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April 16, 2020
Renin-angiotensin system inhibitors improve the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 patients with hypertension
This study demonstrates that renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors improve the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 patients with hypertension, suggesting that these patients could benefit from the persistent or preferential usage of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers (ARBs) for antihypertensive treatment. Meng et al. (Mar 31, 2020). Renin-angiotensin system inhibitors improve…
Treatment with convalescent plasma for COVID-19 patients in Wuhan, China
This descriptive study, on 6 patients who received the transfusion of ABO-compatible convalescent plasma (CP) to evaluate the efficacy of CP therapy, indicates that CP therapy is effective and specific for COVID-19. The efficacy of this intervention was determined by the alleviation of symptoms, changes in radiologic abnormalities and laboratory tests. Ye et al. (Apr…
Brief Report: Identifying common pharmacotherapies associated with reduced COVID-19 morbidity using electronic health records
Results from a cohort study across 5 Eastern Massachusetts hospitals suggest that electronic health records may complement efforts to identify novel therapeutics for COVID-19 by identifying FDA-approved compounds with potential benefit in reducing COVID-19 associated morbidity. Preliminary findings based on a comparison of ranked electronic prescribing frequencies indicate that medications enriched among test-positive individuals not…
Rapid surveillance of COVID-19 in the United States using a prospective space-time scan statistic: Detecting and evaluating emerging clusters
The authors use prospective space-time scan statistic methodology to detect emerging clusters of COVID-19 in the US and at the county level for 2 distinct time periods, and emphasize the importance of focusing surveillance on emerging and active clusters during epidemics. These timely results can inform public health officials and decision-makers about locations to prioritize…
Impact of population mask wearing on Covid-19 post lockdown
Using a simplified SIR model to investigate the effects of near-universal mask use on COVID-19, the authors state that mask use had a relatively minor benefit on critical-care and mortality rates when transmissibility was high. However, when the RE approached 1 (as might be expected after aggressive social-distancing measures), the model finds a significant reduction…
April 15, 2020
How do environmental, economic and health factors influence regional vulnerability to COVID-19?
Tahmasebi et al studied the correlations between twelve environmental, economic and health variables, and fatality rate of COVID-19 in 14 countries. Results indicate that diabetes prevalence and the proportion of aged population (>65+) in each country were correlated most strongly with the total number of deaths in them. This study highlights the importance of integrating…
Public perceptions and experiences of social distancing and social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic: A UK-based focus group study
Williams et al explored the perceptions and experiences of the UK public on social distancing and isolation measures against COVID-19 pandemic. They report that these measures had substantial negative impacts on the mental health and wellbeing of the public, especially those in low-paid or precarious employment. They recommend that it is necessary to mitigate the…
Human agency and infection rates: implications for social distancing during epidemics
Ramsey (2020) presents a simple theoretical well-mixed populations model for studying impact of social distancing on the spread of COVID -19. The model reports that epidemic growth rate is largely determined by the upper interactivity quantiles of society, and suggests interaction capping approaches rather than overall reductions in interaction. In interactivity capping, the epidemic can…
Pregnancy outcomes, Newborn complications and Maternal-Fetal Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in women with COVID-19: A systematic review
A systematic review was conducted by Gajbhiye et al. on published articles on maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnant women with COVID-19 and the incidence of maternal-fetal transmission. Most common co-morbidities in women included diabetes, hypertensive disorders, and placental disorders, and in neonates included preterm birth, respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia, and low birth weight (all…
Rapid diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection by detecting IgG and IgM antibodies with an immunochromatographic device: a prospective single-center study
Garcia et al evaluated the diagnostic performance of AllTestR COV-19 IgG/IgM kit, which detects IgG and IgM antibodies. While the specificity was high (100%), sensitivity varied from 47.3% on day 1 to 88.9 – 91.1% on day 14. They concluded that for the IgG/IgM kit to be useful in hospitalized patients, the clinical history of…
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