Prevalence Of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Research Articles

Opening the Black Box of Virtual Education: Medical Students’ Learning and Study Strategies

Background: This study explains learning and study strategies in virtual education among medical students during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and analyzes its relationship with their academic performance. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 298 medical students in preclinical disciplines in the medical curriculum at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (MUMS), Mashhad, Iran. The data were collected from students who completed the Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI) within 2 weeks, from the 10th of June 2021 to the 24th of June 2021. This questionnaire measures three variables related to skill, self-regulation, and will. The data were analyzed using independent t-test, correlation, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Tukey post hoc tests by SPSS software (version 23). Results: The highest and lowest mean scores of the LASSI questionnaire were related to information processing (28.54 ± 4.10) and study aids (22.41 ± 4.07), respectively. Each scale’s possible score range was from 8 to 40 points. The results indicated significant statistical differences between different genders of students in anxiety, attitude, motivation, time management, and self-testing (P < 0.05). In all areas of the LASSI, except self-testing and study aids, the students’ mean scores with a grade point average (GPA) - range of 0 to 20 - higher than 17.5 were significantly higher than those with GPAs lower than 14.85 and those with GPAs between 14.86 to 17.50 (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Since learning and studying strategies contribute to student’s academic success and facilitate the learning process, they can be improved using educational involvement. Embedding learning and study strategies interventions in curriculum design and learning content could help promote academic performance.

Modeling risk factors of degree of severity of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection in inpatient patients at Dr. M. Djamil Padang.

RSUP Dr. M. Djamil was one of the COVID referral hospitals that treats patients with degrees of severity ranging from mild to critical. The high prevalence of COVID-19 differs from the severity of which it is necessary to know the risk factors as a preventive measure to minimize the higher risk. This study aims to determine the factors associated with the severity of COVID-19 in inpatients at Dr. M. Djamil Hospital, Padang, Indonesia. A quantitative study with a cross-sectional design was conducted by reviewing the medical record data of COVID-19 inpatients from March 2020 to February 2021. Sampling using a simple random sampling technique with a total of 95 patients. The Prevalence Odds Ratio (POR) is a statistical measure used in epidemiology and medical research to assess the association between an exposure or risk factor and a particular outcome in a cross-sectional study. Based on research, there are 41 (43.2%) severe patients. There is a relationship between age with p-value 0.004 (POR 4.5; 95% CI; 1.48-12.1), cardiovascular disease with p-value 0.003 (POR 5.9; 95% CI 1.7-21.4), and respiratory disease with p-value 0.001 (POR 6.6; 95% CI; 2.1-20.8) against COVID-19 infection. Diabetes Mellitus is the confounding variable. Respiratory disease is the dominant factor associated with the severity of COVID-19. Respiratory disease has 6.6 POR or Prevalence Odds Ratio values which means that COVID-19 patients with respiratory disease 6.6 more severe than those who has not respiratory disease history. Age, cardiovascular, and respiratory diseases are associated with the severity of COVID-19 infection in patients at Dr. M. Djamil Hospital, Padang, Indonesia. It is highly recommended to increase health promotion regarding risk factors for the severity of COVID-19 to the community to avoid a more severe outcome.

Coronavirus Disease Knowledge and Attitudes of Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Study in Saudi Arabia

Background: The prevalence of coronavirus disease is increasing rapidly all over the world therefore, this study aimed to understand the knowledge and attitudes among the nursing students about the coronavirus disease. Methods: The design of our study was cross-sectional in the period from January to March, 2020. A survey was conducted by Survey Monkey, the questionnaire link had been shared with the students, according to the inclusion criteria (nursing students in the third and fourth year), the questionnaire included two parts: (i) demographic characteristics of the students and (ii) knowledge and attitudes regarding the coronavirus disease. The number of participants in the study, who completed the questionnaire, was 350. Results: The findings revealed that the average score for their knowledge is good, (13/17 points) reaching 79%. Total 77% students showed a negative attitude about the coronavirus disease and 79.7% students used the website of Ministry of Health for medical information. Conclusion: This study showed that nursing students had a good knowledge about the coronavirus disease and a negative attitude. The Ministry of Health website was instrumental in imparting knowledge to the students about coronavirus.

