tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
PLoS One
. 2025 May 5;20(5):e0320792.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0320792. eCollection 2025. Perceptions of COVID-19 risk among individuals with preexisting health conditions
Holli A Loomans-Kropp[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Mohamed I Elsaid[SUP] 2 3 4 5 [/SUP], Jingbo Yi[SUP] 2 6 [/SUP], Yesung Kweon[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Electra D Paskett[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP]; Impact of COVID-19 on Behaviors across the Cancer Control Continuum
Affiliations
Objectives: To examine the association between the presence of preexisting health conditions (PEC) and the perceived risk of catching COVID-19 at the beginning of the pandemic and assess how risk perceptions changed over time.
Methods: We used data collected as part of the "Impact of COVID-19" baseline and follow-up surveys to complete our analyses. Participants were interviewed to collect their perceptions of the risk of catching COVID-19 (baseline and follow-up) and the number and type of PEC. Kruskal-Wallis and chi-square tests were used to assess differences in baseline characteristics, and prevalence ratios were estimated using crude and adjusted modified Poisson generalized linear models.
Results: Of the overall study population, 7,069 participants were eligible for the analysis. The majority (83.7%) of the eligible study population had a history of any PEC. Those with a history of any PEC had a median age of 58 (range: 19-97), were primarily female (67.6%), White non-Hispanic (87.8%), had some college (30.3%), were married or living as married (74.4%), lived in an urban region (67.6%), and reported good (35.4%) or very good (33.9%) health. At baseline, study participants with a history of any PEC were more likely to be concerned about catching COVID-19, using a scale of 0-100, compared to those without PECs (Mean[SD] 60.8[29.8] vs. 53.2[29.7]; p < 0.001), as well as more likely concerned about someone they knew catching COVID-19 (Mean[SD] 70.0[28.8] vs. 64.4[29.4]; p < 0.001). The main effects models showed that self-concern of getting COVID-19 was higher in individuals with any PEC, compared to those with no history of PEC (Prevalence Ratio [PR], 1.15; 95%CI, 1.03-1.29); self-concern was lower at follow-up for those with any PEC, compared to baseline (PR, 0.68; 95%CI, 0.65-0.71). There was evidence of an interaction in the models of concern for self and others, suggesting that one's perception of risk was influenced by both the presence/absence of PECs and study time points.
Conclusions: Individuals with PECs perceived a higher risk of COVID-19 infection for themselves and others towards the beginning of the pandemic, although this perception of susceptibility, or risk, was lower at follow-up. In this study, we showed that attitudes toward health and risk of disease of oneself and others may change throughout a pandemic.
. 2025 May 5;20(5):e0320792.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0320792. eCollection 2025. Perceptions of COVID-19 risk among individuals with preexisting health conditions
Holli A Loomans-Kropp[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Mohamed I Elsaid[SUP] 2 3 4 5 [/SUP], Jingbo Yi[SUP] 2 6 [/SUP], Yesung Kweon[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Electra D Paskett[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP]; Impact of COVID-19 on Behaviors across the Cancer Control Continuum
Affiliations
- PMID: 40323952
- DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0320792
Objectives: To examine the association between the presence of preexisting health conditions (PEC) and the perceived risk of catching COVID-19 at the beginning of the pandemic and assess how risk perceptions changed over time.
Methods: We used data collected as part of the "Impact of COVID-19" baseline and follow-up surveys to complete our analyses. Participants were interviewed to collect their perceptions of the risk of catching COVID-19 (baseline and follow-up) and the number and type of PEC. Kruskal-Wallis and chi-square tests were used to assess differences in baseline characteristics, and prevalence ratios were estimated using crude and adjusted modified Poisson generalized linear models.
Results: Of the overall study population, 7,069 participants were eligible for the analysis. The majority (83.7%) of the eligible study population had a history of any PEC. Those with a history of any PEC had a median age of 58 (range: 19-97), were primarily female (67.6%), White non-Hispanic (87.8%), had some college (30.3%), were married or living as married (74.4%), lived in an urban region (67.6%), and reported good (35.4%) or very good (33.9%) health. At baseline, study participants with a history of any PEC were more likely to be concerned about catching COVID-19, using a scale of 0-100, compared to those without PECs (Mean[SD] 60.8[29.8] vs. 53.2[29.7]; p < 0.001), as well as more likely concerned about someone they knew catching COVID-19 (Mean[SD] 70.0[28.8] vs. 64.4[29.4]; p < 0.001). The main effects models showed that self-concern of getting COVID-19 was higher in individuals with any PEC, compared to those with no history of PEC (Prevalence Ratio [PR], 1.15; 95%CI, 1.03-1.29); self-concern was lower at follow-up for those with any PEC, compared to baseline (PR, 0.68; 95%CI, 0.65-0.71). There was evidence of an interaction in the models of concern for self and others, suggesting that one's perception of risk was influenced by both the presence/absence of PECs and study time points.
Conclusions: Individuals with PECs perceived a higher risk of COVID-19 infection for themselves and others towards the beginning of the pandemic, although this perception of susceptibility, or risk, was lower at follow-up. In this study, we showed that attitudes toward health and risk of disease of oneself and others may change throughout a pandemic.