Prevalence Of COVID-19 Infection Research Articles

Association of COVID-19 Infection and Acute Mesenteric Ischemia

COVID-19 is an infectious disease that is considered to be a thromboinflammatory disorder. The study was aimed to determine the prevalence of COVID-19 in patients with acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) and the outcomes of surgical treatment in relation to COVID-19. A total of 140 patients were included in this multicentric study divided into two groups: the test group (n=65) consisted of cases of AMI detected during the COVID-19 pandemic and the control group (n=65) consisted of cases of AMI detected before the pandemic. Test group patients were classified as COVID-positive (COVID+), or COVID-negative (COVID–) if they tested positive, respectively negative test for COVID-19 on admission. Primary outcomes were: prevalence of COVID-19 infection among test group patients, association between COVID-19 infection and inoperability, and between COVID-19 and treatment outcome. Secondary outcomes were association between each blood parameter and inoperability and treatment outcome. There were no statistically significant differences between inoperability and COVID-19 positivity on admission, overall mortality between the control group and the test group and overall mortality between COVID+ and COVID– patients, as well as among those patients that have been surgically treated (p>0.05). There were statistically significant differences between serum amylase levels (p=0.034), and serum LDH levels (p=0.0382) and inoperability, between serum LDH levels and postoperative mortality (p=0.0151), and overall mortality (p=0.00163). High level of LDH and serum pancreatic amylase are associated with a higher rate of inoperability and a higher postoperative and overall mortality rate. COVID-19 does not seem to independently influence the treatment outcome of AMI.

Detection of neutralising antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in companion animals in Istanbul

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in late 2019 and rapidly spread throughout the world. After the susceptibility of various animals to SARS-CoV-2 infection was reported, the prevalence of COVID-19 infection in pet animals and their role in virus transmission became a source of concern. Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in pet animals has been reported from various parts of the world to date. In this study, 206 serum samples of household dogs and cats were obtained from a diagnostic laboratory in Istanbul. Ninety-nine of the samples were collected during the second wave (November and December 2020) of the pandemic, and 107 were collected between August and September 2021. Neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in companion animals was investigated by virus neutralization test. Among the 99 serum samples which were collected during the second wave (November and December 2020) of the pandemic, while no neutralizing antibodies were found in 61 sera of cats, one of 38 dogs was positive with a titer of 1/256. Similarly, 0/54 cats and 1/53 dogs were tested positive for the neutralizing antibodies among the samples collected between August and September 2021. This study is demonstrating the evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in dogs.

Clinical-Epidemiological Profile of Dental Professionals Associated with COVID-19 Infection in Southern Peru: A Cross-Sectional Study

Dental professionals have been identified as being at high risk for COVID-19 infection due to close contact with patients and the nature of dental treatments. However, the prevalence of infected dentists in Peru has not been determined. An online electronic survey was sent to dentists registered with the College of Dentists of Arequipa to collect sociodemographic data, medical conditions, and employment characteristics during the COVID-19 pandemic. The clinical characteristics and adverse effects of dentists diagnosed with COVID-19 were also recorded. The overall prevalence of COVID-19 infection was 44%. The highest number of diagnosed patients ranged in age from 31 to 40 years (n = 111; 48.9%). A total of 45.9% of female and 41.6% of male dentists were diagnosed with COVID-19 (p = 0.425). A relationship was found between the district of origin and infection, and dentists working in the public sector during 2021 showed a greater trend of becoming infected (57.6%) (p < 0.05). The antigen swab test was the diagnostic test most frequently used (38%), and cough was the symptom most reported. Only 0.6% reported being hospitalized, 10.6% reported needing oxygen during hospitalization, and 0.6% were admitted to an intensive care unit. As in previous studies in other countries, the rate of COVID-19 infection among Peruvian dentists is high. It is recommended that dentists carry out infection control measures while ministries of health and dental associations take measures to ensure their safety.

