Care Of COVID-19 Patients Research Articles

Terminal Care Performance of Nurses Caring for COVID-19 Patients: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study.

To identify the effects of moral distress and terminal care stress on the terminal care performance of nurses who cared for COVID-19 patients. This study was cross-sectional descriptive research. Using a convenience sampling method from June to October 2022, nurses who provided terminal care for COVID-19 patients in a Korean tertiary hospital within the last 6 months from the time of the study were selected as participants. Socio-demographic and work characteristics of the participants were collected, and COVID-19 moral distress, terminal care stress and terminal care performance were assessed. A total of 140 self-report questionnaires were distributed and returned (response rate: 100%). In the terminal care performance, it was found that nurses performed relatively well in the physical area, but less well in the emotional and spiritual areas. Moral distress and terminal care stress were both positively correlated with terminal care performance for nurses who cared for COVID-19 patients. The predictors of terminal care performance were moral distress (β = 0.27, p = 0.003), gender (β = 0.20, p = 0.015) and experience in a dedicated COVID-19 unit (β = 0.22, p = 0.020). The study identified moral distress as the most significant factor influencing terminal care performance among nurses caring for COVID-19 patients. To enhance terminal care performance, it is crucial to address moral distress and provide clear guidelines and support, especially in the emotional and spiritual care domains. Future research should explore additional factors that may influence terminal care performance in pandemic situations. No patient or public contribution.

Inflammatory, Hematological, and Biochemical Biomarkers in COVID-19 Patients.

There are few accurate prognostic indications of the illness's development and severity for COVID-19, despite certain biomarkers having been investigated. The unexpected nature of COVID-19's course, which can quickly progress from asymptomatic to life-threatening symptoms, lies at the heart of the disease's intricacy. Predicting SARS-CoV-2 pathogenicity through laboratory biomarkers and as such, identifying the patients' illness severity at the time of their initial admission would be crucial in improving patient care. In this study, we sought to evaluate the potential of hematological, biochemical, and inflammatory biomarkers in predicting the course of COVID-19 at a tertiary hospital in western Kenya. This cross-sectional study involved 48 COVID-19 patients (16 asymptomatic; 16 moderate symptomatic; and 16 severe symptomatic) and 48 age-sex-matched COVID-19-negative clients attending the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kenya. Demographic information, self-reported chronic illnesses, symptoms, and laboratory results were collected at recruitment. Significantly, the severity of COVID-19 was associated with; hemoglobin (p < 0.0001), white blood cells (p = 0.0022), hematocrit (p < 0.0001), blood urea nitrogen (p = 0.01), blood sodium (p = 0.0002), potassium (p = 0.0483), C-reactive protein (p = 0.0002), and Lactate Dehydrogenase (p < 0.0001). Regression analysis of CRP revealed a strong positive correlation (p = 0.0006) whereas LDH revealed a weak positive correlation (p < 0.0001) with COVID-19 disease severity. Discriminative accuracy was highest when asymptomatic was compared to severe COVID-19 for CRP and LDH (AUC: 0.8867, 95% CI: 0.7532-1.000) and (AUC: 1.000, 95% CI: 1.000-1.000) respectively. The hematological indices, inflammatory and biochemical biomarkers studied have the potential to predict the course of COVID-19. These parameters may be useful in helping design appropriate care for COVID-19 patients.

"Nursing after the care of COVID-19 patients in intensive care units: systematic review"

Analizar los impactos físicos y emocionales que generó la atención de pacientes en unidades de cuidado intensivo por covid-19 en el personal de enfermería mediante una revisión sistemática de la literatura.Revisión sistemática de artículos originales, revisiones de literatura y meta-análisis que aborden los impactos físicos y/o mentales en profesionales de enfermería por la atención de pacientes con covid-19 en UCI en las bases de datos PubMed, Science Direct y Scielo.Se seleccionaron 24 artículos. Entre los impactos emocionales se identificaron ansiedad, depresión, angustia, estrés, culpa, desolación. En relación con los impactos físicos se identificaron insomnio, agotamiento, lesiones.La atención de pacientes Covid-19 en UCI impactó en el bienestar emocional y físico del personal de enfermería a causas de diferentes estresores generando el desarrollo de estrategias de afrontamiento internas, externas y desadaptativas.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical education and training programs in Latin America: a systematic review.

