Clinical characteristic and epidemiological features of SARS CoV -2 disease patients from a COVID 19 designated Hospital in New Delhi

Factors associated with differential COVID-19 mortality rates in the SEAR nations: a narrative review

Objectives

Since December 2019, the world has been grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused severe loss of lives, the breakdown of health infrastructure, and disruption of the global economy. There is growing evidence on mortality patterns in high-income countries. However, similar evidence from low/middle-income nations is lacking. Our review aimed to describe COVID-19 mortality patterns in the WHO-SEAR nations, and explore the associated factors in order to explain such trends.

Methods

A systematic and comprehensive search was undertaken in PubMed and Google Scholar to obtain maximum hits on COVID-19 mortality and its determinants in the SEAR, using a combination of MeSH terms and Boolean operators. The data were narratively synthesized in detail under appropriate themes.

Results

Our search identified 6411 unique records. Mortality patterns were described in terms of important demographical and epidemiological indicators. Gaps in available evidence and paucity of adequate research in this area were also highlighted.

Conclusions

This review examined significant contributors to COVID-19 mortality across SEAR nations, while emphasizing issues relating to insufficient studies and data quality, and reporting challenges and other concerns in resource-constrained settings. There is a compelling need for more work in this area, to help inform decision making and improve public-health response.

Clinical profile of coronavirus disease 2019 comparing the first and second waves: A single-center study from North India

Background and Objectives:

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, caused by the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), led to a devastating pandemic that hit majority of the countries globally in a wave-like pattern. The characteristics of the disease varied in different geographical areas and different populations. This study highlights the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 during two major waves in North India.

Materials and Methods:

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of all COVID-19-reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction-positive patients, admitted from March 2020 to June 2021, to a tertiary care center in North India, were studied retrospectively.

Results:

During this period, total of 5652 patients were diagnosed having COVID. Patients who were incidentally diagnosed as COVID-positive (n=667) with other unrelated comorbid conditions and patients admitted under level 1 facility (n=1655; 1219 from first and 436 from second wave) were excluded from final analysis. Males were most commonly affected in both waves, with male to female ratio 4:1 in first and 3:1 in second wave. First wave had significantly more people with co-morbidities like diabetes mellitus and hypertension (P=0.001), whereas younger age group (age <40 years) were significantly more affected in second wave (P= 0.000). Fever was the most common presenting complaint in both waves, followed by cough and breathlessness. Patients during first wave had more severe disease at presentation and high mortality compared to the second wave.

Conclusion:

Majority of the patients with COVID-19 infection presenting to our hospital were young during the second wave. Fever was noted as presenting manifestation. Mortality was low during the second wave as compared to the first wave, likely to be due to proper protocol-based treatment resulting in better outcomes.

Prevalence of co-morbidities and its association with mortality in Indian patients with COVID-19: A meta-analysis

Background and Aims:

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19) has spread to every corner of the world and has led to significant health consequences, especially in patients with co morbidities. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of co morbidities among COVID 19 patients in the Indian population and their association with mortality.

Methods:

PubMed, Google Scholar, and World Health Organization website were searched for Indian studies on COVID 19 published from February 2020 up to 20 May 2021. English language publications from India, studies reporting epidemiological characteristics, prevalence of co morbidities and in hospital mortality were included in the meta analysis.

Results:

34 studies were identified with a total of 23,034 patients. The pooled prevalence for co morbidities in COVID 19 patients was 18.1% [95% confidence interval (CI), 13.3 to 24.3%] for hypertension, 17.7% (95% CI, 12.2 to 25.1%) for diabetes, 7.9% (95% CI, 4.6 to 13.4%) for hypothyroidism and 7.7%(95% CI, 4.8 to 12. 1%) for cardiovascular diseases. For chronic kidney disease (CKD), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cerebrovascular diseases, asthma, chronic liver disease, tuberculosis and cancer, the pooled prevalence was less than 4%. Additionally, the mortality risk was increased significantly in patients with CKD [odds ratio (OR) = 4.1], COPD (OR = 3.9), diabetes (OR = 3.7), cardiovascular diseases (OR = 4.07), tuberculosis (OR = 6.11), chronic liver disease (OR = 8.5), malignancy (OR = 1.89) and hypertension (OR = 2.9). Cerebrovascular diseases, hypothyroidism and asthma were not associated with increased mortality.

Conclusion:

Co-morbidities are more prevalent in COVID 19 hospitalised patients and the presence of co morbidities is associated with increased risk of mortality in Indian COVID 19 patients.

A Mid-to-Long Term Comprehensive Evaluation of Psychological Distress and Erectile Function in COVID-19 Recovered Patients

BACKGROUND

The psychological and sexual health of different populations are negatively affected during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, little is known about psychological distress and erectile function of male recovered patients with COVID-19 in the long term.

