2022
Comparison 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 illnessIllnessPossible 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 modelsAdultsParent concerns regarding paediatric obesity in community‐based programmes serving children with developmental disabilities
Natale R, Weerakoon S, Woody M, Kolomeyer E, Pena K, Schladant M, Bulotsky‐Shearer R, Messiah S. Parent concerns regarding paediatric obesity in community‐based programmes serving children with developmental disabilities. Child Care Health And Development 2020, 46: 733-740. PMID: 32803796, DOI: 10.1111/cch.12803.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCommunity-based programmesPaediatric obesityPreschool-aged childrenChild weightParental concernsDisability statusParents of preschool-aged childrenAverage child ageCommunity-based programsPrevalence of obesityDevelopmental disabilitiesOdds of parentsParents of childrenCross-sectional analysisPublic health problemFamilies of preschool-aged childrenChildhood obesityPublic health concernObesity concernsHealth problemsBaseline entryLogistic regressionChild ageHealth concernObesityDeterminants of accurate visual perception of child anthropometric phenotype among ethnically diverse preschool parents in the United States
Messiah S, Weerakoon S, Atem F, Schulte M, Lebron C, Kambali S, Mathew M, Chang C, Natale R. Determinants of accurate visual perception of child anthropometric phenotype among ethnically diverse preschool parents in the United States. Health & Social Care In The Community 2020, 28: 2095-2104. PMID: 32510693, DOI: 10.1111/hsc.13020.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsChild weight statusWeight statusBMI percentileParental perceptions of child weight statusPerceptions of child weight statusAnthropometric phenotypesHigher obesity prevalenceChild BMI percentileChildhood obesity epidemicAssociated with parental perceptionsCountry of birthNon-Hispanic parentsMexican caregiversMultivariate linear regressionCaregiver perceptionsObesity prevalenceHeight/weight measurementsUnhealthy weightHealthy weightUnhealthy BMIChi-square analysisObesity epidemicCaregiversChild sociodemographicsParents' perceptionsInvestigation of Pupillary Changes After Carotid Endarterectomy and Carotid Stent Placement Using Automated Pupillometry
Weerakoon S, Stutzman S, Atem F, Kuchenbecker K, Olson D, Aiyagari V. Investigation of Pupillary Changes After Carotid Endarterectomy and Carotid Stent Placement Using Automated Pupillometry. Journal Of Stroke And Cerebrovascular Diseases 2020, 29: 104693. PMID: 32107154, DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2020.104693.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCarotid artery stentingCarotid artery endarterectomyLeft eyeHorner's syndromeDilation velocityAutomated pupillometryConstriction velocityDecreased sympathetic responsePupillary changesPupillary light reflex measurementsCarotid stent placementLeft sided procedureMean pupil sizeCS patientsNo significant differenceStent placementIpsilateral pupilRetrospective analysisContralateral sideSide procedureArtery stentingCarotid endarterectomySympathetic responseReflex measurementsArterial plexus