Article Summary
October 20, 2020
Risk for In-Hospital Complications Associated with COVID-19 and Influenza — Veterans Health Administration, United States, October 1, 2018–May 31, 2020
Patients hospitalized for COVID-19 had an in-hospital mortality rate more than 5-fold higher than influenza patients (21% vs 4%), according to retrospective data from a Veterans Health Administration cohort. After adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity and underlying comorbidities, COVID-19 patients had 19-fold higher risk of developing acute respiratory distress syndrome. Risks for exacerbations of asthma…
Remote Learning During COVID-19: Examining School Practices, Service Continuation, and Difficulties for Adolescents With and Without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Families with adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) reported greater difficulties with remote learning practices, according to a recent survey. 31% of parents of adolescents with ADHD with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a 504 Plan report remote learning to be very challenging, compared to 18% of parents of adolescents with ADHD but…
Prevalence and Clinical Outcomes of COVID-19 in Patients with Autoimmune Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
A meta-analysis of 7 case-control studies show 2.2-fold higher risk of COVID-19 infection among those with autoimmune diseases. Among the 2,766 patients in studies reporting clinical outcomes, use of glucocorticoids and conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs were associated with increased risk of hospitalization and mortality. Akiyama et al. (Oct 13, 2020). Prevalence and Clinical Outcomes…
Caregiver Willingness to Vaccinate Their Children against COVID-19: Cross Sectional Survey
An international cross-sectional survey of 1,541 caregivers responsible for care of a child recruited from pediatric clinics conducted from March to May 2020 found that 65% had intentions to vaccinate their child against COVID-19. An intention to vaccinate was more common among caregivers with older children, children with no chronic illness, when fathers complete the…
Pooling of Samples to Optimize SARS-CoV-2 Diagnosis by RT-QPCR: Comparative Analysis of Two Protocols
Pooling naso- or oropharyngeal swab samples prior to RNA extraction was associated with 100% diagnostic accuracy, while pooling after individual-sample RNA extraction was associated with 91% diagnostic accuracy. Volpato et al. conclude that testing protocols should call for pooling swab samples before RNA extraction. Volpato et al. (Oct 16, 2020). Pooling of Samples to Optimize…
Tocilizumab for Treating COVID-19: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis of Retrospective Studies
A systematic review of case-control (n=2,285 patients) and single-arm studies (n=208 patients) found that treatment with the immunomodulator tocilizumab (TCZ) in COVID-19 patients was associated with a lower risk of admission to ICU, invasive ventilation, and mortality compared with standard treatment. Patients who received TCZ had changes of several clinical indicators that marked higher rates…
Effect of Tocilizumab vs Standard Care on Clinical Worsening in Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19 Pneumonia: A Randomized Clinical Trial
A randomized open-label trial of treatment with the immune modulator tocilizumab (TCZ) in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia found that the rate of clinical worsening (entry to ICU unit with intubation, death from all causes, or clinical aggravation) was not significantly different among patients receiving tocilizumab (TCZ) (n=60) and those receiving standard of care (n=66) (RR=1.05;…
Effect of Tocilizumab vs Usual Care in Adults Hospitalized With COVID-19 and Moderate or Severe Pneumonia
A randomized, open-label trial of patients with COVID-19 and pneumonia who required oxygen support but were not admitted to ICU found no statistically significant difference in mortality over 28 days between those receiving the immunomodulator tocilizumab (TCZ) (n=63) and those receiving standard of care (n=67). At day 14, the proportion of patients with noninvasive ventilation,…
Synthesis and Systematic Review of Reported Neonatal SARS-CoV-2 Infections
A systematic review and meta-analysis of neonatal case studies of SARS-CoV-2 infection (n=176) defined by at least one positive nasopharyngeal swab or presence of virus-specific IgM found that vertical transmission (mother-to-child) accounted for 30% SARS-CoV-2 infections and environmental exposure accounted for 70% of infections. 64% had abnormal lung imaging, 55% of neonates developed COVID-19, with…
October 19, 2020
Cardiovascular Diseases Burden in COVID-19: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
A systematic review and meta-analysis of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and COVID-19 (n=56 studies) identified a high burden of CVD among individuals with COVID-19 and significantly elevated risk for mortality and ICU admission among COVID-19 patients with CVD. Specifically, acute cardiac injury, (OR=13.3), hypertension (OR=2.6), heart failure (OR=6.7), arrhythmia (OR=2.8), coronary artery disease (OR=3.8), and cardiovascular…
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