ABSTRACT
Rationale: Initial reports during the pandemic have shown that COPD patients with COVID-19 have a poorer prognosis due to an increased risk of respiratory failure. It is well known that in COPD, there is an increased expression of angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE2), the receptor which plays a role in SARS-CoV-2 entry into cells. In the absence of infection, ACE2 converts angiotensin-2 (AngII) to angiotensin-1-7- helping regulate inflammation. During COVID-19 infection, ACE2 activity is reduced due to receptor occupancy, resulting in greater levels of AngII- leading to a pro-inflammatory state. We aim to investigate the impact of COPD and COVID-19 on mortality, length of in-patient stay and gender. Method(s): A retrospective study of all in-patients aged >= 18 years with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-Squared Test for independence. Result(s): 445 COVID-19 patients were included in the study, out of whom 52 (12%) had COPD. Mortality in COPD patients (65%) was found to be significantly higher than non-COPD patients (49%) (P=0.03) There were no significant differences in mortality between COPD and non-COPD patients when grouped for male and female (P=0.68). Furthermore, there were no significant differences in length of in-patient stays of >7 days between COPD and non-COPD patients (P=0.79). Conclusion(s): Our study demonstrated how COPD increases mortality in COVID-19. This data should be considered when highlighting at risk groups- prioritising them for treatment, isolation, and preventative public health measures such as the COVID-19 vaccination programme.
ABSTRACT
Background: Bangladesh is trying to shape out coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic with limited frontiers resources science March 2020. Among all frontier, Bangladeshi nurses are also playing a dynamic role to control infection through direct contact with COVID patients. Objective: This research aims to identify the level and predictors of poor knowledge of nursing students toward the COVID-19. Method: This study was a quantitative type of cross-sectional study with 150 participants randomly selected from 226 students of the Armed Forces Medical Institute located in Dhaka Cantonment of Dhaka city of Bangladesh. Data were collected by using a pre-tested questionnaire through a telephonic interview by trained and experienced interviewers. Analysis was done by using univariate, multivariate techniques followed by regression modeling. Result: Overall level of knowledge was observed poor (67.3%) among more than half of BSc nursing students. A greater part of nursing students got poor knowledge on the preventive measures to reduce transmission of COVID 19 (98.7%;40.20±12.39) & management of COVID 19 (94.7%;40.20±12.39). In terms of predicting the causes of poor knowledge, this study found that BSc nursing students of the second year (AOR= 2.53, p < 0.01) are more likely to have poor knowledge on COVID-19 compared to another educational group. Conclusion: Nurses are the frontiers to mitigate COVID-19 and manage the affected people effectively. Therefore, knowledge of them needs to be perfect to ensure the proper practice to prevent COVID-19. Thus, an enthusiastic and demonstrative learning system is required to make them knowledgeable enough against COVID-19.
ABSTRACT
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a highly transmissible virus that causes Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Temperature and humidity are two essential factors in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 affect the respiratory system of human. This study aimed to investigate the effects of temperature and humidity on the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and the Spread Covid-19. The daily number of SARS-CoV-2 infected new cases, and the number of death due to Covid-19 are considered the response variables. Data are collected from March 08, 2020 to January 31, 2021. A flexible regression model under the Generalized Additive Models for Location Scale and Shape framework is used to analyze data. The temperature and humidity have a significant impact on the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. The temperature is highly significant in the number of SARS-CoV-2 infected new cases and number of death due to COVID-19. In contrast, the humidity is significant on the number of SARS-CoV-2 infected new cases, but it is insignificant on the number of death due to COVID-19 at a 5% level of significance. The analysis revealed that both the temperature and humidity inversely affected the daily number of deaths and new cases of COVID-19. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.
ABSTRACT
This cross-sectional study was undertaken to delineate the hygiene behavior among the female garment workers in Bangladesh during pre-COVID-19 period. 500 female garments workers were selected for the study. Data were collected by face-to-face interview method using semi-structured questionnaire which include the information on socio-demography, different components of personal hygiene such as bathing, brushing teeth, washing feet, washing/ changing cloth, washing hair by soap/ shampoo, trimming nail and washing hand. The majority of the participants (>75%) had ideal knowledge and practiceon every considered hygiene behavior. Regarding hand-washing behavior, only 3% had appropriate knowledge and ideally practiced by 60.2%. Knowledge of the respondents was significantly associated with ideal practice of all components (p=0.01). Predictors identified according to age, BMI, education and marital status of respondents, were significantly associated with hygiene related to bathing, washing feet, clothing, hair and hand.