Prevalence of COVID-19 in End Stage Renal Disease Patients on Hemodialysis & Dialysis Providers During SARs-Cov-19 spike in Pakistan.

The global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) poses a significant threat to both hemodialysis staff and patients. However, the prevalence of COVID-19 among asymptomatic end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on chronic hemodialysis (MHD) and healthcare staff including nurses and technicians in dialysis unit remains uncertain. Given that hemodialysis patients and dialysis nurses are particularly prone in congregate settings, this research aimed to examine the prevalence of COVID-19 in two hemodialysis units at Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan. This cross-sectional study involved the participation of 198 maintenance hemodialysis patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and 83 dialysis staff members. These patients or staff members did not have any symptoms at the time of testing. Testing was conducted using qualitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on nasal & pharyngeal swabs collected from June 18th to June 23rd, 2020. 
 Out of the total participants, 45 out of 198 dialysis patients (22.7%) and 10 out of 83 dialysis staff members (12%) were found to be positive for COVID-19. The overall prevalence of COVID-19, combining patients and staff, was 19.5% (55 out of 281). The mortality rate among the infected patients was 6.6% (3 out of 45). To conclude, the findings of this study demonstrate a significant prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among hemodialysis staff and patients in Lahore, Pakistan.

COVID-19 Concerns, Information Needs, andAdverse Mental Health Outcomes among U.S. Soldiers.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic disrupted U.S. Military operations and potentially compounded the risk for adverse mental health outcomes by layering unique occupational stress on top of general restrictions, fears, and concerns. The objective of the current study was to characterize the prevalence of COVID-19 concerns and information needs, demographic disparities in these outcomes, and the degree to which COVID-19 concerns and information needs were associated with heightened risk for adverse mental health outcomes among U.S. Army soldiers. Command-directed anonymous surveys were administered electronically to U.S. soldiers assigned to one of three regional commands in the Northwest United States, Europe, and Asia-Pacific Region. Surveys were administered in May to June 2020 to complete (time 1: n = 21,294) and again in December 2020 to January 2021 (time 2: n = 10,861). Only active duty or active reservists/national guard were eligible to participate. Members from other branches of service were also not eligible. Highly prevalent COVID-19 concerns included the inability to spend time with friends/family, social activities, and changing rules, regulations, and guidance related to COVID-19. Some information needs were endorsed by one quarter or more soldiers at both time points, including stress management/coping, travel, how to protect oneself, and maintaining mission readiness. COVID-19 concerns and information needs were most prevalent among non-White soldiers. Concerns and information needs did not decline overall between the assessments. Finally, COVID-19 concerns were associated with greater risk of multiple adverse mental health outcomes at both time points. COVID-19 concerns and information needs were prevalent and showed little evidence of decrement over the course of the first 6 months of the pandemic. COVID-19 concerns were consistently associated with adverse mental health outcomes. These data highlight two targets and potential demographic subgroups such that local leadership and Army medicine and public health enterprises can be better prepared to monitor and address to maintain force health and readiness in the face of possible future biomedical threats.

Period Prevalence of COVID-19 and Influenza Symptoms in 2022 Among Adults in Jazan, Saudi Arabia.

Seasonal influenza and the circulating new variants of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were predicted to increase the risk of developing respiratory symptoms in 2022. The objective of this study was to estimate the period prevalence of respiratory symptoms associated with COVID-19 and influenza among adults in 2022. This cross-sectional study targeted adults in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. Data collection was performed in February 2023 and utilized an online approach. The assessment was performed via a self-administered questionnaire, which measured demographics, vaccination practices against COVID-19 and influenza, and the occurrence of respiratory symptoms in 2022. This study involved 625 participants, 65% of whom were women with a mean age of 23 years. Only 80 participants (13%) reported receiving the influenza vaccine in 2022. The most frequently reported symptoms were headache (55%), sore throat (43.7%), and fever (43%). Nearly 34% were diagnosed with influenza, 17% were diagnosed with COVID-19, and 8% reported coinfection of both diseases. Sixty-one percent reported the occurrence of symptoms more than once in 2022. The presence of a higher frequency of respiratory symptoms was associated with gender, age, social status, employment, asthma, and obesity (P < 0.05). A majority of the participants reported multiple occurrences of respiratory symptoms in 2022. The uptake of the influenza vaccine was low in the same year, suggesting a need for a targeted approach to enhance vaccination rates among vulnerable groups.

Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 and longitudinal antibody levels in a community-based cohort.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection invokes variable immune responses and poses a risk of post-acute sequelae SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) symptoms; however, most data on natural history are derived from patients with severe infection. Further data are needed among patients with mild infection, who comprise most cases. The Dallas Fort-Worth (DFW) COVID-19 Prevalence Study included 21,597 community-dwelling adults (ages 18-89) who underwent COVID-19 PCR and anti-nucleocapsid antibody testing between July 2020 and March 2021. We invited participants with positive COVID-19 results (cases) and a subset with negative results (controls), matched on age, sex, race/ethnicity, and ZIP code, to complete a follow-up questionnaire for PASC symptoms and repeat anti-nucleocapsid testing, and anti-spike antibody testing between July and December 2021. Of 3,917 adults invited to participate, 2260 (57.7%) completed the questionnaire- 1150 cases and 1110 controls. Persistent symptoms were reported in 21.1% of cases, with the most common being shortness of breath, fatigue, and loss of taste or smell. Among 292 cases with asymptomatic infection, >15% reported new fatigue and 8-10% reported new loss of taste/smell, myalgias, or headache. Median anti-nucleocapsid levels in cases decreased from 3.5U to 0.7U over a median follow-up of 8.6 months. Anti-spike antibody levels at 6-7 months post-vaccination in cases were similar to that of controls. More than 1 in 5 patients with COVID-19 infection, including those with mild infection, reported persistent symptoms during follow-up. Both nucleocapsid and spike protein antibody levels decreased within six months following a COVID-19 infection and vaccination.

Psoriatic Arthritis And Covid-19 - Patient Perspectives In A Large Psoriatic Arthritis Cohort.

To estimate the prevalence of COVID-19 infection among patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), understand patients' perspectives regarding their risk of COVID-19 infection, and evaluate the standard of virtual care offered during the early phases of the pandemic. An online survey was conducted between June and September 2021 in PsA patients who had consented to email contact. The survey was completed by 152/193 (79%) patients who had consented to the study. There were 86 (57%) men and 66 women, mean age 58 years, mean disease duration 19 years. During the pandemic, the mean patient-reported symptom severity was 4.1, 3.2, and 3.7 for joint, skin, and overall symptom severity, respectively. 74% of respondents would accept the impact of their PsA over the past month for the next few months. Of 79 patients who were tested for SARS-COV-2, 4 tested positive. All 4 were admitted to hospital, 2 required oxygen. 151 patients (99%) had received at least one vaccine dose. 59 (39%) participants believed their PsA medications increased their COVID-19 infection risk. Of the 130 patients who had a telemedicine assessment, 83% were happy with their virtual consultations. Most were happy to continue with virtual consultations until the pandemic resolved. The average satisfaction level regarding pandemic care was 7.9 on a sliding 10-point scale. COVID-19 prevalence was low among our patients. Patients were satisfied with their care during the pandemic. Most patients would happily continue with virtual care for the duration of the pandemic.

Risk factors and prognosis for coronavirus disease 2019 among 131 hemodialysis patients during the Omicron variant epidemic

The present study evaluated the presentations and outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) and the impact of the Omicron BF.7 variant. Adult patients (age ≥ 18 years), who underwent MHD (dialysis vintage ≥ 3 months) at the Hemodialysis Center at Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital between December 2022 and January 2023, were included based on predefined eligibility criteria. Clinical and laboratory characteristics were retrospectively collected. Among 131 patients who underwent MHD (10.7% vaccination rate), 106 (80.9%) tested positive for COVID-19. The prevalence of asymptomatic, mild, moderate, and severe COVID-19 was 8.5%, 58.5%, 17%, and 16%, respectively. Among the 97 patients with symptoms, 23 (23.7%) were hospitalized and six (5.7%) died. Fever was experienced by 74.2% of patients and respiratory symptoms were the most common (81.4%). Residual symptoms persisted in 20.9% of patients one month after the onset of COVID-19. COVID-19-positive hemodialysis patients were more likely to experience weight loss and exhibit reduced albumin levels compared to those without COVID-19 (p < .05). Compared with the asymptomatic group, patients with symptoms were younger, and exhibited higher interleukin-6 levels and lower post-infection phosphate levels (p < .05). Age, dialysis vintage, comorbidities, and inflammatory factors were positively associated with disease severity, while baseline albumin and hemoglobulin levels were associated with death (p < .05). In conclusion, COVID-19 was prevalent among patients undergoing MHD, even during the Omicron variant epidemic. Age, nutritional status, comorbidities, and inflammatory factors were associated with disease severity and prognosis.