A county-level analysis of association between social vulnerability and COVID-19 cases in Khuzestan Province, Iran

Social vulnerability is related to the differential abilities of socio-economic groups to withstand and respond to the adverse impacts of hazards and stressors. COVID-19, as a human risk, is influenced by and contributes to social vulnerability. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between social vulnerability and the prevalence of COVID-19 infection in the counties of Khuzestan province, Iran. To determine the social vulnerability of the counties in the Khuzestan province, decision-making techniques and geographic information systems were employed. Also, the Pearson correlation was used to examine the relationship between the two variables. The findings indicate that Ahvaz county and the province's northeastern counties have the highest levels of social vulnerability. There was no significant link between the social vulnerability index of the counties and the rate of COVID-19 cases (per 1000 persons). We argue that all counties in the province should implement and pursue COVID-19 control programs and policies. This is particularly essential for counties with greater rates of social vulnerability and COVID-19 cases.

Assessment of COVID-19 vaccination among healthcare workers in Iraq; adverse effects and hesitancy.

Several messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and inactivated COVID-19 vaccines are available to the global population as of 2022. The acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine will play a key role in combating the worldwide pandemic. Public confidence in this vaccine is largely based on its safety and effectiveness. This study was designed to provide independent evidence of the adverse effects associated with COVID-19 vaccines among healthcare workers in Iraq and to identify the attitudes of healthcare workers who rejected the vaccination. We conducted a cross-sectional study to collect data on the adverse effects of the Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Sinopharm vaccines. Data were collected between October 2021 and February 2022. A total of 2,202 participants were enrolled in the study: (89.97%) received injections of the COVID-19 vaccines and (10.03%) were hesitant to receive the vaccination. Participants received either the Pfizer vaccine (62.9%), AstraZeneca vaccine (23.5%) or Sinopharm vaccine (13.6%). Most adverse effects were significantly less prevalent in the second dose than in the first dose. Notably, the adverse effects associated with the Pfizer vaccine were significantly more prevalent in females than in males. Following the first dose, the participants experienced more adverse effects with the AstraZeneca vaccine. Following the second dose, more adverse effects were associated with the Pfizer vaccine. Interestingly, the prevalence of COVID-19 infection in participants who received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine was significantly reduced compared to those who received two doses of either the AstraZeneca or Sinopharm vaccines. According to vaccine-hesitated participants, insufficient knowledge (29.9%), expeditious development (27.6%) and lack of trust in the vaccines (27.1%) were the three major reasons for refusing the vaccines. The results of our study indicated that these adverse effects do not present a significant problem and should not prevent successful control of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Indirect Effect of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic on Economic Growth in Malaysia: Evidence from The ARDL Approach

This study explores the indirect effect of corona virus (COVID-19) infections on economic growth in Malaysia using the industrial production index (IPI) as a proxy. Since the prevalence of COVID-19 infection, Malaysia’s economy has experienced swindles in its growth, just like other countries economy, and the struggle for survival among countries in which Malaysia’s economy is not exceptional becomes the current issue. This study incorporates the COVID-19 indirect impacts on economic growth which is conditional to COVID-19 deaths. It also explains a way forward for recuperation among economic sectors for faster economic growth in Malaysia. This paper uses the Auto Regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model to explore the indirect effect of COVID-19 infections on economic growth conditional on COVID-19 deaths in Malaysia. As an empirical study, the data used were monthly secondary data and were obtained from reliable sources. The findings from the results of the ARDL model, considering the unconditional model show that COVID-19 infections have a negative relationship with economic growth in Malaysia. The conditional models used to find the indirect impact of COVID-19 on economic growth considering the interaction of the variables at mean, maximum and minimum, prove that COVID-19 has an indirect negative effect on economic growth when COVID-19 deaths are at their mean and maximum. The marginal effect result shows a negative relationship and significance at 1%, indicating that increase in COVID-19 infections leads to decrease in economic growth in Malaysia conditional to COVID-19 deaths

Incidence of symptomatic Covid-19 infections in patients with mastocytosis and chronic myeloid leukemia: A comparison with the general Austrian population.

