Articles: sars-cov-2.
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Objective Thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) can predict severe disease in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, no reports have addressed the predictive value of TARC with the widespread use of vaccines and medications for COVID-19 during the Omicron variant period of the pandemic. Methods This single-center prospective cohort study enrolled COVID-19 patients admitted to our institution between December 1, 2021, and August 15, 2022. ⋯ A multivariate analysis showed that 2 vaccination doses were associated with non-severe disease, and TARC ≤174 pg/mL was associated with severe disease. Conclusion TARC was a predictive factor for severe disease, but its cutoff value was higher and its predictive accuracy lower than those in previous reports. We surmised that during the Omicron variant period of the pandemic, the widespread use of vaccines and medications for COVID-19 decreased the predictive accuracy of TARC.
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Work-related musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries pose significant challenges to workers' health, productivity, and healthcare systems. Increased working from home since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic may have affected the incidence and prevalence of work-related MSK injuries. Despite workers' compensation systems providing valuable data, underreporting remains a concern, necessitating additional data sources such as hospital admissions to better understand the burden of MSK injuries. ⋯ The study observed a gradual decrease in the overall incidence rate of hospital admissions for cumulative work-related MSK injuries over the last decade. Despite expectations of disruptions, no significant deviations in MSK injury trends were observed following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria, Australia.
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Since April 2022, the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant has caused a notable increase in pediatric COVID-19 cases in Taiwan. During the acute phase of infection, some children required admissions to pediatric intensive care units (PICU). This study aimed to analyze their clinical presentations and outcomes while exploring associated factors. ⋯ Without available vaccinations and suitable treatment guidelines, children with COVID-19 tended to have more severe illness and prolonged LOS in the PICU. These observations highlight the importance of vaccinations and familiarity of medical providers with adequate management of this newly-emerging infectious disease.
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Observational Study
Assessing the impact of comorbidities on disease severity in COVID-19 patients requires consideration of age.
Older age and comorbidities are risk factors for increased coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity, but few studies have explored their interaction. This study aimed to assess the actual impacts of these factors on disease severity in COVID-19. The enrolled COVID-19 patients were divided into 4 age subgroups (≤44, 45-59, 60-74, and ≥75 years). ⋯ When comorbidities alone were used to predict disease severity, only the predictions were consistent with real outcomes in patients aged ≥75 years, compared with the predictions of high-risk comorbidities mentioned in World Health Organization and Chinese guidelines (Kappa 0.106, P < .05). Although older age and comorbidities were risk factors for severe COVID-19, their effects on disease severity varied across age groups. Additionally, comorbidities had a greater impact on COVID-19 severity in younger patients.