Effects Of COVID-19 Infection Research Articles

Effects of COVID-19 Infection on Fetal Growth in Pregnancy

Effects of COVID-19 Infection on Fetal Growth in Pregnancy

Critical COVID-19, Victivallaceae abundance, and celiac disease: A mediation Mendelian randomization study.

Celiac disease exhibits a higher prevalence among patients with coronavirus disease 2019. However, the potential influence of COVID-19 on celiac disease remains uncertain. Considering the significant association between gut microbiota alterations, COVID-19 and celiac disease, the two-step Mendelian randomization method was employed to investigate the genetic causality between COVID-19 and celiac disease, with gut microbiota as the potential mediators. We employed the genome-wide association study to select genetic instrumental variables associated with the exposure. Subsequently, these variables were utilized to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on the risk of celiac disease and its potential influence on gut microbiota. Employing a two-step Mendelian randomization approach enabled the examination of potential causal relationships, encompassing: 1) the effects of COVID-19 infection, hospitalized COVID-19 and critical COVID-19 on the risk of celiac disease; 2) the influence of gut microbiota on celiac disease; and 3) the mediating impact of the gut microbiota between COVID-19 and the risk of celiac disease. Our findings revealed a significant association between critical COVID-19 and an elevated risk of celiac disease (inverse variance weighted [IVW]: P = 0.035). Furthermore, we observed an inverse correlation between critical COVID-19 and the abundance of Victivallaceae (IVW: P = 0.045). Notably, an increased Victivallaceae abundance exhibits a protective effect against the risk of celiac disease (IVW: P = 0.016). In conclusion, our analysis provides genetic evidence supporting the causal connection between critical COVID-19 and lower Victivallaceae abundance, thereby increasing the risk of celiac disease.

COVID-19 and Pregnancy: A Dangerous Mix for Bone Turnover and Metabolism Biomarkers in Placenta and Colostrum.

Background: In pregnant women, COVID-19 can alter the metabolic environment, cell metabolism, and oxygen supply of trophoblastic cells and, therefore, have a negative influence on essential mechanisms of fetal development. The purpose of this study was to investigate, for the first time, the effects of COVID-19 infection during pregnancy with regard to the bone turnover and endocrine function of several metabolic biomarkers in colostrum and placenta. Methods: One hundred and twenty-four pregnant mothers were recruited from three hospitals between June 2020 and August 2021 and assigned to two groups: Control group and COVID-19 group. Metabolism biomarkers were addressed in placental tissue and colostrum. Results: Lipocalin-2 and resistin levels were higher in the placenta, revealing an underlying pro-inflammatory status in the gestation period for mothers suffering from COVID-19; a decrease in GLP-1 and leptin was also observed in this group. As for adiponectin, resistin, and insulin, their concentrations showed an increase; a decrease in GLP-1, leptin, and PYY was also reported in the colostrum of mothers suffering from COVID-19 compared with the control group. Conclusions: As for bone turnover, placental samples from mothers with COVID-19 showed lower levels of OPG, while DKK-1 increased compared with the control group. Colostrum samples showed higher levels of OPG, SOST, and PTH in the COVID-19 group, a fact that could have noteworthy implications for energy metabolism, fetal skeletal development, and postnatal bone density and mineralization. Further research is needed to explain the pathogenic mechanism of COVID-19 that may affect pregnancy, so as to assess the short-term and long-term outcomes in infants' health.

