Baseline immune status and the effectiveness of response to enteral nutrition among ICU patients with COVID-19: An observational, retrospective study

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to compare how immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients responded differently to enteral nutrition (EN) support in intensive care units (ICUs) during the COVID-19 pandemic, including serum nutritional biomarkers, inflammatory biomarkers, gastrointestinal (GI) intolerance symptoms, and clinical outcomes.

METHODS

An observational, retrospective study was conducted in the ICUs of a teaching hospital in southwest China. We recruited a convenience sample of 154 patients between December 2022 and February 2023. We defined immunocompromise as primary immunodeficiency diseases, active malignancy, receiving cancer chemotherapy, HIV infection, solid organ transplantation, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, receiving corticosteroid therapy with a target dose, receiving biological immune modulators, or receiving disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs or other immunosuppressive drugs. We conducted a Mann-Whitney U test, χ2 test, or generalized estimation equation model to explore the differences between immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients.

RESULTS

Among the 154 study participants, 41 (27%) were defined as immunocompromised. The immunocompromised patients were younger than the immunocompetent patients. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups with respect to serum nutritional biomarkers, inflammatory biomarkers, incidence of GI intolerance symptoms, and in-hospital mortality. However, the immunocompromised patients exhibited a longer hospitalization duration than the immunocompetent patients.

CONCLUSION

We found that the immunocompromised patients spent more time in the hospital. These findings may help us to standardize the participants before EN interventional studies better and better individualize EN supports based on patients' immunity status.

Strange, Rare and Peculiar Symptoms of COVID-19 Cases Managed by Practitioners of the Homeopathy Help Network

BACKGROUND

 More than 670 million people have been infected by COVID-19. This case series reports 8 of 55 cases in a broader study of COVID-positive clients who sought homeopathic care for symptoms. Existing studies of homeopathy and COVID-19 have sometimes failed to employ the underpinning theoretical framework of homeopathy-the genus epidemicus. Special focus has been placed on standout symptoms not often reported in conventional medical outlets, known among homeopaths as "strange, rare and peculiar" (SRP) symptoms. The Homeopathy Help Network (HHN) team of practitioners noted SRP symptoms across dozens of cases and studied how they shifted collectively as different variants of the virus emerged.

METHODS

 COVID-positive individuals self-selected for individualized care for their symptoms using homeopathy. They received tele-health consultations and individualized homeopathy interventions in an out-patient homeopathy clinical setting. Clients were seen by individual professional homeopathy practitioners and students under supervision working at the HHN in the United States. Cases for the series were hand-picked with the aim of being an average representation of the more than 4,000 COVID-positive cases seen by members of the HHN. Cases in the full compendium are grouped according to a predominant case feature: Multiple remedies, Posology, Time ill, Single remedy resolution, Hospitalization and, in this case series, SRP symptoms.

RESULTS

 SRP symptoms included: continually on the verge of unconsciousness; dark green stools; very low pulse alternating with tachycardia; sensation of strong or burning chemical smells; sensation of inhaling water through the nose; recurring electric shock sensations in head or extremities; yellow-green stools.

CONCLUSION

 Collective SRP symptoms from the pandemic provided the opportunity to study the hallmark features of COVID-19 in depth. The importance of these symptoms highlights the applicability of Hahnemannian principles and good case-taking practices.

Impact of Positive End-Expiratory Pressure and FiO2 on Lung Mechanics and Intrapulmonary Shunt in Mechanically Ventilated Patients with ARDS Due to COVID-19 Pneumonia

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effects of inspired oxygen fraction (FiO2) and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) on gas exchange in mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19. Methods: Two FiO2 (100%, 40%) were tested at 3 decreasing levels of PEEP (15, 10, and 5 cmH2O). At each FiO2 and PEEP, gas exchange, respiratory mechanics, hemodynamics, and the distribution of ventilation and perfusion were assessed with electrical impedance tomography. The impact of FiO2 on the intrapulmonary shunt (delta shunt) was analyzed as the difference between the calculated shunt at FiO2 100% (shunt) and venous admixture at FiO2 40% (venous admixture). Results: Fourteen patients were studied. Decreasing PEEP from 15 to 10 cmH2O did not change shunt (24 [21-28] vs 27 [24-29]%) or venous admixture (18 [15-26] vs 23 [18-34]%) while partial pressure of arterial oxygen (FiO2 100%) was higher at PEEP 15 (262 [198-338] vs 256 [147-315] mmHg; P < .05). Instead when PEEP was decreased from 10 to 5 cmH2O, shunt increased to 36 [30-39]% (P < .05) and venous admixture increased to 33 [30-43]% (P < .05) and partial pressure of arterial oxygen (100%) decreased to 109 [76-177] mmHg (P < .05). At PEEP 15, administration of 100% FiO2 resulted in a shunt greater than venous admixture at 40% FiO2, ((24 [21-28] vs 18 [15-26]%, P = .005), delta shunt 5.5% (2.3-8.8)). Compared to PEEP 10, PEEP of 5 and 15 cmH2O resulted in decreased global and pixel-level compliance. Cardiac output at FiO2 100% resulted higher at PEEP 5 (5.4 [4.4-6.5]) compared to PEEP 10 (4.8 [4.1-5.5], P < .05) and PEEP 15 cmH2O (4.7 [4.5-5.4], P < .05). Conclusion: In this study, PEEP of 15 cmH2O, despite resulting in the highest oxygenation, was associated with overdistension. PEEP of 5 cmH2O was associated with increased shunt and alveolar collapse. Administration of 100% FiO2 was associated with an increase in intrapulmonary shunt in the setting of high PEEP. Trial registration: NCT05132933.

COVID-19 disease among children and young adults enrolled in the North American Pediatric Renal Trials and Collaborative Studies registry

BACKGROUND

Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) has disproportionately affected adults with kidney disease. Data regarding outcomes among children with kidney disease are limited. The North American Pediatric Renal Trials Collaborative Studies Registry (NAPRTCS) has followed children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) since 1987 at 87 participating centers. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 among participants enrolled in the three arms of the registry: CKD, dialysis, and transplant.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study of COVID-19 among participants in the NAPRTCS CKD, dialysis, and transplant registries from 2020 to 2022. Where appropriate, t-tests, chi-square analyses, and univariate logistic regression were used to evaluate the data.

RESULTS

The cohort included 1505 NAPRTCS participants with recent data entry; 260 (17%) had documented COVID-19. Infections occurred in all three registry arms, namely, 10% (n = 29) in CKD, 11% (n = 67) in dialysis, and 26% (n = 164) in transplant. The majority of participants (75%) were symptomatic. Hospitalizations occurred in 17% (n = 5) of participants with CKD, 27% (n = 18) maintenance dialysis participants, and 26% (n = 43) of transplant participants. Fourteen percent (n = 4) of CKD participants and 10% (n = 17) of transplant participants developed acute kidney injury (AKI), and a total of eight participants (one CKD, seven transplant) required dialysis initiation. Among transplant participants with moderate to severe illness, 40-43% developed AKI and 29-40% required acute dialysis. There were no reported deaths.

CONCLUSIONS

COVID-19 was documented in 17% of active NAPRTCS participants. While there was no documented mortality, the majority of participants were symptomatic, and a quarter required hospitalization.

Effect of decreasing PEEP on hyperinflation and collapse in COVID-19: A computed tomography study

BACKGROUND

High positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP>10 cmH2O) is commonly used in mechanically ventilated hypoxemic patients with COVID-19. However, some epidemiological and physiological studies indirectly suggest that using a lower PEEP may primarily and beneficially decrease lung hyperinflation in this population. Herein we directly quantified the effect of decreasing PEEP from 15 to 10 cmH2O on lung hyperinflation and collapse in mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19.

METHODS

Twenty mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 underwent a lung computed tomography (CT) at PEEP of 15 and 10 cmH2O. The effect of decreasing PEEP on lung hyperinflation and collapse was directly quantified as the change in the over-aerated (density below -900 HU) and non-aerated (density above -100 HU) lung volumes. The net response to decreasing PEEP was computed as the sum of the change in those two compartments and expressed as the change in the "pathologic" lung volume. If the pathologic lung volume decreased (i.e., hyperinflation decreased more than collapse increased) when PEEP was decreased, the net response was considered positive; otherwise, it was considered negative.

RESULTS

On average, the ratio of arterial tension to inspiratory fraction of oxygen (PaO2:FiO2) in the overall study population was 137 (119-162) mmHg. In 11 (55%) patients, the net response to decreasing PEEP was positive. Their over-aerated lung volume decreased by 159 (98-186) mL, while the non-aerated lung volume increased by only 58 (31-91) mL. In nine (45%) patients, the net response was negative. Their over-aerated lung volume decreased by 46 (18-72) mL, but their non-aerated lung volume increased by 107 (44-121) mL.

CONCLUSION

In 20 patients with COVID-19 the net response to decreasing PEEP, as assessed with lung CT, was variable. In approximately half of them it was positive (and possibly beneficial), with a decrease in hyperinflation larger than the increase in collapse.

Functional Dependence Prior to ICU Admission is Associated with Worse Clinical and Functional Outcomes in Individuals with COVID-19: A Prospective Observational Study

Objectives: To determine whether low functional capacity (FC) prior to intensive care unit (ICU) admission due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) might be associated with worse clinical outcomes. To monitor FC until discharge from the ICU. To identify associations between physical outcomes and decreased FC at discharge from the ICU. Design: Prospective observational study conducted from March to August 2021. Setting: ICU for adult patients with COVID-19. Participants: Adults (≥18 years) with COVID-19. Interventions: Not applicable. Main outcome measures: Clinical and demographic data were obtained from medical records. At ICU admission, evaluation was made of FC using the Barthel index (BI), and of the level of mobility using the ICU mobility scale. At ICU discharge, FC and mobility level were reassessed, and muscle strength was measured using the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale and the handgrip test. Results: The study was performed with 108 individuals. At the initial assessment, 73.1% of the patients were functionally independent. Length of hospital stay (odds ratio [OR]  =  1.05; 95%confidence interval [CI]  =  1.00-1.10) and death (OR  =  5.27; 95%CI  =  1.37-20.28) were related to functional status prior to ICU admission. Between ICU admission and discharge, the BI evaluation indicated a functional decline of 22.5 points. Low mobility level (P  =  .003) and low muscle strength assessed by the MRC scale (P < .001), measured at ICU discharge, were associated with a greater decrease of FC during the ICU stay. Conclusions: Patients with COVID-19 who were functionally dependent prior to ICU admission presented worse clinical outcomes, with low functional status being associated with longer hospitalization and higher mortality. However, irrespective of the initial functionality status, the surviving individuals suffered from functional decline at ICU discharge. Greater functional decline during the ICU stay was associated with lower muscle strength and lower mobility level at ICU discharge.