The COVID-19 pandemic posed challenges to surgical training, demanding a balance between theoretical and practical knowledge, especially in Latin American countries. Therefore, our aim was to characterize the challenges faced by surgical education in these countries. A systematic search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, and the Virtual Health Library on March 23, 2022, yielding 2,838 articles. Articles were filtered by two independent reviewers focusing on the effect of the pandemic in surgical education. A total of 31 articles were selected; 54.83% of surgical programs reported a reduction in surgical involvement by trainees. First-year residents were the most affected, with some surgical residency programs forced to shift their residents to take care of COVID-19 patients; additionally, in 67.74% of cases, online courses and virtual simulation was implemented. Most of the residents had a positive opinion regarding virtual lectures but considered that their surgical skills were affected. The development of surgical skills was hindered by changes in surgery prioritization, techniques, and a decrease in caseload. The pandemic also caused a reliance on virtual formats for education and patient care. This shift created irregularities in training but increased opportunities for alternate activities.

Factors influencing job performance of nurses in COVID-19 care: a study in Egypt.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an illness that has critical effects on public health and overall circumstances across the world. The performance of nurses represents the vital actions in providing care for COVID-19 patients. The aim of this study was to assess job performance and associated nurses, patients, and environmental-related factors among nurses providing care to COVID-19 patients in Egypt through the following: assessing the nurses' knowledge regarding care of COVID-19 patients; assessing the nurses' practice regarding care of COVID-19 patients; assessing different factors that affect different types of nurses' job performance; and assessing the factors associated with the job performance of nurses providing care to COVID-19 patients.Design A descriptive exploratory study was used to meet the aim of the study.Setting The study was conducted at Ain Shams University COVID-19 Hospital.Study subjects A convenient sample of all 52 available nurses working at Ain Shams University COVID-19 Hospital. Data collection tools: The data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. It consisted of the following: A. Self-administered nurses' questionnaire: Part I: Demographic characteristics of nurses. Part II: Nurses knowledge assessment. Part III: Factors associated with nurses' job performance. B. Narses's practice observational checklist. Results: The mean age (mean ± SD) of the study population was 40.59 ± 6.90. As regards their years of experience working as nurses, only 32.7% of them have more than ten years of experience. In relation to the total satisfactory level of knowledge about coronavirus, the study reveals that 55.8% of the nurses have unsatisfactory knowledge regarding coronavirus, There is a highly significant relationship between level of practice and years of experience (p-value < 0.001**), while there is a significant relationship between level of practice and educational level and attending the training courses about caring for COVID-19 patients (P-value 0.033*, P-value 0.025*), respectively.Conclusion The study concluded that most of the studied nurses had unsatisfactory knowledge, and more than half had incompetent practice scores about nursing care practices for patients with COVID-19. There was a positive linear correlation between the nurses' knowledge and practice. The factors affecting their performance in caring for patients with COVID-19, lack of cooperation between nurses and patients, lack of supplies and equipment during care were the most frequently reported factors, as were an unequal nurse-patient ratio, many nursing tasks, and a lack of patients' knowledge.Recommendation The study recommends the importance of promoting the nursing care guidelines as a standard procedure in ICUs, and the nursing care guideline educational program for patients with COVID-19 should be scheduled regularly for nurses. Providing the hospitals with supplies to avoid the shortage's effect on nurses' performance.

