Prevent Coronavirus Disease 2019 Infection Research Articles

Phytomedical compounds as promising therapeutic agents for COVID-19 targeting angiotensin-converting enzyme 2: a review.

The aim of the present review was to highlight natural product investigations in silico and in vitro to find plants and chemicals that inhibit or stimulate angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2). The global reduction of incidents and fatalities attributable to infections with SARS-CoV-2 is one of the most public health problems. In the absence of specific therapy for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), phytocompounds generated from plant extracts may be a promising strategy worth further investigation, motivating researchers to evaluate the safety and anti-SARS-CoV-2 effectiveness of these ingredients. To review phytochemicals in silico for anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity and to assess their safety and effectiveness in vitro and in vivo. The present review was conducted using various scientific databases and studies on anti-SARS-CoV-2 phytochemicals were analyzed and summarized. The results obtained from the in silico screening were subjected to extraction, isolation, and purification. The in vitro studies on anti-SarcoV-2 were also included in this review. In addition, the results of this research were interpreted, analyzed, and documented on the basis of the bibliographic information obtained. This review discusses recent research on using natural remedies to cure or prevent COVID-19 infection. The literature analysis shows that the various herbal preparations (extracts) and purified compounds can block the replication or entrance of the virus directly to carry out their anti-SARS-CoV-2 effects. It is interesting to note that certain items can prevent SARS-CoV-2 from infecting human cells by blocking the ACE-2 receptor or the serine protease TMPRRS2. Moreover, natural substances have been demonstrated to block proteins involved in the SARS-CoV-2 life cycle, such as papain- or chymotrypsin-like proteases. The natural products may have the potential for use singly or in combination as alternative drugs to treat/prevent COVID-19 infection, including blocking or stimulating ACE-2. In addition, their structures may provide indications for the development of anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs.

Workplace interventions to reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection outside of healthcare settings.

Workplace interventions to reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection outside of healthcare settings.

Vaccine Effectiveness of BNT162b2 and CoronaVac against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 in CKD.

The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed increased risks of hospitalization and mortality in patients with underlying CKD. Current data on vaccine effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines are limited to patients with CKD on dialysis and seroconversion in the non-dialysis population. A case-control study was conducted of adults with CKD using data extracted from the electronic health record database in Hong Kong. Adults with CKD and COVID-19 confirmed by PCR were included in the study. Each case was matched with up to ten controls attending Hospital Authority services without a diagnosis of COVID-19 on the basis of age, sex, and index date (within three calendar days). The vaccine effectiveness of BNT162b2 and CoronaVac in preventing COVID-19 infection, hospitalizations, and all-cause mortality was estimated using conditional logistic regression adjusted by patients' comorbidities and medication history during the outbreak from January to March 2022. A total of 20,570 COVID-19 cases, 6604 COVID-19-related hospitalizations, and 2267 all-cause mortality were matched to 81,092, 62,803, and 21,348 controls, respectively. Compared with the unvaccinated group, three doses of BNT162b2 or CoronaVac were associated with a reduced risk of infection (BNT162b2: 64% [95% confidence interval (CI), 60 to 67], CoronaVac: 42% [95% CI, 38 to 47]), hospitalization (BNT162b2: 82% [95% CI, 77 to 85], CoronaVac: 80% [95% CI, 76 to 84]), and mortality (BNT162b2: 94% [95% CI, 88 to 97], CoronaVac: 93% [95% CI, 88 to 96]). Vaccines were less effective in preventing infection and hospitalization in the eGFR <15 and 15-29 ml/min per 1.73 m 2 subgroups as compared with higher GFR subgroups. However, receipt of vaccine, even for one dose, was effective in preventing all-cause mortality, with estimates similar to the higher eGFR subgroups, as compared with unvaccinated. A dose-response relationship was observed between the number of BNT162b2 or CoronaVac doses and the effectiveness against COVID-19 infection and related comorbidity in the CKD population.

