Wastewater as an Early Indicator for Short-Term Forecasting COVID-19 Hospitalization in Germany
Abstract
Background
The
COVID-19
pandemic
has
profoundly
affected
daily
life
and
posed
significant
challenges
for
politics,
the
economy,
education
system.
To
better
prepare
such
situations
implement
effective
measures,
it
is
crucial
to
accurately
assess,
monitor,
forecast
progression
of
a
pandemic.
This
study
examines
potential
integrating
wastewater
surveillance
data
enhance
an
autoregressive
forecasting
model
Germany
its
federal
states.
Methods
We
explore
correlations
between
viral
load
measured
in
hospitalization.
compares
performance
models,
including
Random
Forest
regressors,
XGBoost
ARIMA
linear
regression,
ridge
regression
both
with
without
use
as
predictors.
For
decision
tree-based
we
also
analyze
fully
cross-modal
models
that
rely
solely
on
measurements
predict
hospitalization
rates.
Results
Our
findings
suggest
can
serve
early
warning
indicator
impending
trends
at
national
level,
shows
strong
correlation
figures
tends
lead
them
by
six
seven
days.
Despite
this,
prediction
did
not
significantly
accuracy
forecasts.
emerged
best-performing
model,
achieving
Mean
Absolute
Percentage
Error
4.69%.
However,
proved
be
valuable
standalone
predictor,
offering
cost-effective
objective
alternative
classical
methods
monitoring
trends.
Conclusion
reinforces
tool
hospitalizations
Germany.
While
were
observed,
integration
into
predictive
improve
their
performance.
Nevertheless,
serves
trends,
suggesting
utility
public
health
resource
allocation.
Future
research
should
broader
applications
other
pathogens
conjunction
diverse
sources.

Research Square (Research Square), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown
Published: Oct. 25, 2024
Language: Английский