Healthcare Providers' Experiences of Caring for Patients With COVID-19 Requiring Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support

BACKGROUND

Coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) affected healthcare workers (HCW) in ways more than increasing the volume of patients needing care. Increased numbers of patients at younger ages required support with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Providing this care requires an interdisciplinary team.

AIM

This study explored the experiences of HCW caring for patients with COVID-19 on ECMO.

METHODS

Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted via videoconferencing, and transcript comparison was used for the analysis.

FINDINGS

Open coding of the data generated 7 categories including (1) fearing the unknown, (2) confronting challenges in patient and/or family interactions, (3) encountering barriers to providing care, (4) facing moral distress, (5) working through exhaustion, (6) persevering by strengthening teamwork, (7) and acknowledging frustration with non-believers.

DISCUSSION

HCW balanced pessimism and optimism while caring for patient with COVID-19 on ECMO. They used negative experiences caring for these patients to strength teamwork and bonding among peers.

CONCLUSION

The practice implications for caring for patients with COVID-19 on ECMO include viligance by clinician and organization to protect the wellbeing of healthcare providers, particularly in ICU and ECMO units were moral distress and burnout can be high.

Worse survival in patients with right ventricular dysfunction and COVID-19-associated acute respiratory distress requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: A multicenter study from the ORACLE Group

OBJECTIVE

We sought to determine the impact of right ventricular dysfunction on the outcomes of mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 requiring veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

METHODS

Six academic centers conducted a retrospective analysis of mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 stratified by support with veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation during the first wave of the pandemic (March to August 2020). Echocardiograms performed for clinical indications were reviewed for right and left ventricular function. Baseline characteristics, hospitalization characteristics, and survival were compared.

RESULTS

The cohort included 424 mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19, 126 of whom were cannulated for veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Right ventricular dysfunction was observed in 38.1% of patients who received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and 27.4% of patients who did not receive extracorporeal membrane oxygenation with an echocardiogram. Biventricular dysfunction was observed in 5.5% of patients who received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Baseline patient characteristics were similar in both the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and non-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cohorts stratified by the presence of right ventricular dysfunction. In the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cohort, right ventricular dysfunction was associated with increased inotrope use (66.7% vs 24.4%, P < .001), bleeding complications (77.1% vs 53.8%, P = .015), and worse survival independent of left ventricular dysfunction (39.6% vs 64.1%, P = .012). There was no significant difference in days ventilated before extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, length of hospital stay, hours on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, duration of mechanical ventilation, vasopressor use, inhaled pulmonary vasodilator use, infectious complications, clotting complications, or stroke. The cohort without extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cohort demonstrated no statistically significant differences in in-hospital outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of right ventricular dysfunction in patients with COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome supported with veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was associated with increased in-hospital mortality. Additional studies are required to determine if mitigating right ventricular dysfunction in patients requiring veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation improves mortality.

[Clinical characteristics of COVID-19 infection in patients undergoing hemodialysis]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the clinical characteristics of hemodialysis patients with corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a single-center from Beijing.

METHODS

Patients with COVID-19 who received regular hemodialysis at Peking University Third Hospital from November 30, 2022 to January 4, 2023 were selected as the study objects. Clinical symptoms, severity and duration of symptoms during the period of virus positive were investigated in the form of questionnaires, and the basic information of the patients, as well as the results of blood tests (routine blood and blood biochemistry, etc.) before and after infection, dialysis treatment and the outcome of the disease were collected by consulting medical records.

RESULTS

A total of 203 subjects were included in this study, including 148 mild cases (72.91%), 23 medium cases (11.33%), 32 severe and critical cases (15.76%), and 16 (7.88%) deaths occured during the follow-up. Clinical symptoms mainly included respiratory symptoms (among which 81.77% had cough, 68.97% had expectoration), fever (81.28%) and fatigue (65.52%), and fatigue and weakness had the longest duration [9 (5, 15) days] among all symptoms. Twenty-six patients (12.8%) reduced the dialysis sessions [1 (1, 2) times], 25 patients (12.32%) had the behavior of early finishing dialysis (27 times), reducing the dialysis time by 30.0 (20.0, 30.5) minutes. Univa-riate analysis showed that the hemoglobin, creatinine, urea nitrogen and ultrafiltration decreased signi-ficantly after infection (P < 0.05). There were significant differences in age, albumin, hemoglobin, creatinine levels and vascular access types among the patients with different clinical subtypes, and the changes of dialysis sessions, fever, expectoration and fatigue degree were also different among the patients with different clinical subtypes (P < 0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age (OR=1.051, 95%CI: 1.017-1.086, P=0.003) and albumin levels (OR=0.905, 95%CI: 0.803-1.019, P=0.098) corrected by fever, expectoration and fatigue levels were still associated with the occurrence of pneumonia.

CONCLUSION

The morbidity of pneumonia and the proportion of deaths in hemodialysis patients with COVID-19 were higher, and some clinical symptoms lasted for a longer time than the general population. During the infection period, the incidence of dialysis-related complications increased, hemoglobin and nutritional status decreased. Elderly patients and patients with low albumin level had a higher risk of developing pneumonia after infection.

Demographic, social, and clinical aspects associated with access to COVID-19 health care in Pará province, Brazilian Amazon

Internal social disparities in the Brazilian Amazon became more evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this work was to examine the demographic, social and clinical factors associated with access to COVID-19 health care in Pará Province in the Brazilian Amazon. This was an observational, cross-sectional, analytical study using a quantitative method through an online survey conducted from May to August 2023. People were eligible to participate if they were current residents of Pará, 18-years-old or older, with self-reported diagnoses of COVID-19 through rapid or laboratory tests. Participants completed an electronic survey was developed using Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) software-The adapted questionnaire "COVID-19 Global Clinical Platform: Case Report Form for Post-COVID Condition". Questions focused on access to COVID-19 treatment, demographic characteristics, COVID-19 vaccine and clinical characteristics. Respondent-driven sampling was applied to recruit participants. Multiple logistic regression was utilized to identify the associated factors. Overall, a total of 638 participants were included. The average age was 31.1 years. Access to COVID-19 health care was 68.65% (438/638). The participants most likely to access health care were those with moderate or severe COVID-19 (p = 0.000; OR: 19.8) and females (p = 0.001; OR: 1.99). Moreover, participants who used homemade tea or herbal medicines were less likely to receive health care for COVID-19 in health services (p = 0.002; OR: 0.54). Ensuring access to healthcare is important in a pandemic scenario.

What is quality in long covid care? Lessons from a national quality improvement collaborative and multi-site ethnography

BACKGROUND

Long covid (post covid-19 condition) is a complex condition with diverse manifestations, uncertain prognosis and wide variation in current approaches to management. There have been calls for formal quality standards to reduce a so-called "postcode lottery" of care. The original aim of this study-to examine the nature of quality in long covid care and reduce unwarranted variation in services-evolved to focus on examining the reasons why standardizing care was so challenging in this condition.

METHODS

In 2021-2023, we ran a quality improvement collaborative across 10 UK sites. The dataset reported here was mostly but not entirely qualitative. It included data on the origins and current context of each clinic, interviews with staff and patients, and ethnographic observations at 13 clinics (50 consultations) and 45 multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings (244 patient cases). Data collection and analysis were informed by relevant lenses from clinical care (e.g. evidence-based guidelines), improvement science (e.g. quality improvement cycles) and philosophy of knowledge.

RESULTS

Participating clinics made progress towards standardizing assessment and management in some topics; some variation remained but this could usually be explained. Clinics had different histories and path dependencies, occupied a different place in their healthcare ecosystem and served a varied caseload including a high proportion of patients with comorbidities. A key mechanism for achieving high-quality long covid care was when local MDTs deliberated on unusual, complex or challenging cases for which evidence-based guidelines provided no easy answers. In such cases, collective learning occurred through idiographic (case-based) reasoning, in which practitioners build lessons from the particular to the general. This contrasts with the nomothetic reasoning implicit in evidence-based guidelines, in which reasoning is assumed to go from the general (e.g. findings of clinical trials) to the particular (management of individual patients).

CONCLUSION

Not all variation in long covid services is unwarranted. Largely because long covid's manifestations are so varied and comorbidities common, generic "evidence-based" standards require much individual adaptation. In this complex condition, quality improvement resources may be productively spent supporting MDTs to optimise their case-based learning through interdisciplinary discussion. Quality assessment of a long covid service should include review of a sample of individual cases to assess how guidelines have been interpreted and personalized to meet patients' unique needs.

STUDY REGISTRATION

NCT05057260, ISRCTN15022307.

[Best evidence summary for awake prone positioning in treating hypoxemic due to COVID-19 infection]

Objective: To retrieve, evaluate, and summarize the best evidence for the treatment of hypoxemia in patients with COVID-19 infection using the awake prone positioning, with the aim of guiding healthcare professionals in the standardized implementation of this therapy. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in databases including UpToDate, BMJ Best Practice, JBI Evidence-Based Healthcare Center, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, Intensive Care Society, European Respiratory Society, World Health Organization website, Cochrane Library, PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang. The retrieved literature was subjected to quality assessment and evidence extraction. Results: A total of ten publications were included, consisting of one thematic evidence summary, one guideline, two systematic reviews, three randomized controlled trials, and three expert consensus statements. This summary synthesizes thirty key pieces of evidence in five categories: organizational management and training, risk assessment, preparatory operations, implementation key points, and risk control. Conclusions: Awake prone positioning is beneficial for improving hypoxemia in patients with COVID-19 and is easy to implement. Medical institutions should develop nursing management systems, operational standards, and best practices for awake prone positioning based on evidence-based evidence in order to improve the quality of care management for such patients.