Dynamics of anti-RBD (anti-receptor binding domain) levels in diabetes patients following the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine (AZD1222) in the Thai population

The ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine (AZD1222) was used in Thailand during the early outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A previous study showed a low immune response in diabetes patients after the first dose of the AZD1222 vaccine. Furthermore, humoral immune responses after the second vaccination were inconsistent. This study evaluated the immunogenicity following the first and second doses of the AZD1222 vaccine in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) compared with the general population of Thailand. This was a prospective, single-center cohort study. 59 adults with T2D and 118 age- and sex-matched healthcare personnel were eligible. The participants received two doses of AZD1222 12 weeks apart. Antibodies against the receptor-binding domain (anti-RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, using an automated electrochemiluminesence immunoassay (ECLIA), were measured at baseline, 8 and 12 weeks after the first dose of vaccine, and 4 weeks after the second dose of vaccine. The anti-RBD levels were reported as the geometric mean concentration (GMC) and compared between groups using the geometric mean ratio (GMR). A total of 177 participants were included: The average age of 59 T2D patients was 60.1 years (SD: 11.4), and 31 (52.5%) of them were female. The GMC of anti-RBD 8 and 12 weeks after the first vaccination were significantly lower in T2D (week 8 60; 17.05 BAU/mL, 95% confidence interval [CI] 11.1–26.19, P = 0.035, week 12; 24.68 BAU/mL, 95% CI 16.4–37.0, P = 0.002) than in those without diabetes (week 8; 29.79 BAU/mL, 95% CI 22.07–40.42, week 12; 50.67 BAU/mL, 95% CI 40.62–63.20). However, there was no difference in the GMC of anti-RBD 4 weeks after the second vaccination among groups (T2D; 687.95 BAU/mL, 95% CI 462.7–1022.7, Normal; 697.95 BAU/mL, 95% CI 583.7–834.5, P = 0.947). In both groups, the GMC of anti-RBD was persistently high without decline 12 weeks after the first vaccination. Albuminuria was a major factor related to low humoral immune responses in T2D patients after the second dose of AZD122 vaccine (the GMR was 0.29, 95% CI 0.08–0.98, P = 0.047) whereas the HbA1C level and age were not. Immunogenicity in T2D cases was lower than in the normal population after the first dose of the AZD1222 vaccine. The two doses of AZD122 vaccine induced immunity in T2D equal to that of normal individuals in Thailand. People with diabetes should be boosted as soon as possible to induce adequate immunity to prevent COVID-19 infection.

Efficacy of Surgical Masks Versus N95 Respirators for the Prevention of COVID-19 in Dental Settings: A Systematic Review.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. (SARS-CoV-2). It spreads mainly through saliva droplets or nasal discharge. Dentists are among the professionals with the greatestrisk of contracting and transmitting COVID-19. We compared the efficacy of surgical masks versus N95 respirators in preventing COVID-19 infection in dental settings. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were searched. Search terms corresponded to a predefined PICOS (patient/population, intervention, comparison, and outcomes) question. The risk of bias was evaluated using AMSTAR-2 (A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews-2), ROBIS (Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews), and Health Evidence tools. A total of 191 articles were screened, and nine of them were further evaluated for eligibility, of which five articles (fulfilled the selection criteria) and were included in this study. Two studies concluded that surgical masks could provide equivalent protection to N95 respirators. Another study found that N95 respirators were superior to surgical masks. The fourth study found that better protection can be achieved when using surgical masks by the aerosol source than when the recipient uses an N95 respirator, while the last study concluded that surgical masks or N95 respirators alone do not provide full protection. Thus, according to this systematic review, N95 respirators provide better protection against COVID-19 infection compared to surgical masks.

