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December 17, 2020
High Prevalence of Pulmonary Sequelae at 3 Months After Hospital Discharge in Mechanically Ventilated COVID-19 Survivors
Only 55% of COVID-19 survivors who were mechanically ventilated (n=94) survived until at least 3 months post- hospital discharge. Among 48 people in the follow-up study, there was a high prevalence of pulmonary sequelae. Diminished total lung capacity and diffusion capacity were observed in 23 and 36 participants, respectively. High resolution chest tomography showed signs…
Natural History of COVID-19: Risk Factors for Hospitalizations and Deaths among 26 Million U.S. Medicare Beneficiaries
An analysis of over 26 million US Medicare beneficiaries found the COVID-19 death rate among beneficiaries in nursing homes was much higher than among beneficiaries in the general Medicare population (275.7 vs 5 per 10,000). Clinical predictors of death in the study population included immunocompromised status, frailty index conditions, and comorbidities. Demographic predictors of death…
Covid-19 and Blood Groups: ABO Antibody Levels May Also Matter
Results from an in vitro study suggest that SARS-CoV-2 that has replicated in cells expressing blood group A and B antigens could be tagged with these antigens. A subsequent observational study (n=290 COVID-19 patients, n=276 asymptomatic controls) found that ABO antibody levels, which are antibodies that correspond to blood type, were significantly lower in COVID-19…
REGN-COV2, a Neutralizing Antibody Cocktail, in Outpatients with Covid-19
An interim analysis of the ongoing randomized placebo-controlled phase 1-3 trial of the antibody cocktail REGN-COV2 among non-hospitalized patients with COVID-19 (n=228) found a larger reduction in SARS-CoV-2 viral load among patients in the treatment group vs. the placebo group, with a mean difference of -0.41 log10 copies per milliliter (95% CI, −0.71 to −0.10)….
Inclusion of Pregnant Women in COVID-19 Treatment Trials: A Review and Global Call to Action
A review of COVID-19 treatment trials throughout different timepoints in the pandemic found that a substantial portion of trials listed pregnancy as an exclusion criterion. A review in April found that 80% (124/155) of trials excluded pregnant persons, with a similar finding of 75% (538/722) in July. Among studies focusing on therapeutic drugs (including remdesivir),…
The Accuracy of Healthcare Worker versus Self Collected (2-in-1) Oropharyngeal and Bilateral Mid-Turbinate (OPMT) Swabs and Saliva Samples for SARS-CoV-2
A diagnostic accuracy study (n=401 patients with confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis) found that self-collected oropharynx and mid-turbinate (OMPT) and saliva samples had lower detection rates (75.1% and 74.3%, respectively) than healthcare worker (HCW)-collected OPMT swabs (82.8%). However, the combination of self-collected OMPT and saliva samples performed similarly (86.5% detection rate). The sensitivity of self-collected samples increased…
SARS-CoV-2 Detected on Environmental Fomites for Both Asymptomatic and Symptomatic COVID-19 Patients
SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected on surfaces in the rooms of both symptomatic and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infected patients in a hospital in Shenzen, China. Among asymptomatic patients, samples from squat toilets showed the highest positivity rate, followed by samples related to mouth or nose contact (e.g. water cup, straw), and then samples from inside masks worn…
Drivers of Acceptance of COVID-19 Proximity Tracing Apps in Switzerland: A Panel Survey Analysis (Preprint)
Higher monthly household income, more frequent internet use, better adherence to mask use, and being a non-smoker were associated with reported uptake of digital proximity tracing apps in Sweden (n=1,511). In a randomly selected subsample (n=711) with more detailed information, higher levels of trust in government and health authorities were associated with app uptake. Most…
December 16, 2020
All-Cause Excess Mortality and COVID-19–Related Mortality Among US Adults Aged 25-44 Years, March-July 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with increases in all-cause mortality among US adults aged 25-44 from March to July of 2020. 38% of all-cause excess deaths in this age group were attributed directly to COVID-19, and while the remaining excess deaths are unexplained, the authors posit that inadequate SARS-CoV-2 testing likely contributed to the discrepancy….
Racial Differences in Statewide Suicide Mortality Trends in Maryland During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic
A study of suicide patterns in Maryland during the COVID-19 pandemic found that completed suicides approximately doubled in residents who identified as Black whereas completed suicides were approximately halved in white residents. The authors reached their conclusions by comparing medical examiner records from 2020 to records from 2017 to 2019. Population size did not change…
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