Articles: sars-cov-2.
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Comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions have been reported to worsen the clinical progression of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and related hospitalizations. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected the historically marginalized groups, i.e., Black, Hispanic, and Asian individuals have substantially higher rates of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, COVID-19 hospitalization, and death compared to White individuals. Despite these findings in civilian populations, the impact of comorbidities and race in SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 hospitalizations in military populations is unknown. We evaluated the relationship of pre-selected pre-pandemic comorbidities and race with SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 hospitalizations in U.S. military service members (SMs). ⋯ Our results highlight the role of pre-pandemic comorbidities and race likely enhancing the frequency of SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 hospitalizations in military SMs. These preliminary findings underscore the need for future retrospective studies using additional Military Health System data bases reporting data on this military subpopulation, especially in the setting of future pathogens outbreaks or pandemics affecting military populations.
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Mass screening for SARS-CoV-2 using nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) is costly, uncomfortable for patients, and increases the chance of virus exposure to health care workers. Therefore, this study focused on determining if self-collected unpreserved saliva can be an effective alternative to NPS collection in COVID-19 surveillance. ⋯ The saliva sample collection method identifies the E gene in SARS COVID-2 samples which provides an alternative specimen source to the NPS. This identifies the S gene and ORF1ab. Saliva collection is more convenient to the patient, yields comparable results to NPS collection, and potentially increases Covid-19 surveillance.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Aug 2024
Associations Between COVID-19, Delirium, and 1-Year Mortality: Exploring Influences on Delirium Incidence in COVID-19 Patients.
This study investigated the relationship between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), delirium, and 1-year mortality. Factors associated with delirium in COVID-19 patients were identified, along with the influence of psychotropic medications on delirium. ⋯ COVID-19 and delirium are risk factors for 1-year mortality. Some factors associated with delirium in COVID-19 patients are modifiable and can be targeted in preventive and therapeutic interventions.
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Post-COVID-19 condition (also known as long COVID) is generally defined as symptoms persisting for 3 months or more after acute COVID-19. Long COVID can affect multiple organ systems and lead to severe and protracted impairment of function as a result of organ damage. ⋯ Although current approaches to long COVID care are largely symptomatic and supportive, recent advances in clinical phenotyping, deep molecular profiling, and biomarker identification might herald a more mechanism-informed and personally tailored approach to clinical care. We also cover the organisation of services for long COVID, approaches to preventing long COVID, and suggestions for future research.
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During coronavirus disease of 2019 pandemic a standard usage of personal protective equipment (PPE) in healthcare was mandatory, while actually the usage of PPE is currently decreasing. This raises the question about the further use of PPE in the clinical setting because healthcare workers (HCW) are at greater risk of being infected with SARS-CoV-2 than the general population. The primary objective of this study is to determine the proportion of shock room team members approving the further use of PPE including a FFP2 respirator in simulation training and reality. The secondary objectives are to describe the expertise and difficulties faced while using PPE in the shock room care. ⋯ A majority of our participants favored a standard PPE including a FFP2 respirator in shock room care. In addition, we recommend the use of PPE in shock room simulation training, while further awareness of and training in proper use of PPE seems to be necessary to reduce risk of infectious diseases for HCW.