Articles: sars-cov-2.
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Internal medicine journal · Aug 2022
Observational StudyThe impact of the first wave of COVID-19 on stroke admissions across three tertiary hospitals in Brisbane.
COVID-19 has caused a global shift in healthcare-seeking behaviour; however, presentation rates with serious conditions, such as stroke in low COVID-19-prevalence cities, has received less attention. ⋯ During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic there was no significant reduction in stroke presentations, use of acute reperfusion therapies or delays to presentation, despite a reduction in ED presentations for any cause. Our results differ from the global experience, with possible explanations, including differences in public health messaging and healthcare infrastructure.
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Observational Study
Independent predictors of in-hospital mortality and the need for intensive care in hospitalized non-critical COVID-19 patients: a prospective cohort study.
One of the most helpful strategies to deal with ongoing coronavirus pandemics is to use some prudence when treating patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. We aimed to evaluate the clinical, demographic, and laboratory parameters that might have predictive value for in-hospital mortality and the need for intensive care and build a model based on them. This study was a prospective, observational, single-center study including non-critical patients admitted to COVID-19 wards. ⋯ The area under the curve values of the third and fourth model was noted 0.938 and 0.929, respectively (p < .001; CI 95% [0.912-0.965], p < .001; CI 95% [0.895-962]). By integrating the widely available blood tests results with simple clinic demographic data, non-critical patients can be stratified according to their risk level. Such stratification is essential to filter the patients' non-critical underlying diseases and conditions that can obfuscate the physician's predictive capacity.
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Disparities in access to anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies have not been well characterized. ⋯ High-risk ambulatory patients with COVID-19 who identified as Hispanic/Latinx or Black were less likely to receive monoclonal antibody therapy in univariate analysis, a finding not explained by patient refusal. Multivariable and spatial analyses suggested insurance status, language, and social vulnerability contributed to racial disparities.
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To review reports false-positive Xpert results in an emergency room and trauma center. ⋯ We found a high incidence of false-positive Xpert results among patients who recovered from COVID-19 and those with head or facial injury. Careful history taking for COVID-19 and physical examination of the sample collection site is essential before Xpert analysis.