Trajectories of mental health outcomes following COVID-19 infection: a prospective longitudinal study

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a global mental health crisis. Yet, we know little about the lasting effects of COVID-19 infection on mental health. This prospective longitudinal study aimed to investigate the trajectories of mental health changes in individuals infected with COVID-19 and to identify potential predictors that may influence these changes.MethodsA web-survey that targeted individuals that had been infected with COVID-19 was used at three time-points: T0 (baseline), T1 (six months), and T2 (twelve months). The survey included demographics, questions related to COVID-19 status, previous psychiatric diagnosis, post-COVID impairments, fatigue, and standardized measures of depression, anxiety, insomnia. Linear mixed models were used to examine changes in depression, anxiety, and insomnia over time and identify factors that impacted trajectories of mental health outcomes.ResultsA total of 236 individuals completed assessments and was included in the longitudinal sample. The participants’ age ranged between 19 and 81 years old (M = 48.71, SD = 10.74). The results revealed notable changes in mental health outcomes over time. The trajectory of depression showed significant improvement over time while the trends in anxiety and insomnia did not exhibit significant changes over time. Younger participants and individuals who experienced severe COVID-19 infection in the acute phase were identified as high-risk groups with worst mental ill-health. The main predictors of the changes in the mental health outcomes were fatigue and post-COVID impairments.ConclusionsThe findings of our study suggest that mental health outcomes following COVID-19 infection exhibit a dynamic pattern over time. The study provides valuable insights into the mental health trajectory following COVID-19 infection, emphasizing the need for ongoing assessment, support, and interventions tailored to the evolving mental health needs of this population.

The impact of covid-19 pandemic on pregnancy outcome

BackgroundThe acute respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) has spread rapidly worldwide yet has not been eliminated. The infection is especially deadly in vulnerable populations. The current studies indicate that pregnant women are at greater risk of getting seriously ill. Even though fetuses protect against disease, the additional finding showed that the COVID-19 pandemic could increase fetal and maternal morbidities. In a situation where COVID-19 and new strains of the virus are still not controlled, scientists predicted that the world might experience another pandemic. Consequently, more research about the effects of COVID-19 infection on pregnancy outcomes is needed. This study aimed to compare the pregnancy outcomes of Iranian pregnant women in the first year of the pandemic with the previous year.MethodsThis prospective cross-sectional study was performed to compare the pregnancy outcome during the COVID-19 pandemic among Iranian pregnant women who gave birth during the pandemic and one year before the pandemic (2019–2020 and 2020–2021). The sample size was 2,371,332 births registered at hospitals and birth centers platforms. The studied variables include stillbirth, congenital anomaly, birth weight, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, cesarean section, ICU admission, mean of the gestational age at birth, preterm births, NICU admission, neonatal mortality and the percentage of deliveries with at least one complication such as blood transfusion and postpartum ICU admission. Analyzing data was done by using SPSS version 25 software.ResultsWe found statistical differences between pregnancy and birth outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to one year before. The risk of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, cesarean section, preterm birth and NICU admission were clinically significant. Also, there was a significant decrease in mean gestational age.ConclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic has affected the pregnancy outcome by increasing morbidities and complications during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. In addition, extensive quarantine outbreaks disrupted the healthcare system and hindered access to prenatal services. It is necessary to develop preventive and therapeutic care protocols for similar pandemic conditions.

Effects of COVID-19 infection in patients with autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis: a single-center study

BackgroundAutoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (aPAP) is a rare interstitial lung disease. COVID-19 is associated with worse prognosis in previous lung diseases patients. But the prognosis of aPAP patients after infection with COVID-19 is unclear. In December 2022, China experienced a large-scale outbreak of Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2. In this study, we aim to explore the clinical outcomes of aPAP patients infected with COVID-19.ResultsA total of 39 aPAP patients were included in this study. 30.77% patients had a decrease in oxygen saturation after COVID-19 infection. We compared the two groups of patients with or without decreased oxygen saturation after COVID-19 infection and found that patients who had previous oxygen therapy (decreased oxygen saturation vs. non decreased oxygen saturation: 6/12 vs. 4/27, P = 0.043), with lower baseline arterial oxygen partial pressure (74.50 ± 13.61 mmHg vs. 86.49 ± 11.92 mmHg, P = 0.009), lower baseline DLCO/VA% [77.0 (74.3, 93.6) % vs. 89.5 (78.2, 97.4) %, P = 0.036], shorter baseline 6MWD [464 (406, 538) m vs. 532 (470, 575) m, P = 0.028], higher disease severity score (P = 0.017), were more likely to have decreased oxygen saturation after COVID-19 infection.ConclusionaPAP patients with poor baseline respiration have a higher probability of hypoxia after COVID-19 infection, but fatal events were rare.

