Article Summary
May 13, 2020
The Real Time Effective Reproductive Number for COVID-19 in the United States
Keegan et al. compared the reproductive number (Rt) calculated between two methods, the Wallinga and Teunis (WT) method (forward-looking) and the Cori method (backward-looking) to estimate the impact of all combined non-pharmaceutical interventions in US. Results show that most states have been able to reduce the Rt of SARS-CoV-2. However, few states have demonstrated an ability to maintain Rt below a value of 1. The median difference in timing…
Significant Relaxation of SARS-CoV-2-Targeted Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions Will Result in Profound Mortality A New York State Modelling Study
Hoffman modeled the effect of unidentified infections, seasonal infectivity, immunity, and non-pharmaceutical interventions on the risk of SARS-CoV-2 in New York State. Simulations revealed dramatic infectivity driven by unidentified infections with a peak basic reproductive number of 5.7. Reduction of social distancing by >50% below current levels would result in increased mortality. Endemic infection is likely to occur in the absence of profound sustained…
The Early Food Insecurity Impacts of COVID-19
Niles et al. conducted a statewide population-level survey to assess food insecurity in Vermont from March 29-April 12, 2020, during the beginning of a statewide stay-at-home order. Among 3,219 respondents, there was a 33% increase in household food insecurity since COVID-19, with 35.6% of food insecure households classified as newly food insecure. Respondents experiencing a…
Manifestations and Prognosis of Gastrointestinal and Liver Involvement in Patients with COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Mao et al. conducted a meta-analysis of 35 studies, including 6,686 patients with COVID-19, to estimate the effects of COVID-19 on the digestive system. The pooled prevalence of digestive symptoms (29 studies, n=6064) was 15% (IQR 10–21) with nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite being the three most common symptoms. The pooled prevalence of abnormal liver…
COVID‐19 and the Cerebro‐Cardiovascular Systems: What Do We Know so Far?
SARS‐CoV‐2 has high‐affinity for the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, which is highly concentrated in the lungs and cardiovascular tissue, showing a potential mechanism for cardiovascular involvement in COVID‐19 cases. This literature review of COVID‐19 and cardiovascular system involvement found evidence of pre‐existing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease is a risk‐factor for severe infection. COVID‐19 patients may be more likely to experience acute…
Treatment of COVID-19 Patients with Convalescent Plasma in Houston Texas
Salazar et al. explored the safety of convalescent plasma therapy among 25 patients with severe and/or life-threatening COVID-19 disease enrolled at the Houston Methodist hospitals. Patients were transfused with convalescent plasma obtained from donors with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection who been symptom free for 14 days. At 7 days post-transfusion, 9 patients had at least a 1-point improvement in clinical scale, and 7 of those…
Association of Vitamin D Deficiency and Treatment with COVID-19 Incidence
A retrospective cohort study found some evidence that a vitamin D deficiency in the past year was associated with an increased risk of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2. Meltzer et al. (May 13, 2020). Association of Vitamin D Deficiency and Treatment with COVID-19 Incidence. Pre-print downloaded May 13 from https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.05.08.20095893
Prolonged Viral RNA Shedding after COVID-19 Symptom Resolution in Older Convalescent Plasma Donors
Re-testing of 86 previously SARS-CoV-2 positive patients from a Wisconsin tertiary care center after self-reported symptom resolution showed that 11 (13%) were still positive at a median of 19 days (range 12-24 days) after symptom resolution. Patients who re-tested positive were not significantly different from test-negative patients with respect to days since symptom recovery. To the extent…
Pre-Procedural Surveillance Testing for SARS-CoV-2 in an Asymptomatic Population Shows Low Rates of Positivity
Among University of Washington Medical Center asymptomatic patients screened prior to admission and patients screened prior to surgical or aerosolizing procedures, a very low proportion tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Among 349 asymptomatic patients tested at admission, 0.9% (n=3) were positive and 0.6% (n=2) were inconclusive. Among 350 patients undergoing surgical or aerosolizing procedures, 0.9% (n=3)…
Real-Time Tracking of Self-Reported Symptoms to Predict Potential COVID-19
Menni et al. examine implementation of a smartphone-based app for tracking COVID-19. 2.6 million participants used the app to report their potential symptoms. Among 18,401 who had undergone a SARS-CoV-2 test, the proportion who reported loss of smell and taste was higher in those with a positive result (4,668 of 7,178; 65%) than in those with a negative result…
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