IMPACT
COVID-19’s Continued Challenges
Chronic Fatigue Connection
ICAP at Columbia University has released new results from its SILVER Study revealing that older New Yorkers living at home have encountered a range of issues in the wake of the pandemic. “The pandemic exacerbated social, economic, and structural inequities that have resulted in notable negative consequences,” says Abigail Greenleaf, MPH ’12, PhD, who leads the SILVER research team. Phone surveys of New Yorkers aged 70 years or older living at home reveal that depression and anxiety remain higher than pre-pandemic levels. Older New Yorkers with limited mobility and/or who did not often leave their homes were particularly vulnerable. Technology was a pain point, with fewer women than men having access to technology and confidence in their tech skills. This could enhance isolation and make access to health services challenging. Racial disparities also emerged: The study found that while 70 percent of white elders used video for telehealth conferences, others mainly used phone calls. A substantial proportion of older New Yorkers had also struggled to discern the accuracy of available health information. The researchers recommend prioritizing the health—and particularly the mental health—needs of older adults, especially those with limited mobility. “The SILVER survey provides insights into how we can better meet the needs of different sectors of our society, so that, when the next health emergency strikes, they will have the support they require to stay healthy,” says Wafaa El-Sadr, MD, MPH ’91, MPA, ICAP’s director and co-lead of the New York City Pandemic Response Institute.
People with myalgic encephalomyelitis/ chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) have a different gut microbiome than healthy people, new research shows. ME/CFS is characterized by debilitating fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, gastrointestinal disturbances, and other symptoms. Although its cause is unknown, it often follows an infection. Scientists at the School’s Center for Infection and Immunity analyzed fecal samples collected from a geographically diverse cohort of 106 cases and 91 healthy controls from five sites across the United States. Beneficial gut bacteria Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Eubacterium rectale were reduced in ME/ CFS participants. Loss of these important bacteria contributed to trouble synthesizing butyrate, a bacterial metabolite with anti-inflammatory properties and the main fuel for the body’s colon cells. Other types of bacteria, which are correlated with fatigue and inflammatory bowel disease, were present in greater amounts. These differences in gut microbes could serve as biomarkers to aid in diagnosis of ME/CFS, which currently relies on clinical criteria and symptoms. Understanding the connection between ME/CFS and disturbances in the gut microbiome may also lead to ways to classify the disease and develop targets for therapeutic trials.
3,000+
33%
Number of journal articles on all topics published by faculty in the past three years
Photographs: iStock
62
Number of new faculty since 2018
Proportion of faculty from traditionally minoritized communities, a 10-year high
publichealth.columbia.edu
9
