Clinical medicine (London, England)
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Case Reports
A case of antisynthetase syndrome presenting solely with life-threatening interstitial lung disease.
A previously fit and well 38-year-old man presented during the COVID-19 pandemic with dyspnoea, cough and palpitations. C-reactive protein was elevated and chest X-ray demonstrated bilateral lower zone consolidation. SARS CoV-2 swab was negative. ⋯ Creatine kinase was only mildly elevated. He was diagnosed with amyopathic antisynthetase syndrome - frequently considered as a form of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) - and treated with further intravenous methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide. Oxygen therapy was gradually weaned and the patient discharged on mycophenolate mofetil and a weaning course of oral steroids.
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Doctors-in-training often receive an inadequate dermatology education. Furthermore, studies have highlighted the under-representation of skin of colour (SOC) in dermatological teaching, learning resources and research. Our image-based questionnaire, distributed to all internal medicine trainees in southwest England, highlighted knowledge gaps regarding SOC among training physicians. ⋯ We discuss how inflammation presents in SOC, with the typical 'erythema' that physicians often associate with inflammation being a less prominent feature in darker skin tones. We then summarise nine important conditions that we believe physicians working in all specialties should be able to identify in patients with SOC, covering both conditions encountered on the medical take and conditions disproportionately affecting individuals with SOC. The population of the UK is rapidly diversifying; thus, as physicians, we have a professional duty to educate ourselves on dermatological conditions in SOC to provide the best quality of care for all our patients, regardless of their skin type.
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Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at increased risk of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Personal protective equipment (PPE) and infection control guidelines help limit transmission. However, poor confidence leads to higher levels of anxiety rates and infection. We assessed knowledge and confidence in PPE among HCWs and associated anxiety. ⋯ Confidence in PPE was poor and anxiety was related to inadequate information and training. Thus, improved communication is required for effective response to subsequent COVID-19 waves and similar pandemics.
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Observational Study
Lung cancer recovery focus post pandemic: an income-deprived area paradigm.
'Stage shift' has been proposed as a marker of impact of Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) in lung cancer services; however, there are no data available specifically from income-deprived areas. Thus, this study evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on lung cancer care in our area (Corby; among the most income deprived in England) and identified focus recovery areas. The study was a retrospective observational study of 668 consecutive patients with lung cancer at a district general hospital, pre-, during and after the COVID peak. ⋯ Our results suggest that COVID-19 negatively affected the whole lung cancer pathway in our area. However, 'stage shift' might not be ideal to assess the impact of COVID-19 in income-deprived areas. Further studies will help the strategic rollout of a screening programme to identify patients with lung cancer earlier on in such areas.