The SARS-COV-2 (Covid-19) pandemic has impacted the management of patients with hematologic disorders. In some entities, an increased risk for Covid-19 infections was reported, whereas others including chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) had a lower mortality. We have analyzed the prevalence of Covid-19 infections in patients with mastocytosis during the Covid-19 pandemic in comparison to data from CML patients and the general Austrian population. The prevalence of infections and PCR-proven Covid-19 infections was analyzed in 92 patients with mastocytosis. As controls, we used 113 patients with CML and the expected prevalence of Covid-19 in the general Austrian population. In 25% of the patients with mastocytosis (23/92) signs and symptoms of infection, including fever (n=11), dry cough (n=10), sore throat (n=12), pneumonia (n=1), and dyspnea (n=3) were recorded. Two (8.7%) of these symptomatic patients had a PCR-proven Covid-19 infection. Thus, the prevalence of Covid-19 infections in mastocytosis was 2.2%. The number of comorbidities, subtype of mastocytosis, regular exercise, smoking habits, age, or duration of disease at the time of interview did not differ significantly between patients with and without Covid-19 infections. In the CML cohort, 23.9% (27/113) of patients reported signs and symptoms of infection (fever, n=8; dry cough, n=17; sore throat, n=11; dyspnea, n=5). Six (22.2%) of the symptomatic patients had a PCR-proven Covid-19 infection. The prevalence of Covid-19 in all CML patients was 5.3%. The observed number of Covid-19 infections neither in mastocytosis nor in CML patients differed significantly from the expected number of Covid-19 infections in the Austrian population. Our data show no significant difference in the prevalence of Covid-19 infections among patients with mastocytosis, CML, and the general Austrian population and thus, in mastocytosis, the risk of a Covid-19 infection was not increased compared to the general population.

Comparing pregnancy outcomes between symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 positive unvaccinated women: Multicenter study in Saudi Arabia

IntroductionCOVID-19 infection in pregnancy ranges from asymptomatic infection to severe disease. However, the maternal and pregnancy outcomes are primarily favorable. Acute Respiratory Illness (ARI) score is a Visual Triage Checklist for Acute Respiratory symptoms created by the ministry of health of Saudi Arabia 12 to screen the patient for acute respiratory infection with MERS-CoV. It has been used during the COVID-19 pandemic to identify suspected cases and place patients in isolation precautions if the score is≥ 4. MethodThis study is a cross-sectional study of all pregnant women who tested positive for COVID-19 in four medical centers located in four different cities in Saudi Arabia. The study period was from 1/3/2020 until 31/10/2020. Outcomes investigated were the prevalence of COVID infection in pregnant women at the time of delivery. Rate of asymptomatic disease, different maternal and pregnancy outcomes. Women were divided into symptomatic and asymptomatic groups according to the ARI score. The two groups were compared in maternal, perinatal, and neonatal outcomes. Furthermore, the cohort was divided according to maternal age into two groups: women of advanced maternal age ≥ 35 years and younger. The two groups were compared in maternal, perinatal, and neonatal outcomes ResultsDuring the study period, 9573 women gave birth at KAMCs, and 402 pregnant women were identified as COVID positive. Out of all COVID-positive women, only 394 women gave birth at KAMCs. The screening for COVID infection differed between the centers, but the testing was the same by the Nasopharyngeal polymerase chain reaction (PCR) swab. In Riyadh, screening was based on ARI scoring at the beginning of the pandemic. Then, it became universal. In Jeddah, the screening was based on ARI scoring. Any woman who scored four or more was labeled as suspected, and she was tested. Finally, in Madinah and Dammam, the screening was universal throughout the study.The prevalence of COVID-19 infection among women who gave birth at KAMCs was 4.2% (402/9573). (CI 3.8–4.6%). At the time of diagnosis, most women (62%) were asymptomatic. The most common symptoms were cough and shortness of breath. Twenty-two women (5.5%) had Pneumonia, and five women (1.3%) needed admission to Intensive care units (ICU). One woman died due to respiratory failure.When pregnancy outcomes were compared between symptomatic and asymptomatic women, pregnancy in symptomatic women was more likely to be complicated by Abortion (6 versus 2% p-value 0.00), fetal death (3 versus 1.3%), and cesarean delivery (30.8 versus 22.4%, p-value 0.001). COVID-positive pregnant women of advanced maternal age (AMA) were more likely to be symptomatic, have Abortion (5 versus 1%, p-value 0.01), and have Preterm delivery (17 versus 11% p-value 0.01) than younger women. In addition, neonatal death was more common in AMA COVID-positive women than younger (4 versus 0%), regardless of COVID-related symptoms. ConclusionMost of the COVID-infected pregnant women are asymptomatic. Therefore, the ARI scoring system does not help to triage patients. Symptomatic women, especially those older than 35, tend to have a higher maternal and pregnancy complication rate.