Anti-inflammatory therapies are associated with delayed onset of anemia and reduction in transfusion requirements in critically ill patients: results from two studies

BACKGROUND

Anemia is a hallmark of critical illness, which is largely inflammatory driven. We hypothesized that the use of anti-inflammatory agents limits the development of anemia and reduces the need for red blood cell (RBC) transfusions in patients with a hyper-inflammatory condition due to COVID-19.

METHODS

An observational cohort (n = 772) and a validation cohort (a subset of REMAP-CAP, n = 119) of critically ill patients with hypoxemic respiratory failure due to COVID-19 were analyzed, who either received no treatment, received steroids or received steroids plus IL-6 blocking agents. The trajectory of hemoglobin (Hb) decline and the need for RBC transfusions were compared using descriptive statistics as well as multivariate modeling.

RESULTS

In both cohorts, Hb level was higher in the treated groups compared to the untreated group at all time points. In the observational cohort, incidence and number of transfused patients were lower in the group receiving the combination treatment compared to the untreated groups. In a multivariate analysis controlling for baseline Hb imbalance and mechanical ventilation, receipt of steroids remained associated with a slower decline in Hb level and the combination treatment remained associated with a slower decline of Hb and with less transfusions. Results remained the same in the validation cohort.

CONCLUSION

Immunomodulatory treatment was associated with a slower decline in Hb level in critically ill patients with COVID-19 and with less transfusion. Findings point toward inflammation as an important cause for the occurrence of anemia in the critically ill.

Socioeconomic factors associated with use of telehealth services in outpatient care settings during the COVID-19

BACKGROUND

To examine potential changes and socioeconomic disparities in utilization of telemedicine in non-urgent outpatient care in Nevada since the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

This retrospective cross-sectional analysis of telemedicine used the first nine months of 2019 and 2020 electronic health record data from regular non-urgent outpatient care in a large healthcare provider in Nevada. The dependent variables were the use of telemedicine among all outpatient visits and using telemedicine more than once among those patients who did use telemedicine. The independent variables were race/ethnicity, insurance status, and language preference.

RESULTS

Telemedicine services increased from virtually zero (16 visits out of 237,997 visits) in 2019 to 10.8% (24,159 visits out of 222,750 visits) in 2020. Asians (odds ratio [OR] = 0.85; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.85,0.94) and Latinos/Hispanics (OR = 0.89; 95% CI = 0.85, 0.94) were less likely to use telehealth; Spanish-speaking patients (OR = 0.68; 95% CI = 0.63, 0.73) and other non-English-speaking patients (OR = 0.93; 95% CI = 0.88, 0.97) were less likely to use telehealth; and both Medicare (OR = 0.94; 95% CI = 0.89, 0.99) and Medicaid patients (OR = 0.91; 95% CI = 0.87, 0.97) were less likely to use telehealth than their privately insured counterparts. Patients treated in pediatric (OR = 0.76; 95% CI = 0.60, 0.96) and specialty care (OR = 0.67; 95% CI = 0.65, 0.70) were less likely to use telemedicine as compared with patients who were treated in adult medicine.

CONCLUSIONS

Racial/ethnic and linguistic factors were significantly associated with the utilization of telemedicine in non-urgent outpatient care during COVID-19, with a dramatic increase in telemedicine utilization during the onset of the pandemic. Reducing barriers related to socioeconomic factors can be improved via policy and program interventions.

Lower vs Higher Oxygenation Target and Days Alive Without Life Support in COVID-19: The HOT-COVID Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

Supplemental oxygen is ubiquitously used in patients with COVID-19 and severe hypoxemia, but a lower dose may be beneficial.

Objective

To assess the effects of targeting a Pao2 of 60 mm Hg vs 90 mm Hg in patients with COVID-19 and severe hypoxemia in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Design, Setting, and Participants

Multicenter randomized clinical trial including 726 adults with COVID-19 receiving at least 10 L/min of oxygen or mechanical ventilation in 11 ICUs in Europe from August 2020 to March 2023. The trial was prematurely stopped prior to outcome assessment due to slow enrollment. End of 90-day follow-up was June 1, 2023.

Interventions

Patients were randomized 1:1 to a Pao2 of 60 mm Hg (lower oxygenation group; n = 365) or 90 mm Hg (higher oxygenation group; n = 361) for up to 90 days in the ICU.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was the number of days alive without life support (mechanical ventilation, circulatory support, or kidney replacement therapy) at 90 days. Secondary outcomes included mortality, proportion of patients with serious adverse events, and number of days alive and out of hospital, all at 90 days.

Results

Of 726 randomized patients, primary outcome data were available for 697 (351 in the lower oxygenation group and 346 in the higher oxygenation group). Median age was 66 years, and 495 patients (68%) were male. At 90 days, the median number of days alive without life support was 80.0 days (IQR, 9.0-89.0 days) in the lower oxygenation group and 72.0 days (IQR, 2.0-88.0 days) in the higher oxygenation group (P = .009 by van Elteren test; supplemental bootstrapped adjusted mean difference, 5.8 days [95% CI, 0.2-11.5 days]; P = .04). Mortality at 90 days was 30.2% in the lower oxygenation group and 34.7% in the higher oxygenation group (risk ratio, 0.86 [98.6% CI, 0.66-1.13]; P = .18). There were no statistically significant differences in proportion of patients with serious adverse events or in number of days alive and out of hospital.

Conclusion and Relevance

In adult ICU patients with COVID-19 and severe hypoxemia, targeting a Pao2 of 60 mm Hg resulted in more days alive without life support in 90 days than targeting a Pao2 of 90 mm Hg.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04425031.

Conscious prone positioning in nonintubated COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome: systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To systematically review the effect of the prone position on endotracheal intubation and mortality in nonintubated COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.

METHODS

We registered the protocol (CRD42021286711) and searched for four databases and gray literature from inception to December 31, 2022. We included observational studies and clinical trials. There was no limit by date or the language of publication. We excluded case reports, case series, studies not available in full text, and those studies that included children < 18-years-old.

RESULTS

We included ten observational studies, eight clinical trials, 3,969 patients, 1,120 endotracheal intubation events, and 843 deaths. All of the studies had a low risk of bias (Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and Risk of Bias 2 tools). We found that the conscious prone position decreased the odds of endotracheal intubation by 44% (OR 0.56; 95%CI 0.40 - 0.78) and mortality by 43% (OR 0.57; 95%CI 0.39 - 0.84) in nonintubated COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. This protective effect on endotracheal intubation and mortality was more robust in those who spent > 8 hours/day in the conscious prone position (OR 0.43; 95%CI 0.26 - 0.72 and OR 0.38; 95%CI 0.24 - 0.60, respectively). The certainty of the evidence according to the GRADE criteria was moderate.

CONCLUSION

The conscious prone position decreased the odds of endotracheal intubation and mortality, especially when patients spent over 8 hours/day in the conscious prone position and treatment in the intensive care unit. However, our results should be cautiously interpreted due to limitations in evaluating randomized clinical trials, nonrandomized clinical trials and observational studies. However, despite systematic reviews with meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials, we must keep in mind that these studies remain heterogeneous from a clinical and methodological point of view.

Impact of pandemic-related movement restriction on public access defibrillation in Japan: a retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To analyse monthly changes in public access defibrillation (PAD) incidence and outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) during the 2020-2021 COVID-19 pandemic compared with those during the 2016-2019 prepandemic period with consideration of pandemic-related movement restriction.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

An extended database was created by combining and reconciling the nationwide Utstein-style OHCA and the emergency medical service (EMS) transportation databases in Japan.

PARTICIPANTS

We analysed 226 182 EMS-witnessed, non-newborn and out-of-home OHCA cases in Japan.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcomes were the PAD incidence and neurologically favourable 1-month survival rate. The secondary outcomes were bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) provision and dispatcher-assisted CPR attempts.

RESULTS

The proportion of out-of-home OHCA cases slightly decreased during the pandemic (from 33.7% to 31.9%). Although the pandemic was associated with a decreased PAD incidence, 2-year trend analyses by an interaction test showed that the PAD incidence was lower during the first nationwide declaration of a state of emergency (p<0.001) and in the pandemic's second year (p<0.01). Regardless of location, delays in basic life support (BLS) actions and EMS contact with patients were more common and the rate of PAD-induced return of spontaneous circulation was lower during the pandemic. PAD incidence reduction was significant only in locations with a recommendation of automated external defibrillator placement (p<0.001). In other locations, a pronounced delay in BLS was found during the pandemic. The neurologically favourable survival rate was reduced in parallel with the reduced PAD incidence during the pandemic (r=0.612, p=0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Prolonged and repeated movement restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic worsened the OHCA outcomes concurrently with disturbed BLS actions, including the reduced PAD incidence in out-of-home settings. Maintaining BLS training, re-arranging automated external defibrillator placement and establishing a local alert system for recruiting well-trained citizens to the scene are essential.

A study of hospitalized COVID-19 patients with AKI in a setting of multiracial developing country

BACKGROUND

The commonest indication for hospitalization in COVID-19 patients is hypoxemia or severe respiratory symptoms. However, COVID-19 disease may result in extrapulmonary complications including kidney-related pathology. The reported incidence of renal involvement related to COVID infection varies based on geographical location.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the incidence rate of AKI in hospitalized COVID-19 patients and identify risk factors and prognostic predictors.

METHOD

In this retrospective study, we recruited hospitalized COVID-19 patients from January 2021 until June 2021 at the University Malaya Medical Center. The inclusion criteria were hospitalized for ≥ 48 h with confirmed COVID-19 infection and at least 18 years old. Patient demographic and clinical data were collected from electronic medical records. The staging of AKI was based on criteria as per KDIGO guidelines.

