A systematic review of using population-level human mobility data to understand SARS-CoV-2 transmission

Natalya Kostandova (), Catherine Schluth, Rohan Arambepola, Fatumah Atuhaire, Sophie Bérubé, Taylor Chin, Eimear Cleary, Oscar Cortes-Azuero, Bernardo García-Carreras, Kyra H. Grantz, Matt D. T. Hitchings, Angkana T. Huang, Nishant Kishore, Shengjie Lai, Sophie L. Larsen, Stacie Loisate, Pamela Martinez, Hannah R. Meredith, Ritika Purbey, Tanjona Ramiadantsoa, Jonathan Read, Benjamin L. Rice, Lori Rosman, Nick Ruktanonchai, Henrik Salje, Kathryn L. Schaber, Andrew J. Tatem, Jasmine Wang, Derek A. T. Cummings and Amy Wesolowski
Additional contact information
Natalya Kostandova: Johns Hopkins University
Catherine Schluth: Johns Hopkins University
Rohan Arambepola: Johns Hopkins University
Fatumah Atuhaire: University of Southampton
Sophie Bérubé: Johns Hopkins University
Taylor Chin: University of California San Diego
Eimear Cleary: University of Southampton
Oscar Cortes-Azuero: University of Cambridge
Bernardo García-Carreras: University of Florida
Kyra H. Grantz: Johns Hopkins University
Matt D. T. Hitchings: University of Florida
Angkana T. Huang: University of Cambridge
Nishant Kishore: Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health
Shengjie Lai: University of Southampton
Sophie L. Larsen: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Stacie Loisate: Johns Hopkins University
Pamela Martinez: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Hannah R. Meredith: Johns Hopkins University
Ritika Purbey: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Tanjona Ramiadantsoa: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Jonathan Read: Lancaster Medical School
Benjamin L. Rice: Princeton University
Lori Rosman: Johns Hopkins University
Nick Ruktanonchai: University of Southampton
Henrik Salje: University of Cambridge
Kathryn L. Schaber: Johns Hopkins University
Andrew J. Tatem: University of Southampton
Jasmine Wang: Johns Hopkins University
Derek A. T. Cummings: University of Florida
Amy Wesolowski: Johns Hopkins University

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 into a highly susceptible global population was primarily driven by human mobility-induced introduction events. Especially in the early stages, understanding mobility was vital to mitigating the pandemic prior to widespread vaccine availability. We conducted a systematic review of studies published from January 1, 2020, to May 9, 2021, that used population-level human mobility data to understand SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Of the 5505 papers with abstracts screened, 232 were included in the analysis. These papers focused on a range of specific questions but were dominated by analyses focusing on the USA and China. The majority included mobile phone data, followed by Google Community Mobility Reports, and few included any adjustments to account for potential biases in population sampling processes. There was no clear relationship between methods used to integrate mobility and SARS-CoV-2 data and goals of analysis. When considering papers focused only on the estimation of the effective reproductive number within the US, there was no clear relationship identified between this measure and changes in mobility patterns. Our findings underscore the need for standardized, systematic ways to identify the source of mobility data, select an appropriate approach to using it in analysis, and reporting.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54895-7

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