Predictors for Unsuccessful Reductions in Hemodialysis Frequency during the Pandemic

Patients receiving in-center hemodialysis are at a high risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. A reduction in hemodialysis frequency is one of the proposed measures for preventing COVID-19 infection. However, the predictors for determining an unsuccessful reduction in hemodialysis frequency are still lacking. This retrospective observational study enrolled patients who were receiving long-term thrice-weekly hemodialysis at the Thammasat University Hospital in 2021 and who decreased their dialysis frequency to twice weekly during the COVID-19 outbreak. The outcomes were to determine the predictors and a prediction model of unsuccessful reduction in dialysis frequency at 4 weeks. Bootstrapping was performed for the purposes of internal validation. Of the 161 patients, 83 patients achieved a dialysis frequency reduction. Further, 33% and 82% of the patients failed to reduce their dialysis frequency at 4 and 8 weeks, respectively. The predictors for unsuccessful reduction were diabetes, congestive heart failure (CHF), pre-dialysis overhydration, set dry weight (DW), DW from bioelectrical impedance analysis, and the mean pre- and post-dialysis body weight. The final model including these predictors demonstrated an AUROC of 0.763 (95% CI 0.654-0.866) for the prediction of an unsuccessful reduction. The prediction score involving diabetes, CHF, pre-dialysis overhydration, DW difference, and net ultrafiltration demonstrated a good performance in predicting an unsuccessful reduction in hemodialysis frequency at 4 weeks.

Effect of facemask, handwashing, and social distancing on contracting COVID-19 infection in Saudi Arabia: a case-control study

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of self-preventive measures (handwashing, mask-wearing, and social distancing) on preventing the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection in Saudi Arabia (KSA). Methods: An unmatched case-control study (1 to 1 ratio) was conducted with a sample size of 1102. The researchers used descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses to determine the effect of handwashing, mask-wearing behavior, and social gatherings on COVID-19 infection. Results: The results evinced that participants who believed that the facemask was important for preventing COVID-19 infection were more likely protected against the disease (OR=0.450; 0.320—0.631). Using a facemask during social visits and shopping indicated a lower protective effect than using it at work (OR=1.299; 1.011—1.668). The type of mask (disposable versus cloth; OR=0.929; 0.590—0.1.462) and its wearing period (1&lt; dayversus ≤1 day; OR=0.907; 0.662—1.243) showed an almost neutral statistical association with acquiring the infection. Contrarily, handwashing time for ≥20 seconds, compared to a shorter time, had a statistically significant protective association with the infection even after adjusting the odds ratio (OR=0.616; 0.4763—0.796). It was also noted that gathering with relatives and friends ≥4 times per month exhibited a higher and statistically significant association with the infection compared to the lower times (OR=1.347; 1.046—1.734). Furthermore, people who prayed five times a day at the mosque showed a higher risk of infection than those who prayed less than five times (adjusted OR=1.740; 1.152—2.626). Conclusions: This study suggested that handwashing for more than 20 seconds is the most important preventive factor among all considerations investigated. Moreover, it was noticed that disposable and cloth facemasks may have the same effect regardless of the wearing period or sterilization status. Furthermore, gathering with relatives and friends, as well as praying five times a day at the mosque, were ascertained as significant social factors in acquiring the COVID-19 infection.

Economic Evaluation of Evusheld for Preexposure Prevention of COVID-19 in High-Risk Populations: Early Evidence from Thailand.

The introduction of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines urged all Thais to seek prevention of serious illness and death from COVID-19. However, immunocompromised individuals might not be able to achieve an efficient immune response from these vaccines. This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness and budget impact of introducing Evusheld (tixagevimab plus cilgavimab) for three patient groups-organ transplant, autoimmune disease, and dialysis patients, from the Thai government perspective. A Markov decision model was developed to compare the use of Evusheld plus COVID-19 vaccines versus COVID-19 vaccines alone. The methodology followed the National HTA Guidelines of Thailand. Model input parameters were collected locally from retrospective data and from a literature review. Evusheld helped prevent COVID-19 infection, severe infection, and death in all three patient groups. Using the Thai threshold of 160,000 Thai Baht (THB) per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained, the only scenario found to be cost-effective was that of dialysis patients with inadequate immune response, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of 54,700 THB per QALY gained. To make a policy of Evusheld provision cost-effective in other groups, the price of Evusheld had to be lower (a reduction of 44-88% of its current price). The results of one-way sensitivity analysis indicated that the cost-effectiveness of Evusheld was sensitive to changes in the rate of infection, cost and efficacy of Evusheld, proportion of inadequate immune responses, and the probability of moving from a 'recovered' to 'susceptible' status. Among three COVID-19-vaccinated immunocompromised patient populations, this study concluded that Evusheld was cost-effective for dialysis patients with inadequate immune response to the COVID-19 vaccine.

