Pre-pandemic cognitive function and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy: cohort study.

COVID-19 Cognitive ability Cognitive function Cohort IQ Mental ability Vaccine hesitancy

Journal

Brain, behavior, and immunity
ISSN: 1090-2139
Titre abrégé: Brain Behav Immun
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 8800478

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
08 2021
Historique:
received: 10 05 2021
accepted: 17 05 2021
pubmed: 23 5 2021
medline: 23 5 2021
entrez: 22 5 2021
Statut: ppublish

Résumé

Whereas several predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy have been reported, the role of cognitive function is largely unknown. Accordingly, our objective was to evaluate the association between scores from an array of cognitive function tests and self-reported vaccine hesitancy after the announcement of the successful testing of the first COVID-19 vaccine (Oxford University/AstraZeneca). We used individual-level data from a pandemic-focused study ('COVID Survey'), a prospective cohort study nested within United Kingdom Understanding Society ('Main Survey'). In the week immediately following the announcement of successful testing of the first efficacious inoculation (November/December 2020), data on vaccine intentionality were collected in 11,740 individuals (6702 women) aged 16-95 years. Pre-pandemic scores on general cognitive function, ascertained from a battery of six tests, were captured in 2011/12 wave of the Main Survey. Study members self-reported their intention to take up a vaccination in the COVID-19 Survey. Of the study sample, 17.2% (N = 1842) indicated they were hesitant about having the vaccine. After adjustment for age, sex, and ethnicity, study members with a lower baseline cognition score were markedly more likely to be vaccine hesitant (odds ratio per standard deviation lower score in cognition; 95% confidence interval: 1.76; 1.62, 1.90). Adjustment for mental and physical health plus household shielding status had no impact on these results, whereas controlling for educational attainment led to partial attenuation but the probability of hesitancy was still elevated (1.52; 1.37, 1.67). There was a linear association for vaccine hesitancy across the full range of cognition scores (p for trend: p < 0.0001). Erroneous social media reports might have complicated personal decision-making, leading to people with lower cognitive ability being vaccine-hesitant. With individuals with lower cognition also experiencing higher rates of COVID-19 in studies conducted prior to vaccine distribution, these new findings are suggestive of a potential additional disease burden.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND
Whereas several predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy have been reported, the role of cognitive function is largely unknown. Accordingly, our objective was to evaluate the association between scores from an array of cognitive function tests and self-reported vaccine hesitancy after the announcement of the successful testing of the first COVID-19 vaccine (Oxford University/AstraZeneca).
METHODS
We used individual-level data from a pandemic-focused study ('COVID Survey'), a prospective cohort study nested within United Kingdom Understanding Society ('Main Survey'). In the week immediately following the announcement of successful testing of the first efficacious inoculation (November/December 2020), data on vaccine intentionality were collected in 11,740 individuals (6702 women) aged 16-95 years. Pre-pandemic scores on general cognitive function, ascertained from a battery of six tests, were captured in 2011/12 wave of the Main Survey. Study members self-reported their intention to take up a vaccination in the COVID-19 Survey.
RESULTS
Of the study sample, 17.2% (N = 1842) indicated they were hesitant about having the vaccine. After adjustment for age, sex, and ethnicity, study members with a lower baseline cognition score were markedly more likely to be vaccine hesitant (odds ratio per standard deviation lower score in cognition; 95% confidence interval: 1.76; 1.62, 1.90). Adjustment for mental and physical health plus household shielding status had no impact on these results, whereas controlling for educational attainment led to partial attenuation but the probability of hesitancy was still elevated (1.52; 1.37, 1.67). There was a linear association for vaccine hesitancy across the full range of cognition scores (p for trend: p < 0.0001).
CONCLUSIONS
Erroneous social media reports might have complicated personal decision-making, leading to people with lower cognitive ability being vaccine-hesitant. With individuals with lower cognition also experiencing higher rates of COVID-19 in studies conducted prior to vaccine distribution, these new findings are suggestive of a potential additional disease burden.

Identifiants

pubmed: 34022372
pii: S0889-1591(21)00197-5
doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2021.05.016
pmc: PMC8133799
pii:
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Sous-ensembles de citation

IM

Pagination

100-105

Commentaires et corrections

Type : UpdateOf

Informations de copyright

Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Auteurs

G David Batty (GD)

Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, UK. Electronic address: david.batty@ucl.ac.uk.

Ian J Deary (IJ)

Lothian Birth Cohorts, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, UK.

Chloe Fawns-Ritchie (C)

Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, UK.

Catharine R Gale (CR)

Lothian Birth Cohorts, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, UK; Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, UK.

Drew Altschul (D)

Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, UK.

Classifications MeSH