46 Visuospatial Functions in Patients After COVID-19 Disease

Objective:“Brain fog” is one of the most common consequences of developing COVID-19. The available research focuses mainly on the decline in overall cognitive performance. Much less papers refers to the evaluation of particular cognitive domains, and when it does, it focuses particularly on attention and memory disorders. The available data on the effects of COVID-19 infection on visuospatial functions is sparse, so the aim of this study was to investigate the level of visuospatial functioning in adults who have a history of COVID-19 infection. It was also intended to explore whether there is a protective effect of vaccination on the cognitive functioning after COVID-19.Participants and Methods:The group included sixty volunteers (age: M = 40.12, SD = 16.78; education: M = 12.95 SD = 2.25; sex: M = 20, F = 40) - thirty seven with a history of COVID-19 and twenty three who were never infected with SARS-COV-2. Of those with a history of COVID-19, twenty-four were vaccinated at the time of the disease, and thirteen were not. Subjects from individual groups did not differ demographically. Participants were examined with a set of neuropsychological tests to assess: a) general cognitive functioning - Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), b) attention - d2 Test of Attention, memory - Rey-Osterieth Complex Figure - delayed recall, and c) visuospatial functions - Rey-Osterieth Complex Figure - copy, Block Design - subtest of WAIS-R and three experimental tasks consisting of: incomplete pictures, rotating puzzles, counting cubes in a 3D tower.Results:Subjects who had a history of COVID-19 achieved significantly lower scores in the MoCA test (p = 0.033) compared to those who did not suffer from COVID-19. They also needed more time in mental rotation task (p = 0,04). Statistically significant differences were also found in the d2 Test of Attention GP score (p = 0.001). Moreover, in group of adults who had a history of COVID-19, statistically significant differences were found between the vaccinated and unvaccinated subjects. It turned out that those who were vaccinated during their illness performed significantly better than those who were unvaccinated in the following cognitive domains: attention (d2 Test of Attention) and visuospatial functions (Rey-Osterieth Complex Figure test - copy, Block Design from WAIS-R, as well as experimental trials: incomplete pictures, rotating puzzles, counting cubes).Conclusions:Among adults who have been infected with COVID-19, there is a decrease in general cognitive performance, but also in individual cognitive abilities, including visuospatial functions. Vaccination significantly reduces the risk of cognitive impairment.

(064) Developing Written Educational Materials for Patients on the Effects of COVID-19 Infection and Paxlovid Use on Clozapine Levels

(064) Developing Written Educational Materials for Patients on the Effects of COVID-19 Infection and Paxlovid Use on Clozapine Levels

Effects of COVID-19 infection on retinal vascular density and choroidal thickness measured by optical coherence tomography angiography

AimThe present study evaluates the possible effects of COVID-19 on choroid thickness, the Foveal Avascular Zone (FAZ) and retinal vascular indices in the same individuals who had Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA) data prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. MethodsThe OCT and OCTA images of the same individuals with no known ophthalmic pathology who developed a COVID-19 infection were obtained were retrieved retrospectively from the database and compared with the repeated images of OCT and OCTA images 1–2 months after COVID-19 infection. ResultsEighty eyes of 40 patients (26 female [65%], 14 male [35%]) who had developed a prior Covid-19 infection were included in the study. When comparing the measurements of the same participants before and after Covid-19 infection, no significant difference was detected in the mean average choroidal thicknesses (p=0.998), average superficial (p=0.425) and deep (p=0.333) retinal vascular densities, and superficial (p=0.991) and deep (p=0.075) FAZ measurements. ConclusionsNo significant effect of COVID-19 on choroid thickness, FAZ or retinal vascular densities was noted in the present study, although there are some studies in literature with equivocal results.

