ABSTRACT
Introduction: At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was limited data and conflicting evidence regarding the effect of the pandemic on type 1diabetes (T1DM). It was expected that there may be adverse effects on glycemic control and mortality, more so in developing countries like India, with the additional burden of the lockdown on economy and health care. Subsequently, adult and pediatric data from developed countries regarding glycemic control in patients with T1DM were reassuring. Indian data, as well as data from other developing countries from pediatric T1DM addressing such issues are sparse and have conflicting conclusions. Furthermore, possible factors influencing glycemic control were not evaluated by most reports from our country. Objective(s): We evaluated the effect of the 2020 lockdown on glycemic control and lifestyle of children withtype1diabetes (T1DM). Method(s): Children and young adults with T1DM (n = 104, mean +/- SD age 13.4 +/- 4.5 years), were questioned telephonically, regarding access to health care, insulin, food and lifestyle changes during lockdown. Pre and post lockdown HbA1c, body weight, and modifying factors were analyzed. Result(s): A change in brand of insulin was necessary in 54% and physiologically wrong insulin was being used in 4.8% patients. HbA1c improved significantly post lockdown versus the 1 year pre-COVID average (7.59 +/- 1.77 vs. 8.61 +/- 1.80, p < 0.05). Parents attributed it to better supervision by (both) parents due to their presence at home, and less opportunity to consume energy dense food. Median (IQR) home blood glucose testing frequency was significantly low during lockdown [14(15) vs. 21.5(3.7) pre-lockdown, p < 0.001]. Decreased exercise occurred in 40% and excess weight gain in 51.5%. Conclusion(s): Despite problems of access to health care and adverse lifestyle conditions, improved parental supervision and meal quality and timing had favorable effect on diabetes management, which is reflected by improvement of HbA1c in a small cohort of our children.
ABSTRACT
Background: There has been a belief in and strong thought about the existence of a relationship between meteorological parameters and the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Many studies have been conducted but with a short period of investigation, i.e., not more than 4 months. Therefore, the relation between 27 months of SARS-CoV-2 recorded data and meteorological parameters is reported. The aim of this study is to use this vast data to examine whether average temperature, average wind speed, and absolute humidity are clearly correlated with the number of infected SARS-CoV-2 cases in Bahrain or not, which may be applicable to countries that have similar topography.Method: The official recorded data of SARS-CoV-2 cases in Bahrain from the first day that SARS-CoV-2 cases were detected (February 24, 2020) until May 18, 2022, along with 4 meteorological parameters (temperature, wind speed, relative humidity, and absolute humidity) were used. The data were analyzed using SPSS where a p-value less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.Result: There is a negative significant correlation between new daily cases of SARS-CoV-2 and temperature, T, and absolute humidity, AH, (r = -0.290, -0.317;p < 0.001, respectively). The results also show a positive significant correlation between daily cases of SARS-CoV-2 and wind speed (V) (r = -0.110;p = 0.002). No correlation was found between daily cases of SARS-CoV-2 and relative humidity (r = -0.028;p = 0.429). An empirical relation is reported, allowing the estimation of SARS-CoV-2 cases in Bahrain as a function of three weather parameters: T, AH, and V.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To compare the outcomes in term of hospital stay and mortality between vaccinated and nonvaccinated covid-19 patients. Study Design: Prospective/Observational Place and Duration: The study was conducted at Medicine department of Fauji Foundation Hospital Rawalpindi and Pak International Medical College Hayatabad Peshawar for six months duration from December 2020 to May 2021. Methodology: One hundred ten patients of either gender with covid-19 disease were enrolled. All the patients were confirmed with RT PCR. Patients were randomly divided in to two groups. Group I (vaccinated) comprised of 45 patients and group II (non-vaccinated) comprised of 65 patients. Severity of disease, hospital stay and mortality were compared between both groups. Data was analyzed by SPSS 24.0. Results: There were 74 (67.27%) males while 36 (32.73%) patients were females. Mean age of patients was 50.54±12.76 years. Mean BMI was 26.23±2.44 kg/m2. 10 (22.22%) patients in vaccinated group and 40 (61.54%) in nonvaccinated group had severe covid-19 disease, a significant difference was observed regarding severity of disease between both groups with p-value <0.05. Mortality rate and hospital stay were also high in nonvaccinated patients as compared to vaccinated (p-value <0.05). Conclusion: It is concluded that non-vaccinated patients of covid-19 had prolonged hospital stay and high rate of severity of disease and mortality as compared to vaccinated patients.