Pre-Operative SARS-CoV-2 Testing in Asymptomatic Heart Transplantation Recipients.

From the start of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, international guidelines have recommended pre-operative screening for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) before heart transplantation (HTx). Due to the changing prevalence of COVID-19, the chances of false positive results have increased. Because of increased immunity in the population and evolution of SARS-CoV-2 to current Omicron variants, associated mortality and morbidity have decreased. We set out to investigate the yield and side effects of SARS-CoV-2 screening in our center. We performed a retrospective cohort study in the University Medical Center Utrecht. The study period was from March 2019 to January 2023. All data from patients who underwent HTx were collected, including all pre-operative and post-operative SARS-CoV-2 tests. Furthermore, all clinical SARS-CoV-2 tests for the indication of potential HTx were screened. In the period under study, 51 patients underwent HTx. None of the recipients reported any symptoms of a viral infection. Fifty HTx recipients were screened for SARS-CoV-2. Forty-nine out of fifty patients tested negative. One patient had a false positive result, potentially delaying the HTx procedure. There were no cancelled HTx procedures due to a true positive SARS-CoV-2 test result. Pre-operative SARS-CoV-2 screening in asymptomatic HTx recipients did not lead to any true positive cases. In 2% of the cases, screening resulted in a false positive test result. With the current Omicron variants, in combination with a low-prevalence situation, we propose to abandon pre-operative SARS-CoV-2 screening and initiate a symptom-driven approach for the general viral testing of patients who are called in for a potential HTx.

THE IMPACT OF COMORBIDITIES ON COVID-19 SEVERITY IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Background:Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has caused over 6 million deaths worldwide. Comorbidities like obesity, asthma, and neurological disorders are risk factors for severe illness in pediatric patients. The direct impact of COVID-19 on child mortality is limited, with only 0.4% of deaths occurring in children under 20.&#x0D; Objective: To identify risk factors and potential interventions to reduce severe illness and mortality in pediatric patients.&#x0D; Methods:A systematic review of COVID-19, sars-cov-2, and novel coronavirus in children was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar. Severe COVID-19 prevalence in children assessed using Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROME) and the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklists, assessing quality and bias.&#x0D; Results:A review of 41 studies found a significant difference in severe COVID-19 infection risk among children with and without comorbidities, including hematologic, immune, respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, obesity, and genetic syndromes.&#x0D; Conclusion:Comorbidities in pediatric COVID-19 patients enhance the risk; vaccinations and increased vigilance should take priority. &#x0D;

Evaluation of disease control after SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination in patients with NSAID-exacerbated airway disease.

Background: There are insufficient data on changes in disease control after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection or vaccination in patients with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug exacerbated respiratory disease (N-ERD). Objective: This study aimed to investigate the history of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients with N-ERD, determine whether they experienced exacerbations of asthma or rhinitis after COVID-19, and evaluate their postvaccination asthma and rhinitis control data. Methods: The demographic characteristics of patients with N-ERD and whether they had had symptoms of asthma, changes in nasal symptom scores Sino-nasal outcome test (SNOT-22), Asthma Control Test (ACT) within 1 month after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination or infection were recorded. The prevalence of COVID-19 in patients with N-ERD and in healthy controls was estimated. Results: A total of 103 patients with N-ERD and 100 healthy controls were included in the study. Thirty seven of the patients (35.9%) and 65 of the controls (65%) had a history of COVID-19. There were no significant differences in changes in the ACT and SNOT-22 scores after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination (p = 0.999). Although, the change in ACT score after infection was significant (p = 0.017; r = 0.39), there was no significant change in level of asthma control (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The history of COVID-19 was less frequent in the N-ERD group. There was no deterioration in asthma and rhinitis controls after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Although a significant decrease was observed in the ACT scores after COVID-19, there was no deterioration in the level of asthma control.