RESULTS

One thousand five hundred twenty-nine COVID patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria with a male-to-female ratio of 759 (49.6%) to 770 (50.3%). The median age was 55 (IQR: 36-66). 500 patients (32.7%) had diabetes, 621 (40.6%) had hypertension, and 5.6% (n = 85) had pre-existing chronic kidney disease (CKD). The incidence rate of AKI was 21.1% (n = 323). The percentage of COVID patients in different AKI stages of 1,2 and 3 were 16.3%, 2.1%, and 2.7%, respectively. Fifteen hospitalized patients (0.98%) required renal replacement therapy. 58.8% (n = 190) of AKI group had complete recovery of kidney function. Demographic factors included age (p < 0.001), diabetes (p < 0.001), hypertension (p < 0.012), CKD (p < 0.001), and vaccination status (p = 0.042) were associated with an increased risk of developing AKI. We found that the AKI cohort had statistically significant lower platelet counts and higher ferritin levels than the non-AKI cohort. AKI is a risk predictor of prolonged hospitalization (p < 0.001) and higher mortality rates (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

AKI is a common clinical complication among hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The etiology of AKI is multifactorial and may have an adverse impact on patient morbidity and mortality.

Advances in lipid nanoparticle mRNA therapeutics beyond COVID-19 vaccines

The remarkable success of two lipid nanoparticle-mRNA vaccines against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has placed the therapeutic and prophylactic potential of messenger RNA (mRNA) in the spotlight. It has also drawn attention to the indispensable role of lipid nanoparticles in enabling the effects of this nucleic acid. To date, lipid nanoparticles are the most clinically advanced non-viral platforms for mRNA delivery. This is thanks to their favorable safety profile and efficiency in protecting the nucleic acid from degradation and allowing its cellular uptake and cytoplasmic release upon endosomal escape. Moreover, the development of lipid nanoparticle-mRNA therapeutics was already a very active area of research even before the COVID-19 pandemic, which has likely only begun to bear its fruits. In this Review, we first discuss key aspects of the development of lipid nanoparticles as mRNA carriers. We then highlight promising preclinical and clinical studies involving lipid nanoparticle-mRNA formulations against infectious diseases and cancer, and to enable protein replacement or supplementation and genome editing. Finally, we elaborate on the challenges in advancing lipid nanoparticle-mRNA technology to widespread therapeutic use.

Clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with COVID-19 on mechanical ventilation undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy

BACKGROUND

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly strained global healthcare, particularly in the management of patients requiring mechanical ventilation (MV) and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). This study investigated the characteristics and prognoses of these patients.

METHODS

This multicenter retrospective cohort study gathered data from patients with COVID-19 across 26 medical centers. Logistic analysis was used to identify the factors associated with CRRT implementation.

RESULTS

Of the 640 patients with COVID-19 who required MV, 123 (19.2%) underwent CRRT. Compared to the non-CRRT group, the CRRT group was older and exhibited higher sequential organ failure assessment scores. The incidence of hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic neurological disease, and chronic kidney disease was also higher in the CRRT group. Moreover, the CRRT group had higher intensive care unit (ICU) (75.6% vs. 26.9%, p < 0.001) and in-hospital (79.7% vs. 29.6%, p < 0.001) mortality rates. CRRT implementation was identified as an independent risk factor for both ICU mortality (hazard ratio [HR]:1.833, 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.342-2.505, p < 0.001) and in-hospital mortality (HR: 2.228, 95% CI: 1.648-3.014, p < 0.001). Refractory respiratory failure (n = 99, 19.1%) was the most common cause of death in the non-CRRT death group, and shock with multi-organ failure (n = 50, 40.7%) was the most common cause of death in the CRRT death group. Shock with multi-organ failure and cardiac death were significantly more common in the CRRT death group, compared to non-CRRT death group.

CONCLUSION

This study indicates that CRRT is associated with higher ICU and in-hospital mortality rates in patients with COVID-19 who require MV. Notably, the primary cause of death in the CRRT group was shock with multi-organ failure, emphasizing the severe clinical course for these patients, while refractory respiratory failure was most common in non-CRRT patients.

Lung microbiota composition, respiratory mechanics, and outcomes in COVID-19-related ARDS

Few data are available on the lung microbiota composition of patients with coronavirus disease 2019-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (C-ARDS) receiving invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Moreover, it has never been investigated whether there is a potential correlation between lung microbiota communities and respiratory mechanics. We performed a prospective observational study in two intensive care units of a university hospital in Italy. Lung microbiota was investigated by bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing, performed on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples withdrawn after intubation. The lung bacterial communities were analyzed after stratification by respiratory system compliance/predicted body weight (Crs) and ventilatory ratio (VR). Weaning from IMV and hospital survival were assessed as secondary outcomes. In 70 C-ARDS patients requiring IMV from 1 April through 31 December 2020, the lung microbiota composition (phylum taxonomic level, permutational multivariate analysis of variance test) significantly differed between who had low Crs vs those with high Crs (P = 0.010), as well as in patients with low VR vs high VR (P = 0.012). As difference-driving taxa, Proteobacteria (P = 0.017) were more dominant and Firmicutes (P = 0.040) were less dominant in low- vs high-Crs patients. Similarly, Proteobacteria were more dominant in low- vs high-VR patients (P = 0.013). After multivariable regression analysis, we further observed lung microbiota diversity as a negative predictor of weaning from IMV and hospital survival (hazard ratio = 3.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.52-7.20, P = 0.048). C-ARDS patients with low Crs/low VR had a Proteobacteria-dominated lung microbiota. Whether patients with a more diverse lung bacterial community may have more chances to be weaned from IMV and discharged alive from the hospital warrants further large-scale investigations.

IMPORTANCE

Lung microbiota characteristics were demonstrated to predict ventilator-free days and weaning from mechanical ventilation in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In this study, we observed that in severe coronavirus disease 2019 patients with ARDS who require invasive mechanical ventilation, lung microbiota characteristics were associated with respiratory mechanics. Specifically, the lung microbiota of patients with low respiratory system compliance and low ventilatory ratio was characterized by Proteobacteria dominance. Moreover, after multivariable regression analysis, we also found an association between patients' microbiota diversity and a higher possibility of being weaned from mechanical ventilation and discharged alive from the hospital. For these reasons, lung microbiota characterization may help to stratify patient characteristics and orient the delivery of target interventions. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov on 17 February 2020 under identifier NCT04271345.).

Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, 17 February 2020 (NCT0427135).

The challenges of voluntary care provision for hospitalized patients with COVID-19: A qualitative study of the public volunteers' experiences

INTRODUCTION

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a remarkable increase in public volunteering for the care of hospitalized patients. They faced challenges during their voluntary care provision. This study aimed at exploring public volunteers' experiences of the challenges of the voluntary care provision to hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

METHODS

A descriptive qualitative study with an inductive content analysis method was conducted, 2022-2023. Eighteen public volunteers providing care to hospitalized patients with COVID-19 were purposefully selected among 10 hospitals, specialized in COVID-19 care in Tehran and Shiraz, Iran. Data were collected over 7 months through in-depth semistructured interviews and concurrently analyzed using conventional content analysis methods.

FINDINGS

The challenges of voluntary care provision to hospitalized patients with COVID-19 were illustrated in five main categories, each with two subcategories. The categories included structural challenges, interpersonal conflicts, financial constraints, covert participation and the deteriorating condition of care provision. The subcategories comprised lack of volunteer recruitment bases, ineffective organization of voluntary activities, pervasive distrust, heightened risk of clinical errors, conflicts between volunteer commitments and primary occupation, lack of financial support, lack of family support, isolation by friends, mental trauma and physical exhaustion.

CONCLUSION

Public volunteers encounter diverse challenges while providing care to hospitalized patients with COVID-19, which negatively impacts their motivation to serve. By addressing these challenges, we can create a more supportive environment for volunteers and enhance the quality of care provided to patients during public health emergencies. Identifying such challenges can assist healthcare managers and policymakers develop effective strategies to mitigate mounting difficulties and enhance volunteer services, thereby improving the overall quality of care provided to patients during public health crises.

PATIENT CONTRIBUTIONS

Participants were identified and recruited after the study objectives were explained in person to the managers. The participants were approached and interviewed by one author. Participation was voluntary and the participants did not receive any financial compensation for their time.

Effect of hospital-community online management on medication management of elderly patients with peritoneal dialysis during COVID-19

INTRODUCTION

The study aimed to explore feasibility and effect of hospital-community online management on the medication management of elderly peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) during COVID-19.

METHODS

A total of 160 patients receiving PD were randomly divided into the control (n = 80, outpatient follow-up management mode) and observation (n = 80, hospital-community online management mode) groups. The self-efficacy (General Self-Efficacy Scale [GSES]), medication adherence (8-item Morisky medication adherence scale [MMAS-8]), quality of life (kidney disease quality of life short form [KDQOL-SF]), and degree of depression (beck depression inventory [BDI]) before and after the intervention were compared.

RESULTS

After the intervention, the scores of GSES (4.20 ± 0.46 vs. 3.09 ± 0.33), MMAS-8 (5.82 ± 0.92 vs. 5.13 ± 1.25), and KDQOL-SF were significantly higher, whereas the BDI score (9.50 ± 2.86 vs. 12.08 ± 2.95) was significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Hospital-community online management presents good effects in the medication management of PD patients with ESRD.

Long COVID-19 and primary care: Challenges, management and recommendations

Long COVID-19, also known as post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), is characterized by persistent symptoms after COVID-19 onset. This article explores the challenges, management strategies, and recommendations for addressing long COVID-19 in primary care settings. The epidemiology of long COVID-19 reveals significant variability, with a substantial portion of COVID-19 survivors experiencing post-acute symptoms. Pathophysiological mechanisms include viral persistence, endothelial dysfunction, autoimmunity, neurological dysregulation, and gastrointestinal dysbiosis. Multiple risk factors, including age, sex, pre-existing comorbidities, smoking, BMI, and acute COVID-19 severity, influence the development of long COVID-19. Effective management requires proactive measures such as vaccination, identification of high-risk populations, public awareness, and post-infection vaccination. Collaboration of primary care physicians with specialists is essential for holistic and individualized patient care. This article underscores the role of primary care physicians in diagnosing, managing, and mitigating the long-term effects of COVID-19.

