Extreme temperatures and mortality in Kuwait: Who is vulnerable?

Alahmad, Barrak; Shakarchi, Ahmed F.; Khraishah, Haitham; AlSeaidan, Mohammad; Gasana, Janvier; Al-Hemoud, Ali; Koutrakis, Petros; Fox, Mary A.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139289

Cited by 70 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…Limited local transportation in such neighborhoods, or an inability for individuals to afford access to personal transportation may further frustrate their access to healthcare. Migrant workers in Kuwait were especially vulnerable to air pollution and extreme heat owing to a significant high exposure heterogeneity among the population in Kuwait [ 15 , 16 ]. Emerging research is now showing that people living in areas with high outdoor ambient air pollution levels were at higher risk of dying from COVID-19 compared to those living in less polluted neighborhoods [ 27 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Due to this unique demographic profile of Kuwait and the Gulf States, recent studies have demonstrated a health disparity resulting in worse health outcomes for non-Kuwaitis due to heat exposure and air pollution [15,16]. However, there is limited evidence on possible differences between Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti populations in other scenarios.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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COVID-19 clinical outcomes and nationality: results from a Nationwide registry in Kuwait

et al. 2020

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Background In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, many have flagged racial and ethnic differences in health outcomes in western countries as an urgent global public health priority. Kuwait has a unique demographic profile with two-thirds of the population consisting of non-nationals, most of which are migrant workers. We aimed to explore whether there is a significant difference in health outcomes between non-Kuwaiti and Kuwaiti patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Methods We used a prospective COVID-19 registry of all patients (symptomatic and asymptomatic) in Kuwait who tested positive from February 24th to April 20th, 2020, collected from Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Hospital, the officially-designated COVID-19 healthcare facility in the country. We ran separate logistic regression models comparing non-Kuwaitis to Kuwaitis for death, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and pneumonia. Results The first 1123 COVID-19 positive patients in Kuwait were all recruited in the study. About 26% were Kuwaitis and 73% were non-Kuwaiti. With adjustments made to age, gender, smoking and selected co-morbidities, non-Kuwaitis had two-fold increase in the odds of death or being admitted to the intensive care unit compared to Kuwaitis (OR: 2.14, 95% CI 1.12–4.32). Non-Kuwaitis had also higher odds of ARDS (OR:2.44, 95% CI 1.23–5.09) and pneumonia (OR: 2.24, 95% CI 1.27–4.12). Conclusion This is the first study to report on COVID-19 outcomes between Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti patients. The current pandemic may have amplified the differences of health outcomes among marginalized subpopulations. A number of socioeconomic and environmental factors could explain this health disparity. More research is needed to advance the understanding of policymakers in Kuwait in order to make urgent public health interventions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 clinical outcomes and nationality: results from a Nationwide registry in Kuwait

et al. 2020

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“…Striking differences in health outcomes attributable to environmental exposures such as heat and air pollution between the Kuwaiti and the non-Kuwaiti subpopulations have been recently documented. 5 6 This work investigates the multiple stressors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic on migrant workers by applying a holistic CRA framework, using Kuwait as an example. Furthermore, we use the framework to suggest potential interventions for individuals, employers and authorities to improve the health of migrant workers in the country.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 stressors on migrant workers in Kuwait: cumulative risk considerations

et al. 2020

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As a marginalised subpopulation, migrant workers often fall short from protection by public policies, they take precarious jobs with unsafe working and living conditions and they grapple with cultural and linguistic barriers. In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, migrant workers are now exposed to additional stressors of the virus and related responses. We applied a comprehensive qualitative cumulative risk assessment framework for migrant workers living in Kuwait. This pandemic could be one of the few examples where the stressors overlap all domains of migrant workers’ lives. No single intervention can solve all the problems; there must be a set of interventions to address all domains. Local authorities and employers must act quickly to stop the spread, ensure easy access to testing and treatment, provide adequate housing and clear communication, encourage wide social support, safeguard financial protection and mental well-being and continuously re-evaluate the situation as more data are collected.

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“…Migrant workers in Kuwait were especially vulnerable to air pollution and extreme heat owing to a signi cant high exposure heterogeneity among the population in Kuwait. [14,15] Emerging research is now showing that people living in areas with high outdoor ambient air pollution levels were at higher risk of dying from COVID-19 compared to those living in less polluted neighborhoods. [26] It is possible that the long-term exposure to air pollution may play a role in exacerbating the severity COVID-19 infections among non-Kuwaitis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[8] Due to this unique demographic pro le of Kuwait and the Gulf States, recent studies have demonstrated a health disparity resulting in worse health outcomes for non-Kuwaitis due to heat exposure and air pollution. [14,15] However, there is limited evidence on possible differences between Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti populations in other scenarios. This study aims to explore whether there is a signi cant difference in health outcomes between non-Kuwaiti and Kuwaiti patients diagnosed with COVID-19.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 Clinical Outcomes and Nationality: Results from a Nationwide Registry in Kuwait

Hamadah

Alahmad

Behbehani

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background: In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, many have flagged racial and ethnic differences in health outcomes in western countries as an urgent global public health priority. Kuwait has a unique demographic profile with two-thirds of the population consisting of non-nationals, most of which are migrant workers.Objective: We aimed to explore whether there is a significant difference in health outcomes between non-Kuwaiti and Kuwaiti patients diagnosed with COVID-19.Methods: We used a prospective COVID-19 registry of all patients (symptomatic and asymptomatic) in Kuwait who tested positive from February 24th to April 20th, 2020 , collected from Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Hospital, the officially-designated COVID-19 healthcare facility in the country. We ran separate logistic regression models comparing non-Kuwaitis to Kuwaitis for death, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and pneumonia.Results: The first 1,123 COVID-19 positive patients in Kuwait were all recruited in the study. About 26% were Kuwaitis and 73% were non-Kuwaiti. With adjustments made to age, gender, smoking and selected co-morbidities, non-Kuwaitis had two-fold increase in the odds of death or being admitted to the intensive care unit compared to Kuwaitis (OR: 2.14, 95% CI 1.12-4.32). Non-Kuwaitis had also higher odds of ARDS (OR:2.44, 95% CI 1.23-5.09) and pneumonia (OR: 2.24, 95% CI 1.27-4.12).Conclusion: This is the first study to report on COVID-19 outcomes between Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti patients. The current pandemic may have amplified the differences of health outcomes among marginalized subpopulations. A number of socioeconomic and environmental factors could explain this health disparity. More research is needed to advance the understanding of policymakers in Kuwait in order to make urgent public health interventions.

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Extreme temperatures and mortality in Kuwait: Who is vulnerable?

Cited by 70 publications

References 53 publications

COVID-19 clinical outcomes and nationality: results from a Nationwide registry in Kuwait

COVID-19 clinical outcomes and nationality: results from a Nationwide registry in Kuwait

COVID-19 stressors on migrant workers in Kuwait: cumulative risk considerations

COVID-19 Clinical Outcomes and Nationality: Results from a Nationwide Registry in Kuwait

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