2023
Persistent symptoms and conditions among children and adolescents hospitalised with COVID-19 illness: a qualitative study
Messiah S, Francis J, Weerakoon S, Mathew M, Shaikh S, Veeraswamy A, Lozano A, He W, Xie L, Polavarapu D, Ahmed N, Kahn J. Persistent symptoms and conditions among children and adolescents hospitalised with COVID-19 illness: a qualitative study. BMJ Open 2023, 13: e069073. PMID: 37734886, PMCID: PMC10514629, DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-069073.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCOVID-19 illnessIn-depth interviewsQualitative studyPaediatric healthcare systemHealth information sourcesLack of insurance coverageMental health impactsPrevalence of long COVIDPersistent symptomsPost-COVID-19 symptomsPost-traumatic stress disorderPersistent COVID-19 symptomsHealthcare systemCOVID-19 experiencePre-existing conditionsQualitative interviewsInsurance coverageCOVID-19Support strategiesWorsening pre-existing conditionsHealth impactsIllnessSupport systemInterviewsLong COVID
2022
Clinical manifestations of EVALI in adolescents before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Abdallah B, Lee H, Weerakoon S, Messiah S, Harrell M, Rao D. Clinical manifestations of EVALI in adolescents before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Pediatric Pulmonology 2022, 58: 949-958. PMID: 36530031, PMCID: PMC9878061, DOI: 10.1002/ppul.26283.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHome oxygenGastrointestinal symptomsEVALI casesPatients treated with corticosteroidsProduct use-associated lung injuryHospital course of patientsUse-associated lung injuryDischarged with home oxygenSARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test resultsCourse of patientsE-cigarettesPositive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test resultsPulmonary function improvementReview of adolescentsPulmonary function testsShorter median lengthRT-PCR test resultsClinical presentationClinical improvementClinical characteristicsHospital courseClinical manifestationsLung injuryMechanical ventilationMedian lengthComparison of Long-Term Complications of COVID-19 Illness among a Diverse Sample of Children by MIS-C Status
Messiah S, Xie L, Mathew M, Shaikh S, Veeraswamy A, Rabi A, Francis J, Lozano A, Ronquillo C, Sanchez V, He W, Weerakoon S, Srikanth N, Borel M, Kapera O, Kahn J. Comparison of Long-Term Complications of COVID-19 Illness among a Diverse Sample of Children by MIS-C Status. International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health 2022, 19: 13382. PMID: 36293968, PMCID: PMC9603408, DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013382.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMIS-CCOVID-19 illnessSevere COVID illnessMultisystem inflammatory syndromeLong symptomsPediatric COVID-19 casesAssociated with SARS-CoV-2 infectionPediatric healthcare systemLong COVIDSARS-CoV-2 infectionRetrospective EHR reviewFollow-up surveyInflammatory syndromePersistent symptomsEthnically diverse childrenPediatric professionalsPresence of long COVIDHealthcare systemVulnerable populationsPost-COVID-19 recovery effortsGovernment insurancePrivate insuranceSymptomsCOVID illnessIllnessHuman Papillomavirus Vaccination Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Francis J, Weerakoon S, Lucas S, Mathew M, Durante J, Kelly N, Tiro J. Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Network Open 2022, 5: e2234000. PMID: 36121657, PMCID: PMC9486449, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.34000.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPossible substance use disorders among first responders during the COVID-19 era: a quasi-experimental study of personal and residential vulnerability
Beauchamp A, Weerakoon S, Ponder W, Jetelina K. Possible substance use disorders among first responders during the COVID-19 era: a quasi-experimental study of personal and residential vulnerability. The American Journal Of Drug And Alcohol Abuse 2022, 48: 724-733. PMID: 35867134, DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2022.2088376.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSubstance use disordersOdds of substance use disordersCOVID-19 vulnerabilityResidential vulnerabilityMental health servicesNeighborhood vulnerabilityResidential locationQuasi-experimental studyVulnerability to COVID-19Increased occupational stressHealth servicesTime of entryNeighborhoodCOVID-19Study sampleMaladaptive copingOccupational stressAdjusted modelsRespondentsVulnerabilityCounselingOddsDallas/Fort WorthIncreased stressCOVID-19 era
2021
COVID-19 related employment change is associated with increased alcohol consumption during the pandemic
Weerakoon S, Jetelina K, Knell G, Messiah S. COVID-19 related employment change is associated with increased alcohol consumption during the pandemic. The American Journal Of Drug And Alcohol Abuse 2021, 47: 730-736. PMID: 34043919, DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2021.1912063.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAlcohol consumptionAssociated with increased alcohol consumptionLoss of employmentDepressive symptomsCombined effects of depressive symptomsEffect of depressive symptomsInteractive effects of depressionAssociated with mental illnessDrink more alcoholEffects of depressionIncreased alcohol consumptionWeb-based surveyMultinomial regression modelsCOVID-19 pandemicAlcohol harmMental illnessEmployment statusSelf-reportCOVID-19Regression modelsPre-pandemicEmployment changesDepressionParticipantsAssociation
2020
Longer time spent at home during COVID-19 pandemic is associated with binge drinking among US adults
Weerakoon S, Jetelina K, Knell G. Longer time spent at home during COVID-19 pandemic is associated with binge drinking among US adults. The American Journal Of Drug And Alcohol Abuse 2020, 47: 98-106. PMID: 33280423, DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2020.1832508.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCOVID-19-related stressorsBinge drinkingAlcohol consumptionCurrent depressive symptomsNon-binge drinkersDiagnosis of depressionPandemic-related stressorsAssociated with binge drinkingOdds of binge drinkingSelf-report surveyDepressive symptomsBinge drinkersBingeAssociated with changesStressorsPopulation health consequencesExacerbate stressorsLimited researchDrinkersUnited StatesAlcoholCOVID-19 pandemicDrinkingMultinomial regression modelsAdults