Real-world Evidence of COVID-19 Vaccines Effectiveness in Solid-organ Transplant Recipient Population in Colombia: A Study Nested in the Esperanza Cohort.

Solid-organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) have a higher risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) complications and death and a less powerful and lasting response to vaccines and to natural infection. In Colombia, this population was prioritized in the National Vaccination Plan against COVID-19 and received vaccines from different platforms. The aim of this study was to estimate the effectiveness of the complete vaccination schedule and of the vaccine booster for COVID-19 administered to SOTRs in Colombia. A nested-cohort was assembled within the population-based ESPERANZA cohort and included the subset of 16 y and older SOTRs (n = 6963); the follow-up period spanned March 11, 2021, to May 11, 2022. The vaccine effectiveness was estimated with Cox proportional-hazards models so that the overall effectiveness of the complete vaccination schedule, the vaccine booster, each used vaccine, and the homologous and heterologous schedules were estimated, adjusting by the main confounders. The overall effectiveness of being fully vaccinated was 73.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 68.9%-77.0%) to prevent COVID-19 infection, 83.7% (95% CI, 78.7%-87.5%) to prevent hospitalization, and 92.1% (95% CI, 88.8%-94.4%) to prevent death due to COVID-19. Similarly, the effectiveness of the vaccine booster was 76.7% (95% CI, 70.6%-81.5%), 86.9% (95% CI, 79.4%-91.6%), and 94.5% (95% CI, 89.8%-97.1%) to prevent confirmed COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and death due to COVID-19, respectively. In both cases, there were no statistically significant differences across age groups. Findings from this work show a high protection of vaccination against infection, hospitalization, and death due to COVID-19 in SOTRs, which increases with the vaccine booster.

Effectiveness of heterologous third and fourth dose COVID-19 vaccine schedules for SARS-CoV-2 infection during delta and omicron predominance in Thailand: a test-negative, case-control study

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has evolved quickly, with numerous waves of different variants of concern resulting in the need for countries to offer continued protection through booster vaccination. To ensure adequate vaccination coverage, Thailand has proactively adopted heterologous vaccination schedules. While randomised controlled trials have assessed homologous schedules in detail, limited data has been reported for heterologous vaccine effectiveness (VE). Utilising a unique active surveillance network established in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand, we conducted a test-negative case control study to assess the VE of heterologous third and fourth dose schedules against SARS-CoV-2 infection among suspect-cases during Oct 1-Dec 31, 2021 (delta-predominant) and Feb 1-Apr 10, 2022 (omicron-predominant) periods. After a third dose, effectiveness against delta infection was high (adjusted VE 97%, 95% CI 94-99%) in comparison to moderate protection against omicron (adjusted VE 31%, 95% CI 26-36%). Good protection was observed after a fourth dose (adjusted VE 75%, 95% CI 71-80%). VE was consistent across age groups for both delta and omicron infection. The VE of third or fourth doses against omicron infection were equivalent for the three main vaccines used for boosting in Thailand, suggesting coverage, rather than vaccine type is a much stronger predictor of protection. Appropriately timed booster doses have a high probability of preventing COVID-19 infection with both delta and omicron variants. Our evidence supports the need for ongoing national efforts to increase population coverage of booster doses. This research was supported by the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) under The Smart Emergency Care Services Integration (SECSI) project to Faculty of Public Health Chiang Mai University.