Evaluation of long-COVID symptoms in women infected with SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy.

To evaluate the symptoms of Long COVID (LC), frequency of symptoms, and possible risk factors in women diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during pregnancy. We conducted a single-center, cross-sectional, retrospective study in 99 pregnant women who were polymerase chain reaction-positive (PCR+) for COVID-19 between March 1, 2020 and April 30, 2022. The control group consisted of 99 women who gave birth between these dates and did not have COVID-19. We evaluated the clinical manifestations, symptom prevalence, and symptom characteristics of acute COVID-19 and the LC in the PCR+ group as well as questioned the control group for LC symptoms. Of the women in the PCR+ group, 74 (74.7%) had at least one LC symptom, and the most common symptoms were fatigue (54; 72.9%), myalgia/arthralgia (49; 66.2%), and anosmia/ageusia (31; 41.9%). The rate of LC symptoms in the control group was 14 (14.1%). The prevalence of LC symptoms was higher in severely/critically symptomatic patients (23; 100%) in the acute period of disease than in asymptomatic/mildly symptomatic (51; 67.1%) (P = 0.005). Hospitalization during acute infection (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 13.30), having one or more symptoms (aOR = 4.75), and having symptoms such as cough (aOR = 6.27) and myalgia/arthralgia (aOR = 12.93) increased the likelihood of LC. Many women experienced LC after suffering acute COVID-19 in pregnancy, but LC prevalence was similar to the general population. LC correlates with severity, type, and number of symptoms of acute COVID-19.

Prevalence and outcomes of COVID-19 in children with respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms

More than a year after its declaration as a pandemic, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains a global health problem. The common symptoms of COVID-19 are like the presentation of common childhood illnesses. Hence, we determined the prevalence, and outcomes of COVID-19 in children with respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms.This study was a retrospective review of data obtained from the screening of children with respiratory and or gastrointestinal symptoms for COVID-19. All children aged 1 month to 18 years with respiratory and or gastrointestinal symptoms were screened for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The tests for COVID-19 along their socio-demographic and clinical parameters were extracted from the hospital records.We recruited 129 children with a median (IQR) age of 1.1(0.5 – 2.3) years. Most of the children 111(86.0%) were under-five. Out of 129 children, 13 (10.1%) were positive for COVID-19 and 10 of the 13 positive cases were under-five. The COVID-19 status had no relationship with age, gender, and socioeconomic status, p >0.05. Children with a history of contact with a confirmed case had a significant association with COVID-19 (OR 110.368, CI 5.519-2207.306). Amongst the clinical features, the presence of fever was associated with COVID-19 (OR 4.4 CI 1.239-14.750)Conclusion: This study shows a higher likelihood of COVID-19 in children with a history of contact and fever.

COVID-19 as a trigger of Guillain-Barré syndrome: A review of the molecular mechanism.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) caused a pandemic with serious complications. After coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), several post-acute COVID-19 syndromes (PACSs) and long-COVID sequels were reported. PACSs involve many organs, including the nervous, gustatory, and immune systems. One of the PACSs after SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination is Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). The incidence rate of GBS after SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination is low. However, the high prevalence of COVID-19 and severe complications of GBS, for example, autonomic dysfunction and respiratory failure, highlight the importance of post-COVID-19 GBS. It is while patients with simultaneous COVID-19 and GBS seem to have higher admission rates to the intensive care unit, and demyelination is more aggressive in post-COVID-19 GBS patients. SARS-CoV-2 can trigger GBS via several pathways like direct neurotropism and neurovirulence, microvascular dysfunction and oxidative stress, immune system disruption, molecular mimicry, and autoantibody production. Although there are few molecular studies on the molecular and cellular mechanisms of GBS occurrence after SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination, we aimed to discuss the possible pathomechanism of post-COVID-19 GBS by gathering the most recent molecular evidence.