Effects of COVID-19 Infection on the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test Results in Pregnancy

Effects of COVID-19 Infection on the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test Results in Pregnancy

Effects of COVID-19 Infection in Healthy Subjects on Cardiac Function and Biomarkers of Oxygen Transport, Blood Coagulation and Inflammation.

The manifestations, severity, and mortality of COVID-19 are considered to be associated with the changes in various hematological parameters and in immunity. Associations of immunoglobulin G antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome-linked coronavirus (IgG-SARS)-positive status with cardiac function and hematological and biochemical parameters in apparently health subjects are poorly understood. The present cross-sectional study included 307 healthy volunteers (24-69 years of age; 44.8 ± 8.6 years; 80.4% men) and was initiated in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 episodes were confirmed by detection of IgG-SARS against SARS-CoV-2 S1 RBD to reveal 70 IgG-SARS-positive and 237 negative participants. Numerous ultrasound characteristics were assessed by echocardiography, and 15 hematological and biochemical parameters were assayed in the blood. Descriptive and comparative analysis was based on the IgG-SARS status of the participants. The left ventricular mass index, mitral ratio of peak early to late diastolic filling velocity or flow velocity across the mitral valve, and deceleration time of early mitral inflow were decreased (p < 0.05) in IgG-SARS-positive participants versus those in IgG-SARS-negative participants according to multivariate logistic regression analysis. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and platelet count were slightly increased, and blood hemoglobin was decreased in IgG-SARS-positive participants compared with those in IgG-SARS-negative participants. LV filling, inflammation, blood coagulation, and hemoglobin appear to be influenced by COVID-19 infection in healthy participants. Our observations contribute to the definition of vulnerabilities in the apparently healthy subjects with long COVID-19. These vulnerabilities may be more severe in patients with certain chronic diseases.

Implications of COVID-19 Pandemic on Pregnancy: Current Status and Controversies

The COVID-19 pandemic unnerved the global population in 2019 and has continued to evolve ever since. Throughout this time, investigations concerning the health of the groups most susceptible to this virus, including the elderly, those with compromised immunity or chronic diseases, and pregnant women, have taken place. Numerous articles have been formulated on the effects of COVID-19 infection on maternal, fetal, and neonatal health, but there are many controversies that still exist within the current literature. Even three years later, it is not fully understood how a maternal infection or vaccination of COVID-19 can impact pregnancy and the fetus, and these topics require further investigation and conclusive results. The aim of this article is to explain the risks for a mother and the neonate, during and after pregnancy, with the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, this report presents the current state of the literature on whether vaccination during pregnancy is more beneficial or harmful. Finally, this review examines studies regarding the exacerbation of the effects of COVID-19 on pregnancies in various organ systems, particularly the cardiovascular system, in relevance to pre-existing and emerging conditions and the ethnicity of the mother.

To Compare the Maternal and Fetal Outcomes of COVID-19-Affected Expectant Mothers During the First and Second COVID-19 Waves: Data From a Tertiary Care Referral Hospital in Punjab.

Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) infection, declared pandemic in March 2020 by the World Health Organization, paved the way for newer researchin the field of medicine. The second wave, beginning in March 2021, appeared to be more devastating. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical characteristics, effects of COVID-19 infection in pregnancy, and obstetric and perinatal outcomes in thefirst and second waves. This study was conducted from January 2020 to August 2021 at the Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital, Faridkot, Punjab. The patients were enrolled immediately after each infected woman was identifiedas per the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Demographic details of the patients,associated comorbid conditions, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and treatment details were noted. Neonatal outcomes wererecorded. The testing of pregnant women was done as per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines. There were3421 obstetric admissions and 2132 deliveries during this period. Group 1 had 123 COVID-19-positive admissions, while group 2 had 101 admissions. The incidence of COVID-19 infection in pregnancy was 6.54%. In both groups, the majority of patients were between the ages of 21 and 30. About 80(66%) of the admissions in group 1and 46(46%) in group 2 were in the gestational age of 29-36 weeks.Multiparity was more common in both groups, with 58% of cases in group 1 and 79% of cases in group 2. Obstetric comorbidities werecommon in both groups, seen in 46% of cases in group 1 and 78% of cases in group 2. The majority ofpatients were asymptomatic in group 1, with an 89% incidence, whereas only33% of patients in group 2 were without symptoms. In biological data,D-dimers, prothrombin time, and platelet count were altered in 11%, 14%, and 17% of cases, respectively, in group 2, with almost normal data in group 1. Most cases in group 2 (52%) were critical cases in the moderate and severe categories requiring intensive care unit (ICU) treatment, whereas there was only single ICU admission in group 1. The overall case fatality rate (CFR) in group 2 was found to be 19.8(20/101). Delivery by cesarean section was done in 38.2% of cases in group 1, while in 33% of cases in group 2, with a significant p-value of 0.001. About 29% of cases in group 1 and 34% of cases in group 2 underwent vaginal delivery. The rate of abortion was almost similar in both groups. Only two cases in group 1 and nine cases in group 2 had intrauterine fetal death. Observations of neonatal outcomes suggested that five cases in group 2 and two cases in group 1 had severebirth asphyxia. Only one case in group 1 and four cases in group 2 had positive COVID-19 status. Maternal mortality was significantly higher in group 2 with 20 cases, while only one case was in group 1. Anemia and pregnancy-induced hypertension were the chief comorbidities in this group. COVID-19 infection during pregnancy may be associated withmaternal mortality while having a minimal effect on neonatal morbidity and mortality. The possibility of maternal-fetal transmission cannot be ruled out completely. The severity and characteristics of COVID-19 may vary in each wave, and we need to modify treatment strategies. More studies ormeta-analyses reports are required to authenticate this transmission.

The impact of COVID-19 infection on labor outcomes of Mexican formal workers

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic had an immediate and severe impact on the economy. However, we do not know whether the disease may have a longer-term effect on people's employment opportunities. In this study, we focus on the effects of COVID-19 infection on labor market outcomes 12 months after diagnosis. We use a unique dataset that includes all formal private sector workers in the Mexican social security system and that links health outcomes with administrative records. We implement two alternative identification strategies to estimate the impact: matching estimators and individual fixed effects models. Our study finds that COVID-19 infection does not harm employment probabilities or wages. On the contrary, we find that workers who had tested positive for COVID had a higher likelihood of keeping their formal sector jobs and higher wages than those who did not. Moreover, our results describe mostly low-income workers.

Clinical characteristics of malaria in COVID-19: A systematic review of case reports.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 is a viral infection that was first discovered in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, in December 2019. Effects of COVID-19 infection could drastically influence other concomitant diseases like Malaria. Malaria and COVID-19 may mimic each other and share look-alike symptoms. The aim of this systematic review was to analyze the clinical and biochemical characteristics of malaria and COVID-19 synergism that was based on the published case reports. An extensive literature search was carried out between May 2020 and February 2022 in PubMed, Google Scholar, and EMBASE. Our study was devised according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. We have evaluated 16 case reports and one case series of coinfection of malaria with COVID-19. It has been observed that all the patients showed lymphopenia, fever, headache (52%), vomiting (47%), cough (38%), chills (38%), body ache (38%), myalgia (28%), and sweating (14%). Despite unprecedented times, whenever there is a suspicion, we recommend that medical practitioners should be alert to presenting plethora features of COVID-19 and confirm with polymerase chain reaction test. We conclude that screening for COVID-19 should also be performed to mitigate missed diagnoses due to the long incubation period of novel coronavirus. Especially in vulnerable population, we should suspect other concurrent diseases and diagnoses in patients presenting with the symptoms of COVID-19 infection.