Longitudinal behavioral changes and factors related to reinforced risk aversion behavior among patients with chronic kidney disease during the COVID-19 pandemic

In patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has a higher mortality rate than the general population; therefore, prevention is vital. To prevent COVID-19 infection, it is important to study individuals’ risk aversion behavior. The objective of this study was to understand how the behavioral characteristics of physical distancing, hygiene practice, and exercise changed in patients with CKD during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify the characteristics of patients who showed weakened or strengthened behavioral changes. We analyzed data from the Study on Kidney Disease and Environmental Chemicals (Clinical Trial No. NCT04679168), that examined a prospective cohort of patients with CKD. This cohort included patients with CKD who visited the participating hospitals for the first time between June and October 2020 and the second time between October 2020 and January 2021. Data on demographics, socio-economic details, and behavioral characteristics were collected through a questionnaire survey. Using a multivariable logistic regression model, we identified whether COVID-19 infection risk perception and previous strong behavioral changes affected behavioral changes during the first and second visits. A total of 277 patients (33.2% females) were included in the analysis. Nine out of 12 behaviors were reinforced at the first visit, and five out of nine reinforced behaviors were weakened at the second visit. A high-risk perception of COVID-19 infection was not associated with the tendency of overall behavioral reinforcement or maintaining behaviors in an enhanced state at the second visit. Strong behavioral changes at the patients’ first visit to the hospital were associated with a tendency to strengthen or maintain reinforced behaviors at the second visit (adjusted odds ratio 1.99, 95% confidence interval 1.19–3.34; P = 0.009). Even if the initial COVID-19 risk perception is high, behavioral changes worsen over time. Individuals who showed more active behavioral changes at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic tended to maintain reinforced behavior over time. Continuous education and monitoring are needed to maintain changed behaviors, especially in patients with a high initial COVID-19 risk perception.

The patient-centered diabetes management during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since December 2019, in the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, we observed that glycemic control in people with diabetes is easily affected by lifestyle changes. To maintain a good health condition, a patient-centered approach with mental support and close monitoring is required. For these, telemedicine and online continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), are effective systems. Therefore, based on our experience during the two-year period, we reviewed the literature for appropriate actions required for the management of diabetes to prevent COVID-19 infection and avoid unfavorable outcomes in COVID-19 cases. Once infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), there is a high risk of a poor prognosis in patients with diabetes. Glucocorticoid therapy in severe COVID-19 cases leads to further hyperglycemia. Since good glycemic control has been shown to improve outcomes, strict glycemic control using CGM is recommended. Using CGM data, insulin can be adequately titrated without causing hypoglycemia, and remote data monitoring can reduce the risk of infection for health care professionals, by reducing the frequency of patient contact. Among patients with COVID-19, some are found to have newly-diagnosed diabetes at admission. Those newly diagnosed patients present with a higher risk of poor prognosis compared to those with pre-existing diabetes. Therefore, glycemic status should be evaluated in all patients with COVID-19 admitted to hospitals.

Factors Predicting the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Preventive Behaviors of Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study in Bangkok, Thailand.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the health behaviors of older adults. Thus, the factors predicting the COVID-19 preventive behaviors of older adults during the COVID-19 outbreak should be examined. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the COVID-19 preventive behaviors of older adults and explore the factors predicting these. A cross-sectional study was performed with 400 older adults who were selected using the cluster sampling technique. The associations of all variables in preventing COVID-19 infection with COVID-19 preventive behaviors were examined using stepwise multiple regression. The study results revealed that 70.8% of the study participants had high levels of COVID-19 preventive behaviors. Among these, self-efficacy in preventing COVID-19 infection (β = 0.224) showed the highest ability to predict COVID-19 preventive behaviors, followed by COVID-19 response efficacy (β = 0.171), knowledge about COVID-19 (β = 0.110), and gender (β = −0.102). Older adults adopted protective behaviors at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The predictors of these behaviors should be considered while designing and developing appropriate COVID-19 preventive behavior interventions, aimed at inducing behavioral modifications to reduce further infection with and spread of COVID-19.

Clinical epidemiological applicability of real-time polymerase chain reaction for COVID-19.

