Physical distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic and exposome changes in the general population of Cyprus: The Exposome@Home|COVID-19 study

Introduction: To address the COVID-19 pandemic, non-pharmacological interventions (NPI) were implemented in Cyprus, including school closures, suspension of mass events, closures of dining and recreation areas and extensive physical distancing measures e.g. restrictions in outdoor activities and travel. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to: i) assess exposome changes of the general Cypriot population during the implementation of these physical distancing measures and afterwards, and ii) to describe the degree of compliance to the NPI measures. Methods: A survey was setup to take place in two phases (two questionnaires), i.e. when physical distancing measures were implemented (Phase A - March-April 2020) and after the end of all NPI measures (Phase B). Eligible participants were adults living at least 1 year in urban areas of the Republic of Cyprus. Questionnaires were designed to comprehensively capture exposome components such as socioeconomic status, lifestyle (e.g. physical activity), routine exposures (e.g. cleaning activities, time spent outdoors) and contacts at home/other environments (e.g. work). Results and Discussion: In total, 604 respondents completed the survey during Phase A (599 fulfilled the eligibility criteria). Based on preliminary analysis of the respondents characteristics, the majority were females (60%), reporting a fulltime job (66%) and being in very good health. The number of contacts at home and at work decreased during physical distancing. The median number of persons characterized as regular contacts at home was 2 and 3 during and before the measures, respectively, while majority of participants reported no physical contact with others at work during the measures (median number of contacts at work before the measures was 15). Phase A results presented the degree of compliance to the physical distancing measures, while changes in a suite of lifestyle and behavioural parameters of the human exposome, under the influence of physical distancing, were determined.