Mucormycosis Research: A global outlook through bibliometric approaches

Objective. Mucormycosis is a fungal infection in humans where the causative pathogens belong to the order of Mucorales. The fungal pathogens are also known as black fungi based on morphological characteristics. Mucormycosis is increasingly observed in patients suffering from the COVID-19 virus from different states of India, wherein steroids are being used as standard therapy. The prevalence of coronavirus disease and the infection by the black fungus (Mucormycosis) poses several challenges to its mitigation. The purpose of the study is to analyze the research trends of mucormycosis using bibliometric methods. Design/Methodology/approach. The study utilizes standard bibliometric methods to analyze bibliographic literature on Mucormycosis retrieved from the SCOPUS database. All keywords (MeSH terms) associated with Mucormycosis were used to frame a search query and retrieve bibliographic data from the database. The bibliometric indicators were used to assess research productivity in mucormycosis for publication growth; subject distribution; productive authors, institutes, and countries; journals, highly cited articles; and hot spots and research progress based on the keyword analysis. VOSviewer network visualization tools have been used for mapping research. Results/Discussion. The analysis of 25,251 bibliographic records shows exponential growth in literature during seventy years. Though mucormycosis research is spread across the globe, the prevalence of the study is widespread in the South-East Asian region. Author keyword analysis shows that the research focuses on the medical subject and expands into multidisciplinary research areas. Conclusion. Bibliometrics always provides insight into the research progress in any field or topic of study. This study provides insight into research progress in Mucormycosis. The researcher may use the results to analyze different areas of mucormycosis and utilize the key concepts for further research, especially researching better clinical practices and drug developments. Originality/Value. Through this paper, it is quite clear that the appearance of research contribution on mucormycosis coupled with COVID-19 has opened a new direction of research that clinical researchers take up in future research.

Characteristic profiles of patients with diabetes mellitus and COVID-19 during the second epidemic wave in East Java, Indonesia: a retrospective study

Background: The transmissibility and severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are higher in the delta variant (B.1.617.2) infection responsible for Indonesia's second epidemic wave. This study aimed to establish an epidemiological profile of COVID-19 in patients with diabetes mellitus, a comorbid that has been widely suggested for its association with increased severity and mortality. Methods: This study employed a retrospective observation on medical records from May to December 2021. Patients (n=115) aged &gt;18 presented with COVID-19 and diabetes mellitus were enrolled. The SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed by a pharyngeal swab sample's reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The diabetic condition was determined by previous medical records and persistent level of random blood sugar (RBS) of &gt;200 mg/dL. Demographic, clinical characteristics, COVID-19 symptoms, radiological findings, and hematological and coagulopathy markers were collected from the medical records. The data were presented as frequency (%) assigned based on severity levels: mild, moderate, severe, and critical COVID-19. Results: A group of patients aged 50—59 years had higher prevalence of severe COVID-19 (n=14; 28.6%) than the other groups. Severe cases were relatively more common in a group with body mass index (BMI) ranged from 30—&lt;35 kg/m2 (n=13; 27.1%). Notably higher number of severe cases was recorded in patients having &lt;3.5 mg/dL albumin (n=11 out of 50), &gt;200 mg/dL RBS (n=22 out of 93), and ≥1 μg/mL D-dimer (n=18 out of 73). Critical COVID-19 cases were found in those with C-reactive protein levels of &lt;5 mg/L (n=6; 6.8%) and procalcitonin levels of ≥0.05 ng/mL (n=6; 7.1%). Patients who had stage 1 and 3 chronic kidney disease (CKD) were found to develop critical COVID-19 with a frequency of 5.9% (n=2) and 10.5% (n=4), respectively. Conclusion: The severity of COVID-19 in diabetic patients is indicatively associated with the age, BMI, hematological and coagulopathy markers, and CKD. Active monitoring of these parameters in diabetic COVID-19 patients is encouraged.

The outcome of COVID-19 in children with chronic lung disease: Systematic review and meta-analyses.