Adherence and perception of the importance of anti-COVID-19 protective measures amongst patients with cancer.

e24120 Background: Patients (pts) with cancer are at a higher risk of COVID-19 (C19) severe disease. However, our group and others have demonstrated a low prevalence of C19 infection among asymptomatic pts with cancer on active systemic treatment. We hypothesized this phenomenon was due to increased adherence of pts with cancer to anti-C19 protective measures. This study compares adherence and the perceived importance of such measures in oncologic and non-oncologic populations. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted between June and September 2021. A questionnaire was developed to assess how participants perceived and adhered to masking, handwashing, and other anti-C19 protective measures. Demographic information, educational level, and monthly income were also collected. Three groups were included: A) pts with cancer treated at Hospital de Base (HB); B) pts without cancer treated at HB for other medical conditions; C) a healthy outpatient population. Data were summarized in means, medians, and proportions. Chi-squared or Fisher´s exact test was used to compare categories; ANOVA was employed to compare means. A multivariable analysis assessing factors associated with adherence to anti-C19 protective measures was performed. Results: A total of 607 people were interrogated (200 in groups A and B, and 207 in C). The mean age of groups A, B, C was significantly different: 60 vs. 52 vs. 35 years old (p &lt; 0.001). Group C had a higher educational level and a higher monthly income than groups A and B (p &lt; 0.001). In cohort A, gastrointestinal, breast, and genitourinary were the most frequent tumors (33%, 31%, 15%); 75% of pts had active disease. Pts with cancer were more adherent to anti-C19 protective measures: of 33 points, the mean score of groups A, B, C was respectively 27.8 vs. 25.5 vs. 21.9 (p &lt; 0.001). Regarding the importance of anti-C19 protective measures, pts with cancer also perceived those as more relevant: of 21 points, the mean score of groups A, B, C was respectively 17.8 vs. 17 vs. 16.9 (p &lt; 0.001). For instance, in group A, 95% report consistently wearing a mask when leaving home compared to 90% and 58.2% of groups B and C. In line with our findings, 20.5% vs. 32.5% vs. 35.3% (p &lt; 0.003) of groups A, B, and C reported having C19 before the questionnaire. In multivariable analysis, groups B and C were less likely to adhere to anti-C19 protective measures than group A. Conclusions: Pts with cancer are more adherent to anti-C19 protective measures and perceive them as more important than non-oncologic populations. Our results shed light on the accumulating literature of a low incidence of C19 amongst asymptomatic pts with cancer on systemic treatment even during the surges. Such findings are possibly related to the fact that cancer pts are more vulnerable to hospitalizations and unfavorable outcomes than the general population, prompting a more risk-averse behavior.

The burden of COVID-19 infection on medical doctors in the first year of the pandemic in Ghana.