AIM

We aimed to evaluate psychological distress and erectile function of male recovered patients with COVID-19 in the mid-to-long terms.

METHODS

We recruited 67 eligible male recovered patients with COVID-19 and followed them up twice within approximately 6 months of recovery time. The psychological distress and erectile function were assessed by validated Chinese version of paper questionnaires.

OUTCOMES

The primary outcomes were Symptom Checklist 90 questionnaire for psychological distress and International Index of Erectile Function-5 for erectile function.

RESULTS

In the first visit, COVID-19 patients with a median recovery time of 80 days mainly presented the following positive symptoms: Obsessive-Compulsive, additional items (ADD), Hostility, Interpersonal Sensitivity, Depression, and Somatization; while the dimension scores in Somatization, Anxiety, ADD, and Phobia were higher than Chinese male norms. Besides, the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) in the first-visit patients was significantly higher than Chinese controls. In the second visit, the primary psychological symptoms of COVID-19 patients with a median recovery time of 174 days were Obsessive-Compulsive, ADD, Interpersonal Sensitivity, and Hostility, while all dimensions scores of Symptom Checklist 90 were lower than Chinese male norms. Moreover, second-visit patients had no significant difference with Chinese controls in ED prevalence. In addition, it suggested that GSI was the independent risk factor for ED in the regression analysis for the first-visit patients.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

The study showed the changes of psychological symptoms and erectile function in COVID-19 recovered patients, and provided reference on whether psychological and sexual supports are needed after a period of recovery.

STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS

To our knowledge, it is the first study to comprehensively evaluate the psychological distress and erectile function of COVID-19 recovered patients in the mid-to-long terms. The main limitations were the low number of analyzed participants, and the psychological distress and erectile function of healthy Chinese men over the same period were not evaluated, and the psychological and sexual related data of participants prior to COVID-19 were not available. Additionally, there was a selection bias in comparing COVID-19 patients with healthy controls.

CONCLUSION

With less impact of COVID-19 event, the impaired erectile function and psychological distress improved in COVID-19 recovered patients with a recovery time of nearly half a year. Hu B, Ruan Y, Liu K, et al. A Mid-to-Long Term Comprehensive Evaluation of Psychological Distress and Erectile Function in COVID-19 Recovered Patients. J Sex Med 2021;18:1863-1871.

Short Communication: Coronavirus Disease 19 Among People Living with HIV in Western India: An Observational Cohort Study

A retrospective cohort study was conducted to assess clinical characteristics and outcomes of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in western India. Out of 86 PLHIV with COVID-19 illness, 19.7% had severe/critical illness and 6 (6.9%) individuals died. Median (interquartile range) age was 51 (47-56) years and 77.6% were male. Eighty-five PLHIV were on antiretroviral treatment with 98% having a viral load <200 copies/mL. Hypertension (HTN) (38.3%) and diabetes mellitus (17.4%) were commonest comorbidities. Fifty-eight percent PLHIV were hospitalized while 6.9% individuals needed intensive care. Presence of medical comorbidity was significantly associated with severe/critical COVID-19, whereas HTN was significantly associated with mortality. Recovery from COVID-19 was documented in 93% PLHIV. In conclusion, PLHIV in western India have similar COVID-19 clinical outcomes as compared with those reported historically among general population. Presence of medical comorbidities rather than HIV-related disease characteristics is associated with severe COVID-19 illness.

Evidence of the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus in atmospheric air and surfaces of a dedicated COVID hospital

The present study was conducted from July 1, 2020 to September 25, 2020 in a dedicated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) hospital in Delhi, India to provide evidence for the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) virus in atmospheric air and surfaces of the hospital wards. Swabs from hospital surfaces (patient's bed, ward floor, and nursing stations area) and suspended particulate matter in ambient air were collected by a portable air sampler from the medicine ward, intensive care unit, and emergency ward admitting COVID‐19 patients. By performing reverse‐transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) for E‐gene and RdRp gene, SARS‐CoV‐2 virus was detected from hospital surfaces and particulate matters from the ambient air of various wards collected at 1 and 3‐m distance from active COVID‐19 patients. The presence of the virus in the air beyond a 1‐m distance from the patients and surfaces of the hospital indicates that the SARS‐CoV‐2 virus has the potential to be transmitted by airborne and surface routes from COVID‐19 patients to health‐care workers working in COVID‐19 dedicated hospital. This warrants that precautions against airborne and surface transmission of COVID‐19 in the community should be taken when markets, industries, educational institutions, and so on, reopen for normal activities.