Few studies have examined the impact of Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) infection on children with chronic lung disease (CLD). To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the prevalence, risk factors for contracting COVID-19, and complications of COVID-19, in children with CLD. This systematic review was based on articles published between January 1, 2020 and July 25, 2022. Children under 18 years old, with any CLD and infected with COVID-19 were included. Ten articles involving children with asthma and four involving children with cystic fibrosis (CF) were included in the analyses. The prevalence of COVID-19 in children with asthma varied between 0.14% and 19.1%. The use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) was associated with reduced risk for COVID-19 (risk ratio[RR]: 0.60, 95% confidence interval[CI]: 0.40-0.90). Uncontrolled asthma, younger age, AND moderate-severeasthma were not significant risk factors for contracting COVID-19. Children with asthma had an increased risk for hospitalization (RR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.07-2.45) but were not more likely to require assisted ventilation (RR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.14-1.90). The risk of COVID-19 infection among children with CFwas <1%. Posttransplant and cystic fibrosis-related diabetes mellitus (CFRDM) patients were at an increased risk for hospitalization and intensive care treatment. Hospitalizations were higher in children with asthma with COVID-19 infection. However, using ICS reduced the risk of COVID-19 infection. As for CF, postlung transplantation and CFRDM were risk factors for severe disease.

Impelling Factors for Contracting COVID-19 Among Surgical Professionals During the Pandemic: A Multinational Cohort Study.

Medical workers, including surgical professionals working in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) treating hospitals, were under enormous stress during the pandemic. This global study investigated factors endowing COVID-19 amongst surgical professionals and students. This global cross-sectional survey was made live on February 18, 2021 and closed for analysis on March 13, 2021. It was freely shared on social and scientific media platforms and was sent via email groups and circulated through a personal network of authors. Chi-square test for independence, and binary logistic regression analysis were carried out on determining predictors of surgical professionals contracting COVID-19. This survey captured the response of 520 surgical professionals from 66 countries. Of the professionals, 92.5% (481/520) reported practising in hospitals managing COVID-19 patients. More than one-fourth (25.6%) of the respondents (133/520) reported suffering from COVID-19 which was more frequent in surgical professionals practising in public sector healthcare institutions (P = 0.001). Thirty-seven percent of those who reported never contracting COVID-19 (139/376) reported being still asked to practice self-isolation and wear a shield without the diagnosis (P = 0.001). Of those who did not contract COVID-19, 75.7% (283/376) were vaccinated (P < 0.001). Surgical professionals undergoing practice in the private sector (odds ratio (OR): 0.33; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.14 - 0.77; P = 0.011) and receiving two doses of vaccine (OR: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.32 - 0.95; P = 0.031) were identified to enjoy decreased odds of contracting COVID-19. Only 6.9% of those who reported not contracting COVID-19 (26/376) were calculated to have the highest "overall composite level of harm" score (P < 0.001). High prevalence of respondents got COVID-19, which was more frequent in participants working in public sector hospitals. Those who reported contracting COVID-19 were calculated to have the highest level of harm score. Self-isolation or shield, getting two doses of vaccines decreases the odds of contracting COVID-19.

The Effect of Meteorological Factors on the COVID-19 Pandemic in Northeast Turkiye.

Introduction Although various studies have been conducted on the relationship between meteorological factors and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), this issue has not been sufficiently clarified. In particular, there are a limited number of studies on the course of COVID-19in the warmer-humidity seasons. Methods Patients presenting to the emergency departments of health institutions and to clinics set aside for cases of suspected COVID-19 in the province of Rize between 1 June and 31 August 2021 and who met the case definition based on the Turkish COVID-19 epidemiological guideline were included in this retrospective study. The effect of meteorological factors on case numbers throughout the study was investigated. Results During the study period, 80,490 tests were performed on patients presenting to emergency departments and clinics dedicated to patients with suspected COVID-19. The total case number was 16,270, with a median daily number of 64 (range 43-328). The total number of deaths was 103, with a median daily figure of 1.00 (range 0.00-1.25). According to the Poisson distribution analysis, it is found that the number of cases tended to increase at temperatures between 20.8 and 27.2°C. Conclusion It is predicted that the numberof COVID-19 cases will not decrease with the increase in temperature in temperate regions with high rainfall. Therefore, unlike influenza, there may not be seasonal variation in the prevalence of COVID-19. The requisite measures should be adopted in health systems and hospitals to manage increases in case numbers associated with changes in meteorological factors.