To quantify and describe the burden of COVID-19 infection amongst doctors in Ghana. A quantitative and qualitative analysis of cross-sectional data was performed. All 16 regions in Ghana. Participants were medical doctors diagnosed with COVID-19 between March 2020 and March 2021. Data sources were Ghana Medical Association and Ministry of Health records. Demographics and workplace data included age, gender, the rank of the doctor, and location and type of current facility. Characteristics of the COVID-19 infection included the likely source, clinical and recovery status, and place of management. Doctors reported their desire for a general checkup and psychological support and described the challenges encountered. The prevalence of COVID-19 infection was 88.9 cases per 1000 doctor-population. Of 544 infected doctors, 59.2% were stable but symptomatic, and 1.7% were in critical condition, with a case fatality rate of 1.7%. Overall, 31.6% had recovered from their COVID-19 infection, and the majority (82.4%) were managed at home in self-isolation. Compared to medical officers, house officers (OR 1.36, p=0.03), senior house officers (OR 7.60, p<0.001), and consultants (OR 2.94, p=0.001) were more likely to have a COVID-19 infection. Desire for support was varied, with 13.0% desiring someone to check on them and 9.7% desiring psychological support. The majority (75.3%) reported facing a challenge, including difficulty obtaining needed vitamins and medications, and accessing daily necessities like groceries. In Ghana, COVID-19 infections greatly burden medical doctors. None declared.

Long-Lasting Olfactory Dysfunction in Hospital Workers Due to COVID-19: Prevalence, Clinical Characteristics, and Most Affected Odorants.

Hospital workers have increased exposure risk of healthcare-associated infections due to the frontline nature of their work. Olfactory dysfunction is highly prevalent. The objectives for this investigation are to study the prevalence of long-lasting olfactory dysfunction associated with COVID-19 infection in hospital workers during the first pandemic wave, to identify clinical characteristics and associated symptomatology, and to analyze how many patients with COVID-19 infection had developed olfactory dysfunction during infection and maintained a reduced olfactory function for approximately 10 weeks after diagnosis. Between June and July of 2020, a cross-sectional study was carried out at the Hospital Central de la Cruz Roja San José and Santa Adela in Madrid, Spain. One hundred sixty-four participants were included, of which 110 were patient-facing healthcare staff and 54 were non-patient-facing healthcare staff. Participants were split into three groups, according to COVID-19 diagnosis and presence of COVID-19 related olfactory symptomatology. Participants were asked to complete a structured online questionnaire along with Sniffin’ Stick Olfactory Test measurements. In this study, 88 participants were confirmed for COVID-19 infection, 59 of those participants also reported olfactory symptomatology. The prevalence of COVID-19 infection was 11.35%, and the prevalence for olfactory dysfunction was 67.05%. Olfactory dysfunction associated with COVID-19 infection leads to long-lasting olfactory loss. Objective assessment with Sniffin’ Stick Olfactory Test points to odor identification as the most affected process. Lemon, liquorice, solvent, and rose are the odors that are worst recognized. Mint, banana, solvent, garlic, coffee, and pineapple, although they are identified, are perceived with less intensity. The findings of this study confirmed a high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among the hospital workers.

MO881: Predictors of Mortality of COVID-19 in Haemodialysis Patients

BACKGROUND AND AIMSThe COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected patients with pre-existing comorbidities, particularly dialysis patients. These patients appear to be more susceptible to severe forms of the infection, due to underlying, coexisting pathologies and their immunocompromised status. The aim of this study was to determine predictors of mortality in this population.METHODWe conducted an observational, retrospective, cohort study collecting data from the electronic medical records of a single dialysis centre at Hygeia Hospital Tirana, Albania. Baseline patient characteristics, including demographic, clinical and laboratory data were recorded. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to determine predictors of mortality, their respective sensitivity, specificity and cut-off values.RESULTSOf 170 haemodialysis patients, 52 were diagnosed with COVID-19. The prevalence of COVID-19 infection in haemodialysis patients in our study was 30.5%. The mean age was 61.5 ± 12.3 years and 65.4% were men. The mortality rate in our cohort was 19.2%. Mortality rates were higher in patients with Diabetic Nephropathy (P < 0.04) and Peripheral Vascular Disease (P < 0.01). High BMI (P < 0.024), high RDW (P < 0.03), elevated C-reactive protein (P < 0.018) and elevated serum ferritin (P < 0.021) levels, were found to be risk factors for severe COVID-19 disease. ROC analysis identified lymphopenia and eosinopenia as the strongest predictors of mortality. AUC for lymphopenia was 0.739. It showed a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 85.7%, at a cut-off value of 13.15%. AUC for eosinopenia was 0.814. At a cut-off value of 0.185%, it revealed a sensitivity and specificity of 72.7% and 75%, respectively.CONCLUSIONOur study revealed that risk factors for the development of severe COVID-19 infection were high BMI, high RDW, elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum ferritin. Lymphopenia and eosinopenia were determined as the most important predictors of mortality, in our cohort. Early recognition during the course of the infection, of a declining tendency of lymphocyte and eosinophil counts is paramount, in identifying high-risk patients for severe disease and poor outcomes among haemodialysis patients.