Efeitos da COVID-19 na espessura diafragmática e desempenho físico de atletas

Abstract Introduction Studies suggest that diaphragm thickness (DT) is associated with inspiratory muscle strength and consequently, better ventilatory and mechanical efficiency. On the other hand, infectious diseases such as COVID-19 may impact the structure and function of the respiratory system. Objective Assess the association between DT and the physical performance (PP) of athletes and the effects of COVID-19 infection on these parameters. Methods This is a cross-sectional study of 63 athletes of both sexes from different sport modalities (women: 16.67 ± 5.03 years, 52.09 ± 14.01 kg, 155.90 ± 13.86 cm; men: 23.44 ± 9.65 years, 72.24 ± 14.18 kg, 174.84 ± 6.84 cm), submitted to DT assessment using ultrasound, followed by the PP(Yo-Yo) test) to determine maximum oxygen intake (VO2max). Pearson’s correlation was used to determine the association between VO2max and DT, and the Student’s t-test for differences between athletes with a positive and negative diagnosis for COVID-19. The significance level was set at 5%. Results There was no association between DT and PP (r = 0.30 and p = 0.22) or between athletes unaffected and affected by COVID-19 in relation to DT (57.00 ± 0.26 vs 52.00 ± 0.25%; p = 0.91) and PP (43.88 ± 2.29 vs 38.34 ± 13.61 ml/kg/min; p = 0.69). Conclusion DT was not associated with maximum oxygen intake in athletes. In addition, athletes infected by COVID-19 exhibited no differences in VO2max or DT when compared to nonaffected individuals.

An observational study on health-related quality of life and persistent symptoms in COVID-19 patients after hospitalization at a tertiary care centre.

The study aims to determine persistent symptoms and effects of COVID-19 infection on the quality of life (QOL) at 1 and 3 months after the acute phase of the disease in mild, moderate and severe cases. The prospective observational study was conducted among patients with confirmed COVID-19 who had been treated and discharged after hospitalization from February 2021 to June 2021. All patients were interviewed at 1 and 3 months post discharge to assess persisting symptoms and health-related QOL. QOL was assessed using European Quality Of Life 5-Dimensions 3-Levels (EQ-5D-3L) and EuroQol-visual analogue scales (EQ-VAS). In total, 388 out of 479 discharged following COVID-19 infection were included. The median age of patients was 48 years, with 62.6% male predominance. Most of the COVID-19 cases were mild (67.01%). Most common presenting symptom was fever (69.8%). EQ-5D-3L showed that the problems reported at 3-month follow-up were significantly less when compared to 1-month follow-up (p < 0.001), and QOL significantly improved after 3 months in non-intensive care unit (ICU) patients when compared to ICU patients (p = 0.007). The mean EQ-VAS score significantly improved at 3 months when compared to 1 month (80.34 ± 12.77 vs. 91.69 ± 12.34; P < 0.001). The severity of illness was correlated with QOL (p < 0.007). The study results demonstrate ongoing improvement in the QOL and persistent symptoms, while a minority still were symptomatic after 3 months post-COVID-19 illness.

Effects of Covid-19 Infection on Some Pancreatic Functions in Diabetic Patients at Thi-Qar Province/Iraq