Symptoms and Impaired Quality of Life After COVID-19 Hospitalization: Effect of Therapeutic Heparin in Non-ICU Patients in the Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines 4 Acute Trial: Effect on 3-Month Symptoms and Quality of Life

BACKGROUND

Therapeutic-dose heparin decreased days requiring organ support in noncritically ill patients hospitalized for COVID-19, but its impact on persistent symptoms or quality of life (QOL) is unclear.

RESEARCH QUESTION

In the Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines 4 ACUTE (ACTIV-4a) trial, was randomization of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 illness to therapeutic-dose vs prophylactic heparin associated with fewer symptoms and better QOL at 90 days?

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

This was an open-label randomized controlled trial at 34 hospitals in the United States and Spain. A total of 727 noncritically ill patients hospitalized for COVID-19 from September 2020 to June 2021 were randomized to therapeutic-dose vs prophylactic heparin. Only patients with 90-day data on symptoms and QOL were analyzed. We ascertained symptoms and QOL by the EQ-5D-5L at 90-day follow-up in a preplanned analysis for the ACTIV-4a trial. Individual domains assessed by the EQ-5D-5L included mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Among 571 patients, 288 (50.4%) reported at least one symptom. Among 410 patients, 148 (36.1%) reported moderate to severe impairment in one or more domains of the EQ-5D-5L. The presence of 90-day symptoms was associated with moderate-severe impairment in the EQ-5D-5L domains of mobility (adjusted OR [aOR], 2.37; 95% CI, 1.22-4.59), usual activities (aOR, 3.66; 95% CI, 1.75-7.65), pain (aOR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.43-4.12), and anxiety (aOR, 4.32; 95% CI, 2.06-9.02), compared with patients reporting no symptoms There were no differences in symptoms or in the overall EQ-5D-5L index score between treatment groups. Therapeutic-dose heparin was associated with less moderate-severe impairment in all physical functioning domains (mobility, self-care, usual activities) but was independently significant only in the self-care domain (aOR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.11-0.96).

INTERPRETATION

In a randomized controlled trial of hospitalized noncritically ill patients with COVID-19, therapeutic-dose heparin was associated with less severe impairment in the self-care domain of EQ-5D-5L. However, this type of impairment was uncommon, affecting 23 individuals.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT04505774; URL: www.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov.

Evolution of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation trigger criteria in COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome

OBJECTIVE

To understand the implications of a tiered extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) criteria framework and the outcomes of patients with COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome who we were consulted on for ECMO but ultimately declined.

METHODS

All patients declined for ECMO support by a large regional health care system between March 2020 and July 2021 were included. Restrictive selection criteria were enacted midway through the study stratifying the cohort into 2 groups. Primary outcomes included 30-day mortality. Secondary outcomes included reasons for declining ECMO and survival stratified by phase.

RESULTS

One hundred ninety-three patients with COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome were declined for ECMO within the study period out of 260 ECMO consults. At the time of consult, 71.0% (n = 137) were mechanically ventilated and 38% (n = 74) were proned and chemically paralyzed. Thirty-day mortality was 66% (n = 117), which increased from 53% to 73% (P = .010) when restrictive criteria were enacted. Patients with multisystem organ failure, prolonged ventilator time, and advanced age had respectively an 11-fold (odds ratio, 10.6; 95% CI, 1.7-65.2), 4-fold (odds ratio, 3.5; 95% CI, 1.1-12.0), and 4-fold (odds ratio, 4.4; 95% CI, 1.9-10.2) increase in the odds of mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome declined for ECMO represent a critically ill cohort. We observed an increase in the severity of disease and 30-day mortality in consults in the latter phase of our study period. These findings may reflect our use of tiered selection criteria coupled with ongoing education and communication with referring centers, sparing both patients likely to respond to medical therapy and those who were unsalvageable by ECMO.

Peritoneal malignancy in the global COVID-19 pandemic: experience of recovery and restoration in a high-volume centre through NHS and independent sector collaboration

INTRODUCTION

Treatment of peritoneal malignancy with cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) requires substantial critical care, theatre and nursing resources. The COVID-19 pandemic caused challenges in providing a high volume, tertiary referral service.

METHODS

We reviewed data on referrals and operations performed in a tertiary referral centre in both NHS and independent sector settings. The impact of COVID-19 on activity was assessed using 2019 as a benchmark.

RESULTS

New patient referrals were similar, with 891 in 2019 compared with 833 in 2020. Delivery of CRS and HIPEC operations were initially impacted by COVID-19. NHS and independent sector collaboration facilitated recovery, with 284 patients treated in 2020 compared with 280 in 2019.

CONCLUSIONS

Close collaboration and structural organisation between the clinical and management teams in the NHS and independent sectors facilitated recovery and restoration of a complex tertiary referral service for peritoneal malignancy during the COVID pandemic.

Convalescent plasma transfusion for immunocompromised viremic patients with COVID-19: A retrospective multicenter study

This study aims to assess the safety, virological, and clinical outcomes of convalescent plasma transfusion (CPT) in immunocompromised patients hospitalized for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We conducted a retrospective multicenter cohort study that included all immunosuppressed patients with COVID-19 and RNAemia from May 2020 to March 2023 treated with CPT. We included 81 patients with hematological malignancies (HM), transplants, or autoimmune diseases (69% treated with anti-CD20). Sixty patients (74%) were vaccinated, and 14 had pre-CPT serology >264 BAU/mL. The median delay between symptom onset and CPT was 23 days [13-31]. At D7 post-CPT, plasma PCR was negative in 43/64 patients (67.2%), and serology became positive in 25/30 patients (82%). Post-CPT positive serology was associated with RNAemia negativity (p < 0.001). The overall mortality rate at D28 was 26%, being higher in patients with non-B-cell HM (62%) than with B-cell HM (25%) or with no HM (11%) (p = 0.02). Patients receiving anti-CD20 without chemotherapy had the lowest mortality rate (8%). Positive RNAemia at D7 was associated with mortality at D28 in univariate analysis (HR: 3.05 [1.14-8.19]). Eight patients had adverse events, two of which were severe but transient. Our findings suggest that CPT can abolish RNAemia and ameliorate the clinical course in immunocompromised patients with COVID-19.

Effects of adjuvant ozone autohemotherapy combined with routine treatment on clinical and paraclinical features of mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Until the availability of an effective and practical vaccine, there is a serious need to recognize alternative treatments for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aimed to determine whether major ozonated autohemotherapy (MOAH) can improve the clinical and paraclinical parameters in critically-ill patients with COVID-19 requiring mechanical ventilation. In this controlled trial, we enrolled 40 critically ill COVID-19 patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation. The enrolled patients were then randomized into the MOAH and control groups. The patients in the MOAH group received MOAH three times per week (10 times in total) in addition to routine treatment and standard critical supportive care. Patients in the control group were only given regular treatment and standard critical supportive care. The patients in the MOAH group had more days of breathing with no aid than those in the control group. Moreover, the length of stay in the intensive-care unit was significantly lower in the MOAH group than in the control group. MOAH resulted in higher ventilation-free days and less intensive-care unit stay compared with the control treatment. In COVID-19 patients undergoing mechanical ventilation, MOAH with routine treatment resulted in more ventilator-free days and less intensive-care unit stay compared with the standard therapy.

The effect of microbiome therapy on COVID-19-induced gut dysbiosis: A narrative and systematic review

AIMS

Emerging evidence highlights the role of COVID-19 in instigating gut dysbiosis, with repercussions on disease severity and bidirectional gut-organ communication involving the lung, heart, brain, and liver. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in addressing gut dysbiosis associated with COVID-19, as well as their impact on related disease severity and clinical outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We systematically review 27 studies exploring the efficacy of different microbiome-modulating therapies: probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation as potential interventions for COVID-19.

KEY FINDINGS

The probiotics and synbiotics investigated encompassed a spectrum of eight bacterial and fungal genera, namely Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Streptococcus, Enterococcus, Pediococcus, Bacillus, Saccharomyces, and Kluyveromyces. Noteworthy prebiotics employed in these studies included chestnut tannin, galactooligosaccharides, fructooligosaccharides, xylooligosaccharide, and resistant dextrin. The majority of the investigated biotics exhibited positive effects on COVID-19 patients, manifesting in symptom alleviation, inflammation reduction, and notable decreases in mortality rates. Five studies reported death rates, showing an average mortality ranging from 0 % to 11 % in the intervention groups, as compared to 3 % to 30 % in the control groups. Specifically, probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics demonstrated efficacy in diminishing the duration and severity of symptoms while significantly accelerating viral and symptomatic remission. FMT emerged as a particularly effective strategy, successfully restoring gut microbiota and ameliorating gastrointestinal disorders.

