wearing a mask post-vaccination.
More American parents of teens are purchasing firearms during the pandemic, study finds
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, 10% of all households with high school-age teens reported buying a firearm, and 3% of U.S. households with teens became first-time gun owners. For households that already owned a firearm, these new firearms were more likely to be acquired by those who already reported storing at least one gun unlocked and loaded. This concerned researchers, as the single biggest risk factor for adolescent firearm injuries is access to an unsecured firearm.
Rush System Nears Zero Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19
Rush system hospitals now have few or no patients with COVID-19 as vaccines’ impact increases.
COVID-19 pandemic drinking: increases among women, Black adults, and people with children
Risky drinking has been a public health concern in the U.S. for decades, but the significant increase in retail alcohol sales following COVID-19 pandemic stay-at-home orders in particular raised red flags for alcohol researchers. New research has assessed changes in alcohol drinking patterns from before to after the enactment of stay-at-home orders. These results and others will be shared at the 44th annual scientific meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism (RSA), which will be held virtually this year from the 19th – 23rd of June 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A Crisis of Comfort
In “The Comfort Crisis,” UNLV journalism professor Michael Easter investigates how our modern-day comforts are linked to some of our most pressing problems—obesity, chronic disease, depression—and how by leaving our comfort zone, we can improve our overall mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing.
Top prizes in ethics cartooning contest address COVID-19 and more
Five prizes were awarded in the fourth annual Morgridge Institute for Research Ethics Cartooning Competition, addressing the social impacts of scientific research, like issues on public health and communication during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rutgers Champion of Student Health and Wellness is Retiring
When Melodee Lasky joined Rutgers University 19 years ago, behavioral and mental health services were scattered across the individual colleges with little coordination. Psychiatry and the Alcohol and Other Drug Assistance Program were part of student health, but counseling services were separated and college-affiliated. Lasky, a physician who recognized the connection between physical and emotional wellness, recommended that mental and behavioral health be integrated within the framework of student health. That led to the creation of CAPS – Counseling, Alcohol and Other Drug Assistance Program & Psychiatric Services – a program that helps about 4,500 students each year.
Why Skin Issues in Patients of Color are Neglected, Mistreated
With cosmetic procedures in high demand during the pandemic, Cedars-Sinai dermatologist Jasmine Obioha, MD, has seen an unfortunate side effect: botched treatments for patients of color.
UVC Sterilizer – A Must-Have in the New Normal
The magical ultraviolet C (UVC) sterilizing devices are proven to kill 99.99% of germs, but may pose a risk of skin cancer and cataracts, Chula professors cautioned consumers to use them carefully and by being fully informed.
Even During Pandemic, Volunteers Bring Comfort
The Ruth and Harry Roman Emergency Department at Cedars-Sinai sees more than 85,000 patients each year. Among the first to greet those patients and their loved ones–even during the coronavirus pandemic–are Cedars-Sinai’s blue-coated volunteers, who are honored this week during National Volunteer Appreciation Week.

Cedars-Sinai Demo Day Goes Virtual
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented innovation on the part of healthcare providers everywhere who rose to meet the challenges of the past year.
And the next generation of healthcare innovations will be on display during the Cedars-Sinai Accelerator Demo Day, on Wednesday, April 7, from 3:30-5 p.m. Click here to register to attend the virtual event.

Cardiac Care During Pandemic Reveals Digital Shifts
New research from the Smidt Heart Institute shows that more patients—specifically those with medical risk factors or from underserved communities—opted into telehealth appointments for their cardiovascular care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

#YearofCOVID: Retooling Research to Fight a Pandemic
Susan Cheng, MD, MPH, MMSc, recalls hearing the first reports of a mysterious illness in China early last year and thinking: “This is going to be important.”
#YearofCOVID: Residents’ Perspectives
In July 2020, the Cedars-Sinai Newsroom checked in with new residents as they were entering their careers in medicine to a world of unknowns in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.
#YearofCOVID Tip Sheet
One year has passed since stay-at-home orders went into effect across the U.S. and the COVID-19 pandemic changed our lives in profound ways. During this dark year, we’ve witnessed overwhelming loss of life and livelihood, and separation from those we love. But we have also seen courageous patients and heroic healthcare workers battling the disease, as swift breakthroughs have brought us vaccines and hope.

#YearofCOVID: Is Working From Home Bad For Your Health?
Many office-based employees find themselves still working from home a full year after the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic forced work as we knew it to change dramatically.

#YearofCOVID: Resilience on the Front Lines
Vibeke Hirsch, RN, a nurse at Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital, vividly remembers the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic when she had more questions than answers and returned home depleted after 12-hour shifts in her COVID-19 unit—longing only to take her dog, Dozer, for a quick walk and then go to sleep.

#YearofCOVID: The Evolution of Care
Peter Chen, MD, remembers those early days of March 2020 as one of swirling hyperactivity in the intensive care unit he leads at Cedars-Sinai. Chen and his team were struggling to respond to an emerging health crisis that was quickly growing into a global pandemic.
Leading Lights of Electrochemistry Assemble at October 240th ECS Meeting
ECS is proud to announce that the 240th ECS Meeting will take place at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL, from October 10-14, 2021. The Electrochemistry in Space Symposium is a highlight of the meeting, among other events. Learn more!

Cedars-Sinai Accelerator Goes Virtual
The Cedars-Sinai Accelerator has selected and welcomed seven startup health-tech companies from across the United States to its newest class.

COVID-19 Crisis: Chaplains Care for Staff Through Surge
Cedars-Sinai chaplains usually spend their days rounding on patients, tending to the sick and their families by offering a listening ear, a guiding word or a hopeful prayer. But the COVID-19 pandemic has altered their workload, with chaplains increasingly tending to the needs of tired, frustrated and burnt-out frontline healthcare workers.

COVID-19 Crisis: The Psychology of Defiance
Wear a mask. Wash your hands frequently. Don’t get together with people outside your own household. After more than 10 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, these messages are starting to sound like background noise.
Working from home, job loss due to pandemic increasing sedentary time
The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed how and where we work and for many it’s left them out of work. In two separate studies, researchers examined levels of physical activity and hours spent sitting as well as in front of…

December 2020 Issue of Neurosurgical Focus: “Preparedness and Guidelines for Neurosurgical Practice During Pandemic”
Introduces topic and lists content for the December issue of Neurosurgical Focus.

Long-Term Impacts of COVID-19: Your Mental Health
The COVID-19 pandemic has shaped more than half a year of our lives, canceling plans, upending livelihoods and causing feelings of grief, stress and anxiety. And Cedars-Sinai mental health experts say the pandemic could be shaping our mental health well into the future.
As COVID-19 cases surge again, four major health care organizations release updated guidance on maintaining essential surgery
Four major health care organizations have released an updated collaborative document on maintaining essential surgery during the ongoing pandemic.

How to Keep Young Athletes Competitive During COVID-19
Many parents and school-age athletes worry that when the pandemic ends and high school athletics and youth-club sports come back, young athletes will have a hard time returning to their winning form.