Articles: sars-cov-2.
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Multicenter Study
[Sex differences in hospitalized patients for COVID-19. Argentine Registry of Cardiovascular Complications of COVID-19 (RACCOVID-19)].
SARS-CoV-2 can cause mild upper respiratory tract involvement to pulmonary disease of varying severity, as well as cardiovascular complications with increased mortality. The prevalence is similar in men and women, although there are sex differences in disease characteristics and outcome. In this study, we analyze the clinical characteristics, progression, and in-hospital outcome by sex of patients included in the RACCOVID-19 registry. ⋯ In the RACCOVID-19 registry, men had worse performance status and higher incidence of cardiovascular complications with higher in-hospital mortality. Male sex, hypertension, diabetes, and history of other diseases were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality.
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Persistence of COVID-19 symptoms may follow severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. The incidence of long COVID increases with the severity of acute disease, but even mild disease can be associated with sequelae. ⋯ Elevated levels of complement are present in acute COVID-19 patients and may persist at lower levels in long COVID. Evidence supports complement activation, with endotheliopathy-associated disease as the molecular mechanism causing both acute and long COVID.
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Review Meta Analysis
Anticoagulation Among Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19 : A Systematic Review and Prospective Meta-analysis.
Reported results of clinical trials assessing higher-dose anticoagulation in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 have been inconsistent. ⋯ No direct funding. (PROSPERO: CRD42020213461).
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The outbreak of COVID-19 has opened up new avenues for exploring the importance of vitamin D in immunity, in addition to its role in calcium absorption. Recently, vitamin D supplementation has been found to enhance T regulatory lymphocytes, which are reduced in individuals with COVID-19. Increased risk of pneumonia and increases in inflammatory cytokines have been reported to be major threats associated with vitamin-D deficiency. ⋯ COVID-19 was found to induce multiple organ damage, and vitamin D has a beneficial role in various organs, such as the intestines, pancreas, prostate, kidneys, liver, heart, brain, and immune cells. The consequences that occur after COVID-19 infection known as long COVID-19 are also a concern as they accumulate and target multiple organs, leading to immune dysregulation. The present review covers the overall role and impact of vitamin D and its deficiency for various organs in normal conditions and after COVID-19 infection, which is still a serious issue.
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Context: Social determinants of health (SDOH) impacted the quality of home hospice care provided during the COVID-19 pandemic. Perspectives from professionals who provided care identify challenges and lessons learned from their experience. Objective: To examine hospice professionals' perspectives of how SDOH affected the delivery of high-quality home hospice care in New York City (NYC) during the COVID-19 pandemic. ⋯ Conclusion: SDOH provide a context to understand disparity in the provision of hospice care. COVID-19 exacerbated these conditions. Addressing multidimensional barriers created by SDOH is key in creating high-quality and equitable hospice care, particularly during a crisis.