Prevalence of COVID-19 virus infection in asymptomatic volunteers in Baghdad city / Iraq during 2021

Background: From February April 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has swept through more than 200 countries and infected more than 100 million individuals globally, posing an unprecedented threat to human health. There are currently no specific antiviral treatments for COVID-19 and vaccination programs, whilst promising, remain in their infancy. A key to restricting the pandemic is the ability to minimize human-human transmission and predict the infection status of the population in the face of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. Success in this area is dependent on the rapid detection of COVID-19 positive individuals with current/previous SARS-CoV-2 infection status. The 3 categories of tests used to detect current or past viral infection are molecular, serologic, and antigen-detection assays. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the fluorescence LFIA Finecare TM 2019-nCoV S-RBD test along with its reader (Model No.: FS-113) in Iraqi setting. Giving a look on the prevalence of Covid19 infection in Baghdad city is our second aim. Study design A retrospective study on 75 randomly selected serum samples collected between 10 and 15 April 2020 was performed. They were checked for Covid-19 specific IgG and IgM responses by FinCare™ rapid semi-automated kit. Two aims were put in examinations.

COVID-19 Infection among Patients Attending the Fever Clinic of a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

The COVID-19 is caused by a coronavirus. COVID-19 patients present with lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, and elevated inflammatory markers. This study aims to find out the prevalence of COVID-19 infection among patients attending the fever clinic of a tertiary care centre. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted from 15th July, 2020 to 15th January, 2021 in the Department of Pathology at a tertiary care centre. The ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Review Committee of a tertiary care centre (Reference number: 2007021388). The patients who attended the fever clinic during the study period were subjected to the COVID-19 reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction test. A total of 1431 samples were taken using the convenience sampling method. All data were filled into a predesigned proforma and entered into Microsoft Excel. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 24.0. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data and mean and standard deviation for continuous data. Among 1431 patients attending the fever clinic, the prevalence of COVID-19 was found in 277 (19.31%) (17.26-21.36 at 95% Confidence Interval). Most patients belonged to the age group of 20-29 years. There were 113 (40.79%) females and 164 (59.21%) males. The prevalence of COVID-19 infection in this study was higher than similar studies done in similar settings. Most cases had a low hematocrit with anemia. The total count, absolute neutrophil count, and absolute leukocyte count showed a wide range of variation. blood cell count; COVID-19; hematology; lymphocytes; neutrophils.

Impact of COVID19 Infection Among Heart Transplanted Recipients: The Experience of a Latin American Center

