Article Summary
April 14, 2020
“We’re staying at home”. Association of self-perceptions of aging, personal and family resources and loneliness with psychological distress during the lock-down period of COVID-19
A cross-sectional survey of 1,310 Spanish people evaluated stress and loneliness against demographic factors, such as age and sex. The authors found that negative self-perceptions of aging and lower age, together with family and personal resources, are associated with loneliness and psychological distress, but that older adults with positive self-perceptions of aging seem to be…
C-reactive protein correlates with CT findings and predicts severe COVID-19 early
Clinical parameters from 27 consecutive COVID-19 patients and 75 flu patients at initial, progression, peak, and recovery stages of illness were analyzed. The authors found that C-reactive protein in severe COVID-19 patients increased significantly at the initial stage, prior to CT findings, and suggest that this could be used as an early predictor of severe…
Characteristics of Health Care Personnel with COVID-19 — United States, February 12–April 9, 2020
The CDC presents characteristics from 9,282 cases of COVID-19 reported among US HCP. Most HCP were not hospitalized, however severe outcomes, including death, were reported among all age groups. Burrer et al. (April 14, 2020). Characteristics of Health Care Personnel with COVID-19 — United States, February 12–April 9, 2020. MMWR. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/pdfs/mm6915e6-H.pdf
Impact of Social Vulnerability on COVID-19 Incidence and Outcomes in the United States
This study found that each percentile increase in county-level social vulnerability to disasters, measured using the Social Vulnerability Index, was associated with a 63% higher case fatality rate (CFR) after adjusting for other factors. Both CFR and incidence of COVID-19 were significantly higher in counties with lower socio-economic status and higher proportion of minority populations….
Universal Screening for SARS-CoV-2 in Women Admitted for Delivery
Two New York City birthing hospitals share results from universal COVID-19 screening of all pregnant women admitted for delivery (n=215). Over 15% of all women admitted screened positive, with most positive patients presenting as asymptomatic. Sutton et al. (April 13, 2020). Universal Screening for SARS-CoV-2 in Women Admitted for Delivery. NEJM. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMc2009316
No evidence of clinical efficacy of hydroxychloroquine in patients hospitalised for COVID-19 infection and requiring oxygen: results of a study using routinely collected data to emulate a target trial
All adults in 4 French hospitals (n=181) with documented SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia were used to emulate a target trial assessing the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) at 600 mg/day. Findings do not support use of HQC, with no observed reduction in disease severity or death. Mahevas et al. (April 14, 2020). No evidence of clinical efficacy of…
Prolonged presence of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA in faecal samples
Wu et al present SARS-CoV-2 RT PCR results from respiratory and fecal samples taken from 98 COVID-19 patients at a Chinese hospital, throughout the course of their illness and quarantine period. Their data suggest the possibility of extended duration of viral shedding in feces for nearly 5 weeks after respiratory samples tested negative, which may…
Nosocomial infection among patients with coronavirus disease-2019: a retrospective data analysis of 918 cases from a single center in Wuhan city, China
This 1:4 paired case-control study of COVID-19 patients with nosocomial infections (NI) (n=65) and patients without NI (n=260) explored influencing factors of infection. The authors determined that NI are common among patients with COVID-19, and that special attention should be paid to diabetic patients and patients with invasive devices. He et al. (April 13, 2020)….
Transmission of COVID-19 to Health Care Personnel During Exposures to a Hospitalized Patient — Solano County, California, February 2020
The CDC presents data on 121 heath care personnel (HCP) exposed to the first confirmed case of community-acquired COVID-19, of whom 43 developed symptoms during the 14 days after exposure and 3 had positive test results. Unprotected, prolonged patient contact, as well as certain exposures, including some aerosol-generating procedures, were associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in…
Between Geography and Demography: Key Interdependencies and Exit Mechanisms for Covid-19
The authors developed a minimal compartmental model to analyze policies on mobility restrictions in Italy, treating Italian regions as separate entities in which social interactions through differing age classes occur. They found that premature lockdowns barely shift the epidemic in time and that quelled epidemics can quickly recur post-lockdown. They suggest that young and elderly…
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