The emotional state of young medical workers involved in medical care for COVID-19 patients

Relevance. Few studies have identified changes in the social wellbeing of the youth throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective is to assess the emotional status of young medical workers involved in medical care during COVID-19.Methods. The study was carried out in spring 2024 in the format of an online survey. The responses were assessed using a scale specifically developed for the survey to assess respondent’s emotional state as ‘favorable’, ‘unfavorable’, or ‘average’. 135 male and 164 female medical workers were interviewed. The respondents’ age ranged from 20 to 35 years, allowing to consider them representing the youth as a social group. Their work experience in providing medical care to COVID-19 patients ranged from 6 to 24 months or more. Statistica 10.0 software package was used for statistical data processing. Results and discussion. Among the interviewed young medical workers, 20.0 % (95 % CI 15.5–24.8) assessed their emotional state as ‘unfavorable’ and 18.4 % (95 % CI 14.1–22.7) as ‘favorable’. Medical workers with 12 to 24 or more months of experience in providing medical care to COVID-19 patients were significantly less likely (p ≤ 0.05) to refer to their emotional state as ‘favorable’ and significantly more likely (p ≤ 0.05) to report anxiety, the need for non-stop motion, and inability to stand still or stay seated in one place. The group of medical workers reporting ‘unfavorable’ emotional state included 54.7 % (95 % CI 49.1–60.3) contested that before starting the job in COVID-19 departments, they had only been instructed, interviewed by the management, and trained right on the job. Meanwhile, ‘favorable’ emotional state was associated with prior training throughout CME cycles. This group of young medical workers also reported practicing one of two preventive strategies, i.e either a combination of sports, adequate physical activity, and “healthy eating” or sport, adequate physical activity, and sleep schedule, thus showing the respondents’ commitment to healthy lifestyles.Conclusion. In in young medical workers, providing medical care to COVID-19 patients is accompanied by deteriorated emotional state. This process can intensify with increasing work experience. Lack of training throughout CME cycles prior to work is an unfavorable factor. Adherence to healthy lifestyles is the most common strategy among young healthcare workers to prevent adverse emotional states.

A Platinum-Graded Green Hospital Building in India during COVID-19 Pandemic: From Planning to Execution and Outcome

Background: A green hospital building has superior qualities over general hospital buildings in terms of energy conservation, use of natural resources, clean indoor air quality, green housekeeping, and other characteristics that improve patient outcomes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare organizations worldwide faced significant challenges and difficulties running hospitals. These challenges motivated the healthcare administration to find possible solutions for possible protocols for the functioning of the hospital. Methods: It was a prospective study conducted at a tertiary care hospital in north India from March 2020 to Feb 2022. After multiple changes in the fields of committee formation, human resource management, training, setting of the donning area and the doffing area, setting of the patient care areas and the infection control practices, equipment utilization, protocols for the support services, patient status updation to family members, and finally maintaining the patient data for the official purpose. Results: The hospital statistics showed a recovery rate of 81%, a mortality rate of 18%, and average length of stay of 8 days in COVID-19 patient care. Conclusion: The experiences, the challenges learned, and the solutions made to combat this pandemic will be the guide for future pandemics. The green hospital building proved its supremacy in patient outcomes and is recommended by hospital administrators as a future hospital building.

Perceived Stress and Coping Strategies for Frontline Nurses Caring for COVID-19 Patients: A Path Analysis.

This cross-sectional study explored the relationships among perceived stress, social support, positive coping, and mental health in frontline nurses caring for patients with COVID-19 in China. A quantitative cross-sectional study. A convenience sample of 339 eligible frontline nurses was identified from a designated hospital for COVID-19 in Shanghai, China, between May 2022 and August 2022. Data from nurses were collected through an online survey that contained 4 measurement domains: perceived stress, social support, coping strategies, and mental health. Path analysis was used to analyze the data in SPSS 24.0 and AMOS 23.0. The model tested in the path analysis fit the data well. The results demonstrated relationships among perceived stress, social support, positive coping, and mental health among frontline nurses caring for patients with COVID-19. Social support had a positive effect on positive coping strategies and a negative effect on perceived stress and mental health. In addition, path analysis indicated that social support moderated the relationship between perceived stress and mental health in nurses. Nurses experienced work-related mental stress while providing COVID-19-related care. Based on study findings, social support is expected to play a key role in stress management in nurses. Expanding opportunities for social support is an essential step for nurses to improve their mental health and quality of life.

