COVID-19 pandemic: health impact of staying at home, social distancing and ‘lockdown’ measures—a systematic review of systematic reviews

Abstract

Background To systematically review the evidence published in systematic reviews (SR) on the health impact of staying at home, social distancing and lockdown measures. We followed a systematic review approach, in line with PRISMA guidelines. Methods In October 2020, we searched the databases Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Ovid Medline, Ovid Embase and Web of Science, using a pre-defined search strategy. Results The literature search yielded an initial list of 2172 records. After screening of titles and abstracts, followed by full-text screening, 51 articles were retained and included in the analysis. All of them referred to the first wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. The direct health impact that was covered in the greatest number (25) of SR related to mental health, followed by 13 SR on healthcare delivery and 12 on infection control. The predominant areas of indirect health impacts covered by the included studies relate to the economic and social impacts. Only three articles mentioned the negative impact on education. Conclusions The focus of SR so far has been uneven, with mental health receiving the most attention. The impact of measures to contain the spread of the virus can be direct and indirect, having both intended and unintended consequences. Highlights

Oral Manifestations of COVID-19: Updated Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis

“…In a span of a few months, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has developed into a full-scale global pandemic of epic proportions that affects all age groups with considerable mortality, various sequelae in survivors, and grave socio-economic impact on society ( 1 , 2 ). Involvement of multiple body systems and organs, including the lung, gastrointestinal tract, liver.…”

“…Involvement of multiple body systems and organs, including the lung, gastrointestinal tract, liver. blood vessels, heart, nervous system, and kidneys, has been reported in patients with COVID-19 ( 1 ). The varied presentations of this disease are under intense study in the hope of better understanding its pathogenesis.…”

Substance Use, Mental Health, and Weight-Related Behaviors During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Patients

“…Several systematic reviews have shown that in the general population, the COVID-19 pandemic is strongly associated with poor mental health outcomes [22][23][24]. Other reviews have documented the deleterious impact of the epidemic among those living with mental illness [25][26][27].…”

A transnational and transregional study of the impact and effectiveness of social distancing for COVID-19 mitigation

“…Starting in China in the end of 2019 (2), it spread to all countries in the world, with waves occurring at different moments of time in each locality. A number of interventions were implement all over the world, such as travel ban, social distancing and mandatory mask use (3,4), and its effects have been discussed in different works, which generally concluded that they were effective in reducing the growth of cases and deaths (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10).…”