SIGNIFICANCE

The insights gleaned from this review significantly contribute to our broader comprehension of the therapeutic potential of biotics in addressing COVID-19-related gut dysbiosis and mitigating secondary multi-organ complications.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C): A nationwide collaborative study in the Greek population

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a rare but severe hyperinflammatory condition that may occur following SARS-CoV-2 infection. This retrospective, descriptive study of children hospitalized with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) in 12 tertiary care centers from 3/11/2020 to 12/31/2021. Demographics, clinical and laboratory characteristics, treatment and outcomes are described. Among 145 patients (95 males, median age 8.2 years) included, 123 met the WHO criteria for MIS-C, while 112 (77%) had serological evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Fever was present in 99%, gastrointestinal symptoms in 77%, mucocutaneous involvement in 68% and respiratory symptoms in 28%. Fifty-five patients (38%) developed myocarditis, 29 (20%) pericarditis and 19 (13%) coronary aneurysms. Among the above cases 11/55 (20%), 1/29 (3.4%) and 5/19 (26.3%), respectively, cardiac complications had not fully resolved at discharge. Underlying comorbidities were reported in 18%. Median CRP value was 155 mg/l, ferritin 535 ng/ml, PCT 1.6 ng/ml and WBC 14.2 × 109/mm3. Most patients had elevated troponin (41.3%) and/or NT-pro-BNP (49.6%). Intravenous immunoglobulin plus corticosteroids were used in 117/145 (80.6%), monotherapy with IVIG alone in 13/145 (8.9%) and with corticosteroids alone in 2/145 (1.3%). Anti-IL1 treatment was added in 15 patients (10.3%). Thirty-three patients (23%) were admitted to the PICU, 14% developed shock and 1 required ECMO. Mortality rate was 0.68%. The incidence of MIS-C was estimated at 0.69/1000 SARS-CoV-2 infections. Patients who presented with shock had higher levels of NT-pro-BNP compared to those who did not (p < 0.001). Acute kidney injury and/or myocarditis were associated with higher risk of developing shock.

CONCLUSION

MIS-C is a novel, infrequent but serious disease entity. Cardiac manifestations included myocarditis and pericarditis, which resolved in most patients before discharge. Timely initiation of immunomodulatory therapy was shown to be effective. NT-pro-BNP levels may provide a better prediction and monitoring of the disease course. Further research is required to elucidate the pathogenesis, risk factors and optimal management, and long-term outcomes of this clinical entity.

WHAT IS KNOWN

• MIS-C is an infrequent but serious disease entity. • Patients with MIS-C present with multi-organ dysfunction, primarily involving the gastrointestinal and cardiovascular systems.

WHAT IS NEW

• NT-pro-BNP levels may provide a better prediction and monitoring of the disease course. • Acute kidney injury and/or myocarditis were associated with higher risk of developing shock.

Development and validation of a machine learning model to predict the use of renal replacement therapy in 14,374 patients with COVID-19

PURPOSE

To develop a model to predict the use of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in COVID-19 patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Retrospective analysis of multicenter cohort of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions of Brazil involving COVID-19 critically adult patients, requiring ventilatory support, admitted to 126 Brazilian ICUs, from February 2020 to December 2021 (development) and January to May 2022 (validation). No interventions were performed.

RESULTS

Eight machine learning models' classifications were evaluated. Models were developed using an 80/20 testing/train split ratio and cross-validation. Thirteen candidate predictors were selected using the Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE) algorithm. Discrimination and calibration were assessed. Temporal validation was performed using data from 2022. Of 14,374 COVID-19 patients with initial respiratory support, 1924 (13%) required RRT. RRT patients were older (65 [53-75] vs. 55 [42-68]), had more comorbidities (Charlson's Comorbidity Index 1.0 [0.00-2.00] vs 0.0 [0.00-1.00]), had higher severity (SAPS-3 median: 61 [51-74] vs 48 [41-58]), and had higher in-hospital mortality (71% vs 22%) compared to non-RRT. Risk factors for RRT, such as Creatinine, Glasgow Coma Scale, Urea, Invasive Mechanical Ventilation, Age, Chronic Kidney Disease, Platelets count, Vasopressors, Noninvasive Ventilation, Hypertension, Diabetes, modified frailty index (mFI) and Gender, were identified. The best discrimination and calibration were found in the Random Forest (AUC [95%CI]: 0.78 [0.75-0.81] and Brier's Score: 0.09 [95%CI: 0.08-0.10]). The final model (Random Forest) showed comparable performance in the temporal validation (AUC [95%CI]: 0.79 [0.75-0.84] and Brier's Score, 0.08 [95%CI: 0.08-0.1]).

CONCLUSIONS

An early ML model using easily available clinical and laboratory data accurately predicted the use of RRT in critically ill patients with COVID-19. Our study demonstrates that using ML techniques is feasible to provide early prediction of use of RRT in COVID-19 patients.

Quality of life and cost-effectiveness of convalescent plasma compared to standard care for hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the CONCOR-1 trial

BACKGROUND

The CONvalescent Plasma for Hospitalized Adults With COVID-19 Respiratory Illness (CONCOR-1) trial was a multicenter randomized controlled trial assessing convalescent plasma in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. This study evaluates the cost-effectiveness of convalescent plasma and its impact on quality-of-life to provide insight into its potential as an alternative treatment in resource-constrained settings.

METHODS

Individual patient data on health outcomes and resource utilization from the CONCOR-1 trial were used to conduct the analysis from the Canadian public payer's perspective with a time horizon of 30 days post-randomization. Baseline and 30-day EQ-5D-5L were measured to calculate quality-adjusted survival. All costs are presented in 2021 Canadian dollars. The base case assessed the EQ-5D-5L scores of hospitalized inpatients reporting at both timepoints, and a utility score of 0 was assigned for patients who died within 30 days. Costs for all patients enrolled were used. The sensitivity analysis utilizes EQ-5D-5L scores from the same population but only uses costs from this population.

RESULTS

940 patients were randomized: 627 received CCP and 313 received standard care. The total costs were $28,716 (standard deviation, $25,380) and $24,258 ($22,939) for the convalescent plasma and standard care arms respectively. EQ-5D-5L scores were 0.61 in both arms (p = .85) at baseline. At 30 days, EQ-5D-5L scores were 0.63 and 0.64 for patients in the convalescent plasma and standard care arms, respectively (p = .46). The incremental cost was $4458 and the incremental quality-adjusted life day was -0.078.

DISCUSSION

Convalescent plasma was less effective and more costly than standard care in treating hospitalized COVID-19.

A pilot study of intensive short-time continuous renal replacement therapy to substitute maintenance hemodialysis during transitional period of COVID-19

INTRODUCTION

There is a lack of perfect solutions for maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) in patients with a high transmission risk of SARS-CoV-2.

METHODS

MHD patients with a high risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from April 1 to June 30, 2022, were recruited. We performed 4-h continuous renal replacement therapy with Prismaflex dialysis machine and ST100 suite using continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) mode with a fluid exchange volume of 8000 mL/h.

RESULTS

Forty-five MHD patients were included with a median dialysis age of 91 months. Overall spKt/V reached 0.96 ± 0.19. Urea reduction ratio was 50.29 ± 7.60% with the ultrafiltration of 2.18 ± 0.79 kg. Dry weight was significantly inversely correlated with spKt/V (R = -0.563, p < 0.001). Female gender was a significant positive factor of spKt/V. Preheating of replacement solution using an incubator solved the complication of shivering in most patients.

CONCLUSION

Intensive short-time CVVHDF may be considered as an alternative for routine MHD during COVID-19 transitional period.

Developing CAR-immune cell therapy against SARS-CoV-2: Current status, challenges and prospects

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-immune cell therapy has revolutionized the anti-tumor field, achieving efficient and precise tumor clearance by directly guiding immune cell activity to target tumors. In addition, the use of CAR-immune cells to influence the composition and function of the immune system and ultimately achieve virus clearance and immune system homeostasis has attracted the interest of researchers. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) triggered a global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). To date, the rapidly mutating SARS-CoV-2 continues to challenge existing therapies and has raised public concerns regarding reinfection. In patients with COVID-19, the interaction of SARS-CoV-2 with the immune system influences the course of the disease, and the coexistence of over-activated immune system components, such as macrophages, and severely compromised immune system components, such as natural killer cells, reveals a dysregulated immune system. Dysregulated immune-induced inflammation may impair viral clearance and T-cell responses, causing cytokine storms and ultimately leading to patient death. Here, we summarize the research progress on the use of CAR-immune cells against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Furthermore, we discuss the feasibility, challenges and prospect of CAR-immune cells as a new immune candidate therapy against SARS-CoV-2.

Long-term outcomes of hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 with and without neurological involvement: 3-year follow-up assessment

BACKGROUND

Acute neurological manifestation is a common complication of acute Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) disease. This retrospective cohort study investigated the 3-year outcomes of patients with and without significant neurological manifestations during initial COVID-19 hospitalization.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

Patients hospitalized for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection between 03/01/2020 and 4/16/2020 in the Montefiore Health System in the Bronx, an epicenter of the early pandemic, were included. Follow-up data was captured up to 01/23/2023 (3 years post-COVID-19). This cohort consisted of 414 patients with COVID-19 with significant neurological manifestations and 1,199 propensity-matched patients (for age and COVID-19 severity score) with COVID-19 without neurological manifestations. Neurological involvement during the acute phase included acute stroke, new or recrudescent seizures, anatomic brain lesions, presence of altered mentation with evidence for impaired cognition or arousal, and neuro-COVID-19 complex (headache, anosmia, ageusia, chemesthesis, vertigo, presyncope, paresthesias, cranial nerve abnormalities, ataxia, dysautonomia, and skeletal muscle injury with normal orientation and arousal signs). There were no significant group differences in female sex composition (44.93% versus 48.21%, p = 0.249), ICU and IMV status, white, not Hispanic (6.52% versus 7.84%, p = 0.380), and Hispanic (33.57% versus 38.20%, p = 0.093), except black non-Hispanic (42.51% versus 36.03%, p = 0.019). Primary outcomes were mortality, stroke, heart attack, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), reinfection, and hospital readmission post-discharge. Secondary outcomes were neuroimaging findings (hemorrhage, active and prior stroke, mass effect, microhemorrhages, white matter changes, microvascular disease (MVD), and volume loss). More patients in the neurological cohort were discharged to acute rehabilitation (10.39% versus 3.34%, p < 0.001) or skilled nursing facilities (35.75% versus 25.35%, p < 0.001) and fewer to home (50.24% versus 66.64%, p < 0.001) than matched controls. Incidence of readmission for any reason (65.70% versus 60.72%, p = 0.036), stroke (6.28% versus 2.34%, p < 0.001), and MACE (20.53% versus 16.51%, p = 0.032) was higher in the neurological cohort post-discharge. Per Kaplan-Meier univariate survival curve analysis, such patients in the neurological cohort were more likely to die post-discharge compared to controls (hazard ratio: 2.346, (95% confidence interval (CI) [1.586, 3.470]; p < 0.001)). Across both cohorts, the major causes of death post-discharge were heart disease (13.79% neurological, 15.38% control), sepsis (8.63%, 17.58%), influenza and pneumonia (13.79%, 9.89%), COVID-19 (10.34%, 7.69%), and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (10.34%, 6.59%). Factors associated with mortality after leaving the hospital involved the neurological cohort (odds ratio (OR): 1.802 (95% CI [1.237, 2.608]; p = 0.002)), discharge disposition (OR: 1.508 (95% CI [1.276, 1.775]; p < 0.001)), congestive heart failure (OR: 2.281 (95% CI [1.429, 3.593]; p < 0.001)), higher COVID-19 severity score (OR: 1.177 (95% CI [1.062, 1.304]; p = 0.002)), and older age (OR: 1.027 (95% CI [1.010, 1.044]; p = 0.002)). There were no group differences in radiological findings, except that the neurological cohort showed significantly more age-adjusted brain volume loss (p = 0.045) than controls. The study's patient cohort was limited to patients infected with COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic, when hospitals were overburdened, vaccines were not yet available, and treatments were limited. Patient profiles might differ when interrogating subsequent waves.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with COVID-19 with neurological manifestations had worse long-term outcomes compared to matched controls. These findings raise awareness and the need for closer monitoring and timely interventions for patients with COVID-19 with neurological manifestations, as their disease course involving initial neurological manifestations is associated with enhanced morbidity and mortality.