Experience of caring for patients with COVID-19 and educational achievement among Japanese resident physicians: a nationwide survey with general medicine in-training examination

BackgroundAs healthcare professional trainees, resident physicians are expected to help with COVID-19 care in various ways. Many resident physicians worldwide have cared for COVID-19 patients despite the increased risk of burnout. However, few studies have examined the experience with COVID-19 care among resident physicians and its effects on competency achievement regarding clinical basics and COVID-19 patient care.MethodThis nationwide, cross-sectional Japanese study used a clinical training environment questionnaire for resident physicians (PGY-1 and − 2) in 593 teaching hospitals during the General Medicine In-Training Examination in January 2021. The General Medicine In-Training Examination questions comprised four categories (medical interviews and professionalism; symptomatology and clinical reasoning; physical examination and clinical procedures; and disease knowledge) and a COVID-19-related question. We examined the COVID-19 care experience and its relationship with the General Medicine In-Training Examination score, adjusting for resident and hospital variables.ResultsOf the 6,049 resident physicians, 2,841 (47.0%) had no experience caring for patients with COVID-19 during 2020. Total and categorical General Medicine In-Training Examination scores were not different irrespective of the experience with COVID-19 patient care. For the COVID-19-related question, residents with experience in COVID-19 care showed a significant increase in correct response by 2.6% (95% confidence interval, 0.3–4.9%; p = 0.028).ConclusionsThe resident physicians’ COVID-19 care experience was associated with better achievement of COVID-19-related competency without reducing clinical basics. However, approximately half of the residents missed the critical experience of caring for patients during this unparalleled pandemic in Japan.

Ethical Challenges Facing Healthcare Workers during Pandemics (The Learned Lessons from Covid-19)

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has raised a host of ethical challenges. In Egypt, the circumstances were more complicated due to limited resources and lack of training to face crisis circumstances which increased the burden of the crisis on the health care workers (HCWs) all over the country. However, to date, there is no sufficient studies of the ethical issues that have been raised during COVID-19 pandemic in Egypt. Aim This qualitative study aims to explore the ethical challenges faced by HCWs during COVID 19 pandemic, and to discuss their related background and contributing factors in the local community. Methods The study included 34 HCWs working in 12 governmental health care facilities in different governorates in Egypt. Semi- structured interview questionnaire was used for data collection. Results The HCWs reported the following main ethical challenges that faced them throughout the provision of care for COVID-19 patients: ‘balance between their duty of care of COVID 19 patients and fear of infection’, ‘uncertainty in management of COVID 19 cases’, ‘lack of organizational support during the pandemic”, ‘rationing the scarce health care resources’, ‘social stigmatization’ and ‘psychological burden of the pandemic’. Conclusions The present study portrayed the main ethical issues and challenges faced by HCWs during the pandemic. It is mandatory for health care authorities to adopt appropriate measures to resolve these issues and increase their preparedness in the era of pandemic to handle any crisis in the future.

Nurses' experiences of caring for COVID-19 patients

Nurses' experiences of caring for COVID-19 patients

Navigating Uncertainty: A Qualitative Study on the Hospitalization Experience of COVID-19 Patients.

This study examines the hospitalization experience of COVID-19 patients in public hospitals in the Thessaly Region of the Greek territory. The ultimate goal is to explore and gain a deeper understanding of the subjective experience of hospitalization. A qualitative study design was employed in this study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 12patients. Four categories emerged when analyzing the data: (a) personal experience, (b) the unknown nature of the disease, (c) causal attributions and meaning-making, and (d) mental resilience. The findings underscore the necessity of providing ongoing and comprehensive care for COVID-19 patients that addresses their biological, psycho-emotional, and social needs from the time of diagnosis to full recovery.