PurposeHeart transplanted recipients are at a high risk for COVID19 infection. Clinical presentation, complications, and related outcomes have been described worldwide. However, there is a paucity of data in Latin America.MethodsRetrospective cohort of heart transplanted recipients followed at a center in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, between March 1st 2020 to October 1st 2021. Data are presented as absolute numbers (percentage) or median (interquartile).ResultsAmong 62 recipients in follow-up, 21 (34%) were infected by COVID19. 58 (36-63) years, 67% male, body mass index of 26 kg/m², 48% with hypertension, 43% with chronic kidney disease, 5% diabetes, 3.1 (1.0-4.2) years post-transplant. Most common symptoms at presentation were fever (62%), myalgia (33%), cough (33%), and headache (33%). Dyspnea occurred in only 19% patients. Hospitalization was required for 13 (62%) with a time from symptoms onset to admission of 5 (1-12) days. In 38%, supplementary oxygen was needed, 19% required intensive care, and 10% mechanical ventilation. Main complications were bacterial pneumonia (38%), renal replacement therapy (19%), sepsis (10%), venous thromboembolism (10%), and pancreatitis (5%). Immunosuppression therapy was modified in 48% (in majority 89%, reduced). Median hospitalization time was 17 (8-28) days. Two (10%) patients died in hospital due to refractory hypoxemia and multiorgan dysfunction. The prevalence of COVID19 among heart transplanted patients was comparable to the general population in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (Figure 1) with a peak in December 2020.ConclusionCOVID19 infection prevalence among heart transplanted recipients was elevated, presenting mostly with typical symptoms, and frequent hospitalizations, supplementary oxygen requirement, and complications. Although the COVID19 prevalence in Latin America was amongst the highest reported, in-hospital mortality among infected heart transplanted recipients was similar to previously published data worldwide.

The Concern of COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Is behind Its Low Uptake among Patients with Diabetes Mellitus in Sudan.

Diabetic patients are vulnerable to developing severe complications and have a higher risk of death due to COVID-19 infection. Vaccination remains the mainstay during the current situation to mitigate the risks related to COVID-19 infection. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to assess the vaccination status and the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine uptake among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) in Sudan. A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January to February 2022 at Gadarif Hospital in eastern Sudan. Information on sociodemographics, the contracting of COVID-19 during the pandemic, beliefs toward COVID-19 vaccinations, and barriers related to COVID-19 vaccinations was obtained through an interview questionnaire among adult (≥18 years) patients with DM. Bivariate and multinomial logistic regression analyses performed. A total of 568 diabetic patients were enrolled, with a mean (SD) age of 53.07 (12.69) years. The majority of the participants were female (67.6%), urban residents (63.4%), uneducated (60.6%) and employed (73.2%). There was a history of COVID-19 in 97.4% of participants, and 29.2% of them had hypertension along with DM. About 31% received the vaccine, out of which 17.9% received the first dose, 13.2% received the second dose, and 0.2% received the third dose. Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed a significant association between belief in the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine and having had two doses of it (adjusted Odds ratio = 20.42, p < 0.001). The prevalence of COVID-19 infection was high, while the rate of COVID-19 vaccination uptake was low and inadequate among the participants. Appropriate health education and targeted interventions toward awareness of safety concerns are highly recommended.

ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction in Patients with COVID-19: Case Series

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, or COVID-19, has triggered an unprecedented pandemic situation across the globe. Patients with COVID-19 frequently experience a range of clinical complications driven by their health status, comorbidities, and disease responsiveness. Patients with COVID-19 also encounter cardiovascular conditions that potentially increase their risk for mortality. Few clinical studies reveal the development of ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in patients with COVID-19. New York City, USA, continues to witness and report a high incidence and prevalence of COVID-19 infections. New York City’s healthcare centres and hospitals have treated more than 6,000 cases of COVID-19 pneumonia in their inpatient and intensive care units. The authors conducted a retrospective study of patients admitted to NYC Health + Hospitals, Queens, New York City, USA, with confirmed COVID-19 reverse transcriptase-PCR test findings between 29th March 2020 and 1st May 2020. The authors used a retrospective case series design to evaluate the association between laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection and hospitalisation for acute myocardial infarction. They utilised a series of ECGs to record and analyse STEMI patterns across patients with COVID-19. This study aimed to determine the risk/incidence of STEMI in patients with COVID-19, and its impact on their clinical presentation, angiographic findings, and clinical outcomes. The authors hypothesised STEMI as a significant COVID-19 complication, with the potential to impact the long-term prognostic outcomes of patients with COVID-19.

SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in the city of Puerto Madryn: Underdiagnosis and relevance of children in the pandemic.

BackgroundReported cases of COVID-19 may be underestimated due to mild or asymptomatic cases and a low testing rate in the general population.Research questionWhat is the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the general population and how it compares with the data on SARS-CoV-2 cases reported by a national health surveillance system (SNVS 2.0).Study design and methodsThis was a population-based, seroepidemiological, cross-sectional study in the city of Puerto Madryn, a middle size city in the Province of Chubut, Argentina. The study period was between March 3 and April 17, 2021. The sample size was calculated using the technique of calculation of confidence intervals for a proportion. Participants were selected using stratified and cluster probability sampling. A total of 1405 subjects were invited to participate in the study. Participants were divided into the following four age groups: 1) 0 to 14, 2) 15 to 39, 3) 40 to 64, and 4) 65 or older. After informed consent was obtained, a blood sample was taken by puncture of the fingertip, and a structured questionnaire was administered to evaluate demographics, socioeconomic status, level of education, comorbidities and symptoms suggestive of COVID-19.COVID-19 seroprevalence was documented using an immunoenzymatic test for the in vitro detection of IgG antibodies specific to the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2.ResultsA total of 987 participants completed the survey. Seropositivity in the full study population was 39,2% and in those under 15 years of age, 47.1%. Cases reported by the SNSV 2.0 amounted to 9.35% of the total population and 1.4% of those under 15 years of age.InterpretationThe prevalence of COVID-19 infection in the general population is four times higher than the number of cases reported by the SNVS 2.0 in the city of Puerto Madryn. For each child under the age of 15 identified by the SNVS 2.0 with COVID-19, there are more than 30 unrecognized infections. Seroepidemiological studies are important to define the real extent of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a particular community. Children may play a significant role in the progression of the current pandemic.

COVID-19 infection and renal injury: where is the place for acute interstitial nephritis disease?

ABSTRACTNovel coronavirus disease infection (coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19) was declared a global pandemic in March 2020 and since then has become a major public health problem. The prevalence of COVID-19 infection and acute kidney injury (AKI) is variable depending on several factors such as race/ethnicity and severity of illness. The pathophysiology of renal involvement in COVID-19 infection is not entirely clear, but it could be in part explained by the viral tropism in the kidney parenchyma. AKI in COVID-19 infection can be either by direct invasion of the virus or as a consequence of immunologic response. Diverse studies have focused on the effect of COVID-19 on glomerulonephritis (GN) patients or the ‘novo’ GN; however, the effect of COVID-19 in acute tubulointerstitial nephritis (ATIN) has been scarcely studied. In this article, we present five cases with different spectrums of COVID-19 infection and ATIN that may suggest that recent diagnosis of ATIN is accompanied by a worse clinical prognosis in comparison with long-term diagnosed ATIN.

The Prevalence of COVID-19 Infection in Students and Staff at a Private University in Thailand by Rapid SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Detection Assay.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to the suspension of all university courses which was followed directly by the implementation of online learning in Thailand. However, online learning was not suitable for all of Thailand. Rangsit University is a famous private university in Thailand and has been affected by this crisis, so it attempted to eliminate online learning by offering vaccination and antigen rapid screening tests to the students and staff who had to attend the university from July to September 2021. 93.71% of the students and staff from Rangsit University who attended the university from July to September 2021 were vaccinated. Only 1.18% of the students and staff were infected. The vaccines used were CoronaVac and AstraZeneca at 66.02% and 33.98%, respectively. The percentage of individuals that were infected after vaccination did not differ between the two vaccines. The percentage of people infected was 0.31% for CoronaVac and 0.29% for AstraZeneca. Other important factors that influenced the infection rate were the initial symptoms and the environment. Individuals who had initial symptoms and had visited areas with high-risk factors had a high possibility of becoming infected. This research is intended to be useful for risk management during the COVID-19 crisis.