[Follow-up outpatient clinics for patients with post COVID: a survey to assess and characterize aspects of care]

After acute infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, up to 10 % of affected individuals suffer from long-term health impairments, also referred to as "Post-COVID". In Germany, specialized outpatient clinics have been established to care for patients with Post-COVID. A structured survey of the care situation is not yet available, but essential for a demand-oriented care. The present study aimed to systematically assess and describe structural and process-related aspects of care, and to perform an inventory and needs analysis of Post-COVID outpatient clinics in Germany.An online survey was developed assessing the structure and organization of the outpatient clinics, service offerings and networking of care from the perspective of the outpatient clinic directors. A total of 95 outpatient clinics were identified, and an invitation to participate in the online survey was sent via e-mail to the directors of the outpatient clinics. Data were collected between February and May 2022. Descriptive data analysis was performed.A total of 28 outpatient clinic managers (29 %) took part in the survey. Participants were between 32 and 66 years old, and 61 % (n = 17) were male. The outpatient clinics were most frequently affiliated with the specialties of pneumology (n = 10; 36 %), internal medicine, psychiatric and psychosomatic medicine, and neurology (n = 8; 29 %, respectively). Among the outpatient clinic directors, 64 % (n = 18) stated that the time spent waiting for an appointment was more than one month. Utilization (n = 25; 89 %), appointment demand (n = 26; 93 %), and the need for more Post-COVID outpatient clinics (n = 20; 71 %) were rated as high by the outpatient clinic directors. Nearly all directors reported networking with in-clinic facilities (n = 27; 96 %), with primary care physicians and with specialists in private practice (n = 21; 75 %, respectively).The main focus of care is pneumology. Internal medicine, psychiatry/psychosomatics and neurology are also equally represented. Our data further suggest a high demand for Post-COVID outpatient clinics and the need to expand this care offer.

Pulmonary superinfection diagnosed with bronchoalveolar lavage at intubation in COVID patients: A Swedish single-centre study

BACKGROUND

Patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID) pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (C-ARDS) on invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) have been found to be prone to having other microbial findings than severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-2)-CoV-19 in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid at intubation causing a superinfection. These BAL results could guide empirical antibiotic treatment in complex clinical situations. However, there are limited data on the relationship between microbial findings in the initial BAL at intubation and later ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) diagnoses.

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the incidence of, and microorganisms responsible for, superinfections in C-ARDS patients at the time of first intubation through microbial findings in BAL fluid. To correlate these findings to markers of inflammation in plasma and later VAP development.

DESIGN

Retrospective single-centre study.

SETTING

One COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU) at a County Hospital in Sweden during the first year of the pandemic.

PATIENTS

All patients with C-ARDS who were intubated in the ICU.

RESULTS

We analysed BAL fluid specimens from 112 patients at intubation, of whom 31 (28%) had superinfections. Blood levels of the C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, neutrophil granulocytes, and lymphocytes were indistinguishable between patients with and without a pulmonary superinfection. Ninety-eight (88%) of the patients were treated with IMV for more than 48 h and of these patients, 37% were diagnosed with VAP. The microorganisms identified in BAL at the time of intubation are normally found at the oral, pharyngeal, and airway sites. Only one patient had an indistinguishable bacterial strain responsible for both superinfection at intubation and in VAP.

CONCLUSIONS

One fourth of the patients with C-ARDS had a pulmonary superinfection in the lungs that was caused by another microorganism identified at intubation. Routine serum inflammatory markers could not be used to identify this complication. Microorganisms located in BAL at intubation were rarely associated with later VAP development.

A Retrospective Study of Covid-19 Patients: A Real-Life Experience in a Secondary Care Hospital, Jashore, Bangladesh

Covid-19 was first detected on 8th March of 2020 in Bangladesh after the global pandemic being started. As a new virus and disease there are scarcity of data of SARS-CoV-2 and Covid-19 respectively in our country. Aim of this study is to assess the demographic characteristics, clinical profiles, underlying co-morbid conditions, treatment pattern and outcome of the SARS-CoV-2 positive patients in Jashore, Bangladesh. This retrospective study recruited 208 RT-PCR positive Covid-19 patients from 1st April 2020 to 15th May 2020 who appeared at Flu corner centre, 250 Bedded General Hospital, Jashore, Bangladesh. Data was collected online through telephone, mobile and email due to the high contagious property of Covid-19. Out of total 208 Covid-19 patients, the mean age of the participants was 37.0±15.0 years with a male and female ratio of 2.06:1. Underlying comorbidities were documented in 36.5% of total Covid-19 patents of which hypertension in 16.3%, diabetes in 14.4%, respiratory diseases in 8.7% and pre-existing coronary arterial diseases in 6.3% patients. Though 17.8% Covid-19 patients were asymptomatic, the most common symptoms were fever (68.8%), cough (30.8%), myalgia (30.8%), sore throat (22.1%), vertigo (21.6%), respiratory distress (20.7%), anorexia (17.8%), nasal congestion (16.3%), nausea or vomiting (13.9%) and diarrhoea (13.0%). Whereas, the symptomatic patients were classified as flu-like illness (77.9%), mild to moderate pneumonia (2.4%) and severe pneumonia (1.9%). Many patients (19.2%) recovered spontaneously and 22.1% patients cured by the only simple symptomatic treatment. The most commonly received antibiotics were Azithromycin and Doxycycline. Home stay management was demonstrated in 73.1% patients, whereas, 26.0% patients required general ward admission and only 0.9% patients required referral for the HDU or ICU management with an average duration of hospital stay of 16±6 days. A high satisfactory outcome was found as evident by complete recovery in 98.08% of Covid-19 patients, complications (0.48%) and fatality (1.44%) even in this secondary care center. Therefore, we can conclude that the disease was well managed with highly satisfactory outcomes even in the low resource health care setting in the early stage of Covid-19 pandemic era. Hence, the early case detection, identification of the high-risk groups and proper management may mitigate to develop complications and fatalities of Covid-19.

Profile, performance, and perception of pharmacist preparedness for the COVID-19 pandemic

INTRODUCTION

The lack of human resources for disease prevention and control is evident in times of health crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. In public health emergencies, the capacity for adequate assistance and guaranteed access to pharmacological treatment are fundamental and contribute to impact reduction. We aimed to analyze the profile, performance, and characteristics related to the self-perception of preparedness among pharmacists who responded to the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.

METHOD

A cross-sectional study was conducted in two stages: content validation of a questionnaire and its application to a representative sample of pharmacists in Rio de Janeiro. The snowball technique was used to recruit participants. A logistic regression model was adjusted to determine the effects of the factors on the probability of a pharmacist feeling prepared to act during the pandemic.

RESULTS

Six experts approved and validated the questionnaire, and 376 pharmacists were included in the study, 60.6 % of whom were in places specially designated by health authorities to diagnose and treat COVID-19. Professionals participated in various activities related to pandemic demands, including medication management and population guidance. Postgraduate degrees increased the odds of participants feeling prepared to act during the pandemic. Furthermore, pharmacists who worked in reference facilities were more likely to feel ready than those who worked in other places. Professionals who knew treatment guidelines were almost three times more likely to feel prepared than the ones without the knowledge of treatment guidelines. Training or guidance on how to act during the pandemic increased pharmacists' odds of feeling prepared by 2.58 times.

CONCLUSION

Pharmacists actuated from diagnosis to treatment and participated in the health activities required during the pandemic. Factors contributing to the self-perception of preparedness were identified. Such factors can be targets for interventions to promote the preparedness of the workforce for future health emergencies.

Pulmonary embolism impacts clinical outcomes of intubated patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome related to COVID-19

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary embolism (PE) in critically ill patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by COVID-19 is a major complication which might impact survival. We aimed to determine the prevalence of PE and assess its impact of PE on clinical outcomes in intubated patients with ARDS due to COVID-19.

METHODS

All intubated patients with ARDS due to COVID-19 admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Geneva University Hospitals between March 9, 2020, and May 31, 2022, were included. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the occurrence of PE and its association with clinical outcomes. The primary outcome was ventilator-free days during the first 28 days after ICU admission. Linear regressions were performed to investigate the association between PE and outcomes.