Advances and trends in pressure ulcer care research over the last 20 years: A bibliometric and visual analysis

ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the current status and trends of pressure ulcer care studies over the past two decades using bibliometric and visual analysis, with the objective of providing guidelines for the development of relevant clinical practices or further research. MethodsWe conducted a search on the Web of Science Core Collection database using the subject terms “pressure ulcers” or “pressure injuries” for the period from January 2002 to December 2021. Bibliometric tools such as CiteSpace (version 5.8.R3), VOS viewer (version 1.6.17) and the R software 4.0.3 were used to visualize and analyze annual publications, country, institution, author, keyword and cited literature. ResultsWe identified 5102 publications related to pressure ulcers during the 20-year period, including 4034 articles published in 1557 journals. The number of annual publications on the relevant topics has been increasing annually at an annual growth rate of 4.89 %. The keyword cluster analysis of these studies can be divided into four areas: epidemiology, risk assessment, caring intervention and prognostic analysis. Keyword temporal analysis revealed that the “Braden score” was the most commonly used keyword over a long-term span. The dissemination of knowledge and student training on pressure ulcers have become hot topics of research in recent years. Additionally, pressure ulcer care in COVID-19 patients has emerged as another research hotspot due to the pandemic. ConclusionBibliometric analyses have shown that there has been a steady increase in research on pressure ulcer care, with studies related to pressure ulcer risk scores accounting for a large portion of this research. In recent years, education on pressure ulcer-related knowledge and pressure ulcer care in COVID-19 patients have emerged as research hotspots. Future research on pressure ulcer care in the elderly may be a research hotspot as the aging population progresses.

Anxiety, depression, and family dysfunction among COVID-19 patients admitted to hospital and isolation facilities in the Philippines

COVID-19 patients are prone to developing psychosocial distress during and after admission to healthcare facilities. This prospective cohort study determined the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and family dysfunction among COVID-19 patients discharged from health facilities in Metro Manila, Philippines. Data was collected through phone interviews with COVID-19 patients two weeks and eight weeks after discharge. The questionnaires were based on validated tools such as HADS-P for screening anxiety and depression symptoms and Filipino Family APGAR and SCREEM Family resources survey for the perceived family function and resource, respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics to determine the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms. Factors associated with anxiety, depression, and family function were analyzed using logistic regression. Approximately 31.6% (23.8 – 40.2%) presented with anxiety symptoms, and 12.0% (7.3 – 18.4%) had depression symptoms two weeks after being discharged from COVID-19 infection. From two weeks after discharge, the prevalence of anxiety symptoms decreased to 19.8%, while depression increased to 13.5% eight weeks after discharge. The percentage of patients with a perceived moderate family dysfunction was 12.8% at two weeks and most inadequate resources for the patients. The patient's anxiety was associated with perceived moderate family dysfunction (p = 0.034) and moderately inadequate family resources (p = 0.034). Depression most inadequate resources for the patients. The patient's anxiety was associated with perceived moderate family dysfunction (p = 0.034) and moderately inadequate family resources (p = 0.034). Depression was associated with perceived moderate family dysfunction (p = 0.020) and low income (p = 0.036). This is one of the first studies to determine how COVID-19 infection affects the mental health status of Filipino patients. The study’s results highlight the importance of holistic care for COVID-19 patients and the need to include mental health in the management of COVID-19 patients.

Neurological complications caused by SARS-CoV-2.