People with diabetes mellitus (DM) represent a population group that is at high risk of developing a poor prognosis for COVID-19.Having diabetes can lead to serious illness, ICU stay, and death from COVID-19.The current study included 150 participants with diabetes, 100 of whom had COVID-19 (46 males, 54 females), and 50 had diabetes only (28 males and 22 females), aged between 37 and 69 years. The current situation is in the isolation center for people infected with the Corona virus at Al-Hussein Teaching Hospital and Shatrah General Hospital in Thi-Qar Governorate.The study included the impact of COVID-19 infection and its effect on pancreatic function.The results of the current study recorded a significant increase in fasting blood glucose concentration and cumulative glucose concentration in diabetic patients infected with Covid-19 virus compared to diabetic patients only by gender, the results also indicated an increase in fasting glucose and cumulative glucose levels in both male and female COVID patients compared to only diabetic patients. The concentration of pancreatic hormones also increased significantly in both male and female patients infected with Covid-19 virus compared to diabetic patients. According to age groups and BMI, cumulative and fasting glucose concentrations did not register a significant difference according to age groups, while according to BMI, cumulative and fasting glucose concentrations increased in patients with normal weight. Trypsin concentration increased significantly in the first age group, while glucagon increased in the second age group. Trypsin and glucagon did not score a significant difference according to BMI

The effects of COVID-19 infection on the mortality of patients receiving rituximab therapy.

BackgroundRituximab (RTX) is an important immunosuppressive agent used for many rheumatologic diseases. This study investigated the factors affecting mortality and mortality due to COVID-19 infection in patients receiving RTX.MethodsFrom March 2020 to November 2021, 111 patients who were followed up at a tertiary center with a diagnosis of any rheumatologic disease and who were diagnosed with COVID-19 were enrolled out of 336 patients who received at least one dose of RTX. Age, COVID-19 vaccination status, comorbidities, and some laboratory parameters were determined. The association between them and COVID-19 infection was investigated. In addition, patients were divided into two groups: those with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and those without RA, and factors affecting mortality were studied.ResultsThirty (27.0%) of the total 111 patients treated with RTX who tested positive for COVID-19 died. Among these patients, 19 (32.7%) of 58 patients diagnosed with RA died. Of the 53 patients diagnosed with non RA disease, 11 (20.7%) died. Age (p = 0.003, OR: 1.058, 95% CI: 1.025–1.097) and age at diagnosis (p = 0.047, OR: 1.032, 95% CI: 1.000–1.064) were the lowest against COVID-19 infection. Rate of vaccination of at least two doses (p = 0.000, OR: 0.170, 95% CI: 0.065–0.491), number of comorbid conditions (p = 0.001, OR: 1.530, 95% CI: 1.202–1.949), CKD (p = 0.003, significance was found between OR: 7.000, 95% CI: 1.926–25.439) and DM (p = 0.000, OR: 6.978, 95% CI: 2.499–19.483) and death.ConclusionAs a result of the study, it was found that RTX treatment in particular increased the risk of death from COVID-19 infection. However, vaccination against COVID-19 has a very important place in this patient group. It is important that vaccination is administered at the full dose and adjusted according to the RTX treatment time, and that the dose and timing of RTX treatment are regulated.

Covid-19 Analysis: Is there an Association Between Covid-19 and Development of Cognitive Deficits?

The effects of COVID-19 infection were initially thought to be limited to the respiratory system; however, recent literature suggests that the virus has systemic effects, even leading to cognitive deficits. The objective of this study is to review COVID-19 related literature to determine whether there is an association between COVID-19 infection and the development of cognitive deficits. A search for articles relevant to COVID-19, cognitive deficits, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Tool (MoCA), and the geriatric population was performed on the MEDLINE, CINAHL, and APA PsychInfo databases. Substantial evidence exists that reports an association between COVID-19 infection and cognitive decline. The studies included in this literature review surveyed distinct populations and reported cognitive deficits in COVID-19 patients as measured by a reduction in MoCA scores. While cognitive deficits were identified as partially reversible, there were still measurable deficits in cognition post-recovery compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, the measured cognitive deficits were found to be much worse in the geriatric population. Current literature shows an association between COVID-19 infection and the development of cognitive deficits. Further research should seek to characterize these cognitive deficits and determine the underlying aetiology and pathogenesis. Initiatives to develop interventions to limit or improve cognitive deficits in post COVID-19 patients is crucial, especially the elderly, given the large burden of disease within this population cohort.