ObjectivesReal-time polymerase chain reaction is currently used as a confirmatory test for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The test results are interpreted as positive, negative, or inconclusive, and are used only for a qualitative classification of patients. However, the test results can be quantitated using threshold count (Ct) values to determine the amount of virus present in the sample. Therefore, this study investigated the diagnostic usefulness of Ct results through various quantitative analyzes, along with an analysis of clinical and epidemiological characteristics.Methods Clinical and epidemiological data from 4,642 COVID-19 patients in April 2021 were analyzed, including the Ct values of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), envelope (E), and nucleocapsid (N) genes. Clinical and epidemiological data (sex, age, underlying diseases, and early symptoms) were collected through a structured questionnaire. A correlation analysis was used to examine the relationships between variables.Results All 3 genes showed statistically significant relationships with symptoms and severity levels. The Ct values of the RdRp gene decreased as the severity of the patients increased. Moreover, statistical significance was observed for the presence of underlying diseases and dyspnea.Conclusion Ct values were found to be related to patients’ clinical and epidemiological characteristics. In particular, since these factors are closely related to symptoms and severity, Ct values can be used as primary data for predicting patients’ disease prognosis despite the limitations of this method. Conducting follow-up studies to validate this approach might enable using the data from this study to establish policies for preventing COVID-19 infection and spread.

Low COVID-19–related knowledge and access to adequate handwashing among patients with chronic diseases in rural Rwanda: a cross-sectional survey

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) misinformation and inadequate access to hygiene and sanitation amenities could hamper efforts to contain COVID-19 spread in resource-limited settings. In this study, we describe knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms and preventive measures, sources of information, and access to adequate handwashing among patients with chronic diseases in three Rwandan rural districts during the onset of COVID-19 in Rwanda. Methods This was a cross-sectional survey conducted among patients who were enrolled in the HIV/AIDS, non-communicable diseases, mental health, oncology, and pediatric development programs at health facilities in Kayonza, Kirehe and Burera districts. The study sample was randomly selected and stratified by district and clinical program. Telephone-based data collection occurred between 23 April and 11 May 2020. Primary caregivers responded to the survey when the selected patient was a child under age 18 or severely ill. We defined good knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms and preventive measures as knowing that a dry cough and fever were common symptoms and social distancing or staying home and regular handwashing could prevent COVID-19 infection. Access to adequate handwashing was defined as living in a household with a handwashing station and regular access to clean water and soap. We used Fisher’s exact tests and logistic regression to measure associations between the source of information and good knowledge about COVID-19 and between socio-economic characteristics and access to adequate handwashing. Results In total, 150 patients and 70 caregivers responded to the survey. Forty-eight (22.3%) respondents had no formal education. Sources of COVID-19 information included mass media (86.8%), local government leaders (27.3%), healthcare workers (15.9%) and social media (6.8%). Twenty-seven percent (n=59) of respondents had good knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms and preventive measures. In the adjusted analysis, getting information from news media was associated with having good knowledge about COVID-19 (adjusted odds ratio, aOR: 5.46; 95% CI: 1.43-20.75]. Seventy-nine (35.9%) respondents reported access to adequate handwashing at home, with access varying significantly by the district in favour of Kayonza (61.3%). Conclusions COVID-19-related knowledge and access to adequate handwashing were low among patients with chronic diseases at the beginning of the pandemic in Rwanda. Efforts to mitigate COVID-19 spread among chronic care populations may include investment in targeted COVID-19-related education and access to adequate handwashing.