SUMMARYSARS-CoV-2 can not only cause respiratory symptoms but also lead to neurological complications. Research has shown that more than 30% of SARS-CoV-2 patients present neurologic symptoms during COVID-19 (A. Pezzini and A. Padovani, Nat Rev Neurol 16:636-644, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41582-020-0398-3). Increasing evidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2 can invade both the central nervous system (CNS) (M.S. Xydakis, M.W. Albers, E.H. Holbrook, et al. Lancet Neurol 20: 753-761, 2021 https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(21)00182-4 ) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS) (M.N. Soares, M. Eggelbusch, E. Naddaf, et al. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 13:11-22, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1002/jcsm.12896), resulting in a variety of neurological disorders. This review summarized the CNS complications caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection, including encephalopathy, neurodegenerative diseases, and delirium. Additionally, some PNS disorders such as skeletal muscle damage and inflammation, anosmia, smell or taste impairment, myasthenia gravis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, ICU-acquired weakness, and post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 were described. Furthermore, the mechanisms underlying SARS-CoV-2-induced neurological disorders were also discussed, including entering the brain through retrograde neuronal or hematogenous routes, disrupting the normal function of the CNS through cytokine storms, inducing cerebral ischemia or hypoxia, thus leading to neurological complications. Moreover, an overview of long-COVID-19 symptoms is provided, along with some recommendations for care and therapeutic approaches of COVID-19 patients experiencing neurological complications.

Caring for the Unvaccinated During a Pandemic: Connecting Swanson's Theory of Caring.

Background and Purpose: Nurses frequently care for patients who make decisions against medical advice, a challenge that continues during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This article explores U.S. nurses' experiences caring for unvaccinated COVID-19 patients and the resulting impacts using Swanson's Theory of Caring (STC). Methods: Data were gathered through an online survey collecting nurses' demographics, mental health screening data, and an open-ended question asking about a personal experience providing care to an unvaccinated COVID-19 patient. Researchers analyzed 128 responses using content analysis. STC served as the analytical framework. Results: Nurses' experiences were summarized into two main themes and four subthemes: (a) anger, frustration, fatigue, and resentment (24.2%) and (b) feeling a professional commitment to a nurse's duty (60.9%). Within the professional commitment theme, subthemes include the following: (a) patients can make an autonomous decision (15.6%); (b) feeling concerned for the patient (6.3%); (c) wanting to take action, educate, and vaccinate (29.7%); and (d) feeling moral conflict (9.3%). Results aligned with STC's five caring actions: knowing, doing for, being with, enabling, and maintaining belief. Implications for Practice: Nurses experienced emotional challenges caring for the unvaccinated during the pandemic resulting in psychological sequelae, including compassion fatigue and moral distress, in addition to positive outcomes of resilience and enhanced coping mechanisms. This study underscores the multifaceted nature of nurses' experiences and the emotional, ethical, and professional challenges they encountered when caring for unvaccinated COVID-19 patients. Nurse leaders should address these issues to enhance nurses' wellbeing and reduce compassion fatigue and dissatisfaction.

Imaging the Impact: Computed Tomography Thorax in COVID-19 - A Comprehensive Review and Clinical Analysis

This comprehensive review and clinical analysis explore the pivotal role of thorax computed tomography (CT) in the context of COVID-19. As the world grapples with the ongoing pandemic, the need for effective diagnostic tools and management strategies remains paramount. This review meticulously examines the impact of thorax CT imaging on the understanding, diagnosis, and clinical management of COVID-19. The review encompasses an extensive analysis of the existing literature, shedding light on the nuances of thorax CT findings in COVID-19 patients. It explores the characteristic imaging features, such as ground-glass opacities, consolidations, and other pulmonary abnormalities, providing insights into the pathophysiology of the disease. Furthermore, the clinical analysis component synthesizes data from diverse studies to elucidate the diagnostic accuracy and sensitivity of thorax CT, particularly in cases where molecular testing may present challenges. The review also delves into the role of thorax CT in early detection, risk stratification, and longitudinal monitoring of patients with COVID-19, offering valuable perspectives for healthcare professionals. Importantly, considerations of radiation exposure and ethical use of thorax CT are addressed, emphasizing the judicious integration of imaging into clinical practice. The article concludes with practical recommendations for optimizing the utility of thorax CT in the broader context of COVID-19 diagnosis and patient care.