RESULTS

Among the 370 intubated patients with ARDS related to COVID-19, 58 (15.7%) presented with PE. Patients with PE had significantly fewer ventilator-free days than patients without PE (median (IQR) of 3 (0-11) days versus 12 (0-19) days; p < 0.001). Mortality did not differ significantly between groups (12/58 [20.7%] of patients with PE versus 71/312 [22.8%] of patients without PE; p = 0.72). Duration of IMV, and ICU and hospital LOS were significantly longer among patients with PE. The need for ECMO support was similar among both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The occurrence of PE in patients with ARDS due to COVID-19 had a significant impact on clinical outcomes. They had fewer ventilator-free days, longer duration of IMV, and longer ICU and hospital lengths of stay. However, pulmonary embolism was not associated with higher mortality.

ETHICS APPROVAL

Ethical committee of Geneva (BASEC #: 2020-00917).

Refractory circulatory failure in COVID-19 patients treated with veno-arterial ECMO a retrospective single-center experience

OBJECTIVE

In this retrospective case series, survival rates in different indications for veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) and differential diagnoses of COVID-19 associated refractory circulatory failure are investigated.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of 28 consecutive COVID-19 patients requiring VA-ECMO. All VA-ECMO's were cannulated peripherally, using a femoro-femoral cannulation.

RESULTS

At VA-ECMO initiation, median age was 57 years (IQR: 51-62), SOFA score 16 (IQR: 13-17) and norepinephrine dosing 0.53μg/kg/min (IQR: 0.35-0.87). Virus-variants were: 61% wild-type, 14% Alpha, 18% Delta and 7% Omicron. Indications for VA-ECMO support were pulmonary embolism (PE) (n = 5, survival 80%), right heart failure due to secondary pulmonary hypertension (n = 5, survival 20%), cardiac arrest (n = 4, survival 25%), acute heart failure (AHF) (n = 10, survival 40%) and refractory vasoplegia (n = 4, survival 0%). Among the patients with AHF, 4 patients suffered from COVID-19 associated heart failure (CovHF) (survival 100%) and 6 patients from sepsis associated heart failure (SHF) (survival 0%). Main Complications were acute kidney injury (AKI) 93%, renal replacement therapy was needed in 79%, intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 18%. Overall survival to hospital discharge was 39%.

CONCLUSION

Survival on VA-ECMO in COVID-19 depends on VA-ECMO indication, which should be considered in further studies and clinical decision making. A subgroup of patients suffers from acute heart failure due to inflammation, which has to be differentiated into septic or COVID-19 associated. Novel biomarkers are required to ensure reliable differentiation between these entities; a candidate might be soluble interleukin 2 receptor.

Calprotectin serum levels on admission and during follow-up predict severity and outcome of patients with COVID-19: A prospective study

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Calprotectin reflects neutrophil activation and is increased in various inflammatory conditions including severe COVID-19. However, serial serum calprotectin measurements in COVID-19 patients are limited. We assessed prospectively, calprotectin levels as biomarker of severity/outcome of the disease and a COVID-19 monitoring parameter in a large cohort of consecutive COVID-19 patients.

METHODS

Calprotectin serum levels were measured in 736 patients (58.2 % males; median age 63-years; moderate disease, n = 292; severe, n = 444, intubated and/or died, n = 50). Patients were treated with combined immunotherapies according to our published local algorithm. The endpoint was the composite event of intubation due to severe respiratory failure (SRF)/COVID-19-related mortality.

RESULTS

Median (interquartile range) calprotectin levels were significantly higher in patients with severe disease [7(8.2) vs. 6.1(8.1)μg/mL, p = 0.015]. Calprotectin on admission was the only independent risk factor for intubation/death (HR=1.473, 95 %CI=1.003-2.165, p = 0.048) even after adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, comorbidities, neutrophils, lymphocytes, neutrophil to lymphocytes ratio, ferritin, and CRP. The area under the curve (AUC, 95 %CI) of calprotectin for prediction of intubation/death was 0.619 (0.531-0.708), with an optimal cut-off at 13 μg/mL (sensitivity: 44 %, specificity: 79 %, positive and negative predictive values: 13 % and 95 %, respectively). For intubated/died patients, paired comparisons from baseline to middle of hospitalization and subsequently to intubation/death showed significant increase of calprotectin (p = 0.009 and p < 0.001, respectively). Calprotectin alteration had the higher predictive ability for intubation/death [AUC (95 %CI):0.803 (0.664-0.943), p < 0.001].

CONCLUSIONS

Calprotectin levels on admission and their subsequent dynamic alterations could serve as indicator of COVID-19 severity and predict the occurrence of SRF and mortality.

Accessing care for Long Covid from the perspectives of patients and healthcare practitioners: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Long Covid is an emerging long-term condition, with those affected raising concerns about lack of healthcare support.

OBJECTIVE

We conducted a qualitative study to identify facilitators and barriers to healthcare access for people with Long Covid, aiming to enhance our understanding of the specific nature of these barriers and how patient experiences may vary.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

In the context of the Symptoms, Trajectory, Inequalities and Management: Understanding Long-COVID to Address and Transform Existing Integrated Care Pathways (STIMULATE-ICP) Delphi study, a nationally distributed online survey was conducted. Eight patients and eight healthcare practitioners (HCP) were interviewed via telephone or video call. Framework analysis, sensitised by the candidacy theory, was used to identify barriers and facilitators over four levels of access to care.

RESULTS

Three themes were identified: (i) patients' efforts to navigate emerging pathways for Long Covid, (ii) the patient-HCP interaction and (iii) service resources and structural constraints. Barriers to specialist care included long waiting times, communication gaps across services and a lack of continuity in care. Facilitators included collaborative, patient-centred approaches, patients' active role in their healthcare and blended approaches for appointments. The perspectives of both patients and HCPs largely aligned.

DISCUSSION

The candidacy framework was valuable in understanding the experiences of people with Long Covid seeking access to healthcare. Individuals perceived themselves as eligible for care, but they often encountered obstacles in obtaining the expected level of care or, in some cases, did not receive it at all. Our findings are discussed in the context of the candidacy model through multiple processes of identification, negotiation, permeability and appearances at health services. These themes seem to be especially important for the emerging new pathway model and are relevant to both primary and secondary care.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights that despite these interviews being conducted two years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, people with Long Covid still struggle to access healthcare, emphasising the ongoing need to provide equitable timely healthcare access for people with Long Covid.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

People with Long Covid advised on all stages of this research.

The association of post-embryo transfer SARS-CoV-2 infection with early pregnancy outcomes in in vitro fertilization: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The influence of SARS-CoV-2 infection after embryo transfer on early pregnancy outcomes in in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer treatment remains inadequately understood. This knowledge gap endures despite an abundance of studies investigating the repercussions of preceding SARS-CoV-2 infection on early pregnancy outcomes in spontaneous pregnancies.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the association between SARS-CoV-2 infection within 10 weeks after embryo transfer and early pregnancy outcomes in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment.

STUDY DESIGN

This prospective cohort study was conducted at a single public in vitro fertilization center in China. Female patients aged 20 to 39 years, with a body mass index ranging from 18 to 30 kg/m2, undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment, were enrolled between September 2022 and December 2022, with follow-up extended until March 2023. The study tracked SARS-CoV-2 infection time (≤14 days, ≤28 days, and ≤10 weeks after embryo transfer), symptoms, vaccination status, the interval between vaccination and embryo transfer, and early pregnancy outcomes, encompassing biochemical pregnancy rate, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and early miscarriage rate. The study used single-factor analysis and multivariate logistic regression to examine the association between SARS-CoV-2 infection status, along with other relevant factors, and the early pregnancy outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 857 female patients undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment were analyzed. In the first stage, SARS-CoV-2 infection within 14 days after embryo transfer did not have a significant negative association with the biochemical pregnancy rate (adjusted odds ratio, 0.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.51-1.09). In the second stage, SARS-CoV-2 infection within 28 days after embryo transfer had no significant association with the implantation rate (36.6% in infected vs 44.0% in uninfected group; P=.181). No statistically significant association was found with the clinical pregnancy rate after adjusting for confounding factors (adjusted odds ratio, 0.69; 95% confidence interval, 0.56-1.09). In the third stage, SARS-CoV-2 infection within 10 weeks after embryo transfer had no significant association with the early miscarriage rate (adjusted odds ratio, 0.77; 95% confidence interval, 0.35-1.71).

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that SARS-CoV-2 infection within 10 weeks after embryo transfer may not be negatively associated with the biochemical pregnancy rate, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and early miscarriage rate in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment. It is important to note that these findings are specific to the target population of in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection patients aged 20 to 39 years, without previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, and with a body mass index of 18 to 30 kg/m2. This information offers valuable insights, addressing current concerns and providing a clearer understanding of the actual risk associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection after embryo transfer.

Two- and 3-year outcomes in convalescent individuals with COVID-19: A prospective cohort study

As the long-term consequences of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have not been defined, it is necessary to explore persistent symptoms, long-term respiratory impairment, and impact on quality of life over time in COVID-19 survivors. In this prospective cohort study, convalescent individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 were followed-up 2 and 3 years after discharge from hospital. Participants completed an in-person interview to assess persistent symptoms and underwent blood tests, pulmonary function tests, chest high-resolution computed tomography, and the 6-min walking test. There were 762 patients at the 2-year follow-up and 613 patients at the 3-year follow-up. The mean age was 60 years and 415 (54.5%) were men. At 3 years, 39.80% of the participants had at least one symptom; most frequently, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, joint pain, shortness of breath, muscle aches, and cough. The participants experienced different degrees of pulmonary function impairment, with decreased carbon monoxide diffusion capacity being the main feature; results remained relatively stable over the 2-3 years. Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that female sex and smoking were independently associated with impaired diffusion capacity. A subgroup analysis based on disease severity was performed, indicating that there was no difference in other parameters of lung function except forced vital capacity at 3-year follow-up. Persistent radiographic abnormalities, most commonly fibrotic-like changes, were observed at both timepoints. At 3 years, patients had a significantly improved Mental Component Score compared with that at 2 years, with a lower percentage with anxiety. Our study indicated that symptoms and pulmonary abnormalities persisted in COVID-19 survivors at 3 years. Further studies are warranted to explore the long-term effects of COVID-19 and develop appropriate rehabilitation strategies.