Factors Associated With COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake Among Community-Dwelling Patients With Severe Mental Illness: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination uptake among individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) is a public health challenge due to various individual level as well as systemic level barriers. The objective of this study was to explore COVID-19 vaccination status among community-dwelling patients with SMI and identify associated factors.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with SMI attending community psychiatry clinics in Northern Kerala from April 21, 2021, to August 3, 2021, using a structured questionnaire. Sociodemographic information and COVID-19-related information, including vaccination status and agreement with COVID-19 vaccination-related statements, were obtained.Results: Of the 62 respondents, only 27.9% received COVID-19 vaccination. Also, 59.7% of respondents received a recommendation for vaccination from their health care providers. The mean age of the vaccinated group was significantly higher than that of the unvaccinated group (F = 1.3359, P < .001). The rate of vaccination uptake among respondents who were contacted by their health care provider for COVID-19 vaccination was significantly higher (P = .001). Respondents in the vaccinated group perceived the vaccine to be more effective in preventing COVID-19 infection than those in the unvaccinated group (2.06 vs 2.64, P = .031). Also, vaccinated respondents were less in agreement regarding the statement about the risk of COVID-19 vaccine worsening mental illness (4.18 vs 3.67, P = .049). Age and recommendation for vaccination from health care providers were found to be significant predictors of COVID-19 vaccination uptake.Conclusions: On the basis of the study findings, it is recommended that tailored educational activities regarding the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine along with recommendation by health care providers can significantly improve COVID-19 vaccination uptake among patients with SMI.

The Burden of Coronavirus Disease 2019-Related Cases, Hospitalizations, and Mortality Based on Vaccination Status and Mandated Mask Use: Statewide Data From Wisconsin and Narrative Review of the Literature.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases continue to surge in the United States with the emergence of new variants. Statewide variability and inconsistency in implementing risk mitigation strategies are widespread, particularly in regards to enforcing mask mandates and encouraging the public to become fully vaccinated. This is a cross-sectional study conducted on July 31, 2021, utilizing publicly available data from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. The authors abstracted data on total COVID-19-related cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in the state of Wisconsin. The primary objective was comparison of total COVID-19-related cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in vaccinated versus unvaccinated people in the state of Wisconsin over a 31-day period (July 2021). Furthermore, we also performed a narrative review of the literature on COVID-19-related outcomes based on mask use and vaccination status. In the state of Wisconsin during July 2021, total COVID-19 cases was 125.4 per 100,000 fully vaccinated people versus 369.2 per 100,000 not fully vaccinated people (odds ratio [OR] = 0.34, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.33-0.35; P < .001). Total COVID-19 hospitalizations was 4.9 per 100,000 fully vaccinated people versus 18.2 per 100,000 not fully vaccinated people (OR = 0.27, 98% CI, 0.22-0.32; P < .001). Total COVID-19 deaths was 0.1 per 100,000 fully vaccinated people versus 1.1 per 100,000 not fully vaccinated people (OR = 0.09, 95% CI, 0.03-0.29; P < .001). Narrative review of the literature demonstrated high vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 infection prevention (79%-100% among fully vaccinated people), COVID-19-related hospitalization (87%-98% among fully vaccinated people), and COVID-19-related death (96.7%-98% among fully vaccinated people). Studies have also generally reported that mask use was associated with increased effectiveness in preventing COVID-19 infection ≤70%. Strict adherence to public mask use and fully vaccinated status are associated with improved COVID-19-related outcomes and can mitigate the spread, morbidity, and mortality of COVID-19. Anesthesiologists and intensivists should adhere to evidence-based guidelines in their approach and management of patients to help mitigate spread.

A Natural Plant Source-Tea Polyphenols, a Potential Drug for Improving Immunity and Combating Virus.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still in a global epidemic, which has profoundly affected people’s lives. Tea polyphenols (TP) has been reported to enhance the immunity of the body to COVID-19 and other viral infectious diseases. The inhibitory effect of TP on COVID-19 may be achieved through a series of mechanisms, including the inhibition of multiple viral targets, the blocking of cellular receptors, and the activation of transcription factors. Emerging evidence shows gastrointestinal tract is closely related to respiratory tract, therefore, the relationship between the state of the gut–lung axis microflora and immune homeostasis of the host needs further research. This article summarized that TP can improve the disorder of flora, reduce the occurrence of cytokine storm, improve immunity, and prevent COVID-19 infection. TP may be regarded as a potential and valuable source for the design of new antiviral drugs with high efficiency and low toxicity.