COVID-19 Recovery Time and Its Predictors among Hospitalized Patients in Designated Hospitals in the Madhesh Province of Nepal: A Multicentric Study.

This study aimed to determine COVID-19 recovery time and identify predictors among hospitalized patients in the Dhanusha District of Madhesh Province, Nepal. This hospital-based longitudinal study involved 507 COVID-19 patients admitted to three distinct medical facilities for therapeutic intervention between April and October 2021. Data were collected for patient demography, symptoms, vital signs, oxygen saturation levels, temperatures, heart rates, respiratory rates, blood pressure measurements, and other health-related conditions. Kaplan-Meier survival curves estimated the recovery time, and a Cox proportional hazard model was used to identify the predictors of recovery time. For the total participants, mean age was 51.1 (SD = 14.9) years, 68.0% were males. Of the total patients, 49.5% recovered, and 16.8% died. The median for patient recovery was 26 days (95% CI: 25.1-26.7). Patients with severe or critical conditions were less likely to recover compared to those with milder conditions (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.15-0.79; p = 0.012). In addition, an increase in oxygen saturation was associated with an elevated likelihood of recovery (HR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.01-1.17, p = 0.018). This study underscores the need for early admission to hospital and emphasizes the targeted interventions in severe cases. Additionally, the results highlight the importance of optimizing oxygen levels in COVID-19 patient care.

Effects of Plasma Therapy on Laboratory Factors and Clinical Improvement of COVID-19 Patients

Objectives: Over 50 million confirmed cases and 1.5 million fatalities worldwide have been linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers have used convalescent plasma (CP) from recovered patients, which includes neutralizing antibodies, to develop therapeutics for virus neutralization and prevention. This study assessed the effectiveness of CP using several clinical and laboratory variables. Methods: The intervention group received two doses of CP on the day of hospitalization, while the control group received standard care. Clinical and analytical data were documented and evaluated before plasma therapy and on the third and fifth days after therapy. The results were measured in the patient’s blood using the ELISA method. Results: The present study showed that the ICU hospitalization times for the control and CP groups were similar, with a slightly lower mortality rate in the CP group (6.2% vs. 8.2%, p &gt; 0.05). There was no significant association between COVID-19 and clinical factors such as blood pressure, heart rate (HR), respiration rate (RR), and temperature. The blood serum urea, serum LDH, ALT, PTT, PLT, and IL-6 were significantly higher in the CP group than in the control group (p &lt;0.05). Our results indicated that there was no difference in blood pH, PO2 , HCO3 , ESR, WBC counts, serum troponin, Na, AST, CRP, D-dimer, and PT between patients in the CP and control groups. Conclusion: Overall, in certain instances, CP therapy may help individuals with COVID-19 recover. In general, additional research is required to determine the efficacy of plasma treatment in COVID-19 patient care.

Impact of Covid-19 on Breast Cancer Screening.

To assess the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on breast cancer screening. This was a cross-sectional and retrospective study, which used data extracted from "TABNET" between 2014 to 2020. Statistical analysis was carried out using the ANOVA model. In 2019, a total of 3,068,776 mammograms were conducted, which significantly decreased to 1,808,765 in 2020. Since the onset of the pandemic in Brazil in March 2020, there has been a reduction in the number of mammograms performed. Mammography coverage increased from 0.11 to 0.18 between 2014 and 2019 but sharply declined from 0.18 to 0.10 between 2019 and 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a detrimental impact on breast cancer screening efforts, especially in detecting the disease in early stages. Health services shifted their focus towards caring for COVID-19 patients, therefore neglecting routine screening programs and interventions. Additionally, the population's fear of contagion contributed to a decrease in demand for screening tests.