Effects of Air Pollution on Chemosensory Dysfunction in COVID-19 Patients.

BackgroundIn some patients, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is accompanied by loss of smell and taste, and this has been reportedly associated with exposure to air pollutants. This study investigated the relationship between the occurrence of chemosensory dysfunction in COVID-19 patients and air pollutant concentrations in Korea.MethodsInformation on the clinical symptom of chemosensory dysfunction, the date of diagnosis, residential area, age, and sex of 60,194 confirmed COVID-19 cases reported to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency from January 20 to December 31, 2020 was collected. In addition, the daily average concentration of air pollutants for a week in the patients’ residential area was collected from the Ministry of Environment based on the date of diagnosis of COVID-19. A binomial logistic regression model, using age and gender, standardized smoking rate, number of outpatient visits, 24-hour mean temperature and relative humidity at the regional level as covariates, was used to determine the effect of air pollution on chemosensory dysfunction.ResultsSymptoms of chemosensory dysfunction were most frequent among patients in their 20s and 30s, and occurred more frequently in large cities. The logistic analysis showed that the concentration of particulate matter 10 (PM10) and 2.5 (PM2.5) up to 2 days before the diagnosis of COVID-19 and the concentration of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O3) at least 7 days before the diagnosis of COVID-19 affected the development of chemosensory dysfunction. In the logistic regression model adjusted for age, sex, standardized smoking rate, number of outpatient visits, and daily average temperature and relative humidity, it was found that an increase in the interquartile range of PM10, PM2.5, SO2, NO2, and CO on the day of diagnosis increased the incidence of chemosensory dysfunction 1.10, 1.10, 1.17, 1.31, and 1.19-fold, respectively. In contrast, the O3 concentration had a negative association with chemosensory dysfunction.ConclusionHigh concentrations of air pollutants such as PM10, PM2.5, SO2, NO2, and CO on the day of diagnosis increased the risk of developing chemosensory dysfunction from COVID-19 infection. This result underscores the need to actively prevent exposure to air pollution and prevent COVID-19 infection. In addition, policies that regulate activities and products that create high amounts of harmful environmental wastes may help in promoting better health for all during COVID-19 pandemic.

Perception, Frequency and Preference in Livestock-Origin Food Consumption During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious respiratory that produces mild gastrointestinal illness. The infection rate of COVID-19 increases in individuals with low immunity. In an effort to prevent this disease transmission, the Government advocates increasing the immunity level along with consuming healthy and balanced diets. The present study discusses the consumption of livestock-origin foods with high nutrient contents that can bolster immunity and invigorate heart condition. In addition, we have discussed the perception, frequency and preference of Indonesians with respect to the consumption of livestock-origin foodstuff during the COVID-19 pandemic. The consumers’ perception was determined based on the aspects of livestock-origin food, COVID-19 and livestock-origin food consumption. This study was conducted during August to October 2020 on 305 respondents. The data were collected from online questionnaires in a Google DocTM form. Indonesian consumers demonstrated a positive perception of livestock-origin food consumption in strengthening body immunity to prevent COVID-19 infection; this result was significantly affected by the health status (p≤0.10). Health status also significantly influenced the consumers’ assessment of livestock-origin food consumption (p≤0.10). Furthermore, the income level influenced the livestock-origin food aspect, while gender and level of education influenced the COVID-19 aspect. In terms of purchase frequency, the consumers purchased eggs more frequently during the pandemic, because they were more readily accessible and affordable. Consumers also demonstrated a positive perception with respect to the consumption frequency of meat, milk and eggs (p≤0.05). Consumers’ preference suggested that eggs attained priority during the pandemic period the survey was taken. The income level affected the consumers’ preference for meat, milk and eggs (p≤0.05). Preference for meat was specifically influenced by gender (p≤0.10), for which men showed a strong preference. The consumers’ perception positively influenced the consumption frequency of all livestock-origin food items (meat, eggs and milk).