Impact of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 Pandemic on Hepatology Practice and Provider Burnout.

The corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a wide-ranging impact on the clinical practice of medicine and emotional well-being of providers. Our aim was to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on practice and burnout among hepatology providers. From February to March 2021, we conducted an electronic survey of American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) members who were hepatologists, gastroenterologists, and advanced practice providers (APPs). The survey included 26 questions on clinical practice and emotional well-being derived from validated instruments. A total of 230 eligible members completed the survey as follows: 107 (47%) were adult transplant hepatologists, 43 (19%) were adult general hepatologists, 14 (6%) were adult gastroenterologists, 11 (5%) were pediatric hepatologists, 45 (19%) were APPs, and 9 (4%) were other providers. We found that 69 (30%) experienced a reduction in compensation, 92 (40%) experienced a reduction in staff, and 9 (4%) closed their practice; 100 (43%) respondents reported experiencing burnout. In univariate analysis, burnout was more frequently reported in those ≤55 years old (odds ratio [OR], 2.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-4.2), women (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.3-3.7), nontransplant hepatology (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.1-3.3), APPs (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.4-5.1), and those less than 10 years in practice (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.1-3.3). In multivariable analysis, only age ≤55 years was associated with burnout (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.1-4.8). The most common ways the respondents suggested the AASLD could help was through virtual platforms for networking, mentoring, and coping with the changes in practice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial impact on the clinical practice of hepatology as well as burnout and emotional well-being. Women, APPs, and early and mid-career clinicians more frequently reported burnout. Identified strategies to cope with burnout include virtual platforms to facilitate networking and mentoring.

American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases Expert Panel Consensus Statement: Vaccines to Prevent Coronavirus Disease 2019 Infection in Patients With Liver Disease.

The aim of this document is to provide a concise scientific review of the currently available COVID-19 vaccines and those in development, including mRNA, adenoviral vectors, and recombinant protein approaches. The anticipated use of COVID-19 vaccines in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) and liver transplant (LT) recipients is reviewed and practical guidance is provided for health care providers involved in the care of patients with liver disease and LT about vaccine prioritization and administration. The Pfizer and Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are associated with a 94%-95% vaccine efficacy compared to placebo against COVID-19. Local site reactions of pain and tenderness were reported in 70%-90% of clinical trial participants, and systemic reactions of fever and fatigue were reported in 40%-70% of participants, but these reactions were generally mild and self-limited and occurred more frequently in younger persons. Severe hypersensitivity reactions related to the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are rare and more commonly observed in women and persons with a history of previous drug reactions for unclear reasons. Because patients with advanced liver disease and immunosuppressed patients were excluded from the vaccine licensing trials, additional data regarding the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines are eagerly awaited in these and other subgroups. Remarkably safe and highly effective mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are now available for widespread use and should be given to all adult patients with CLD and LT recipients. The online companion document located at https://www.aasld.org/about-aasld/covid-19-resources will be updated as additional data become available regarding the safety and efficacy of other COVID-19 vaccines in development.

Clinical Research in Hepatology in the COVID-19 Pandemic and Post-Pandemic Era: Challenges and the Need for Innovation.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic has drastically altered all facets of clinical care and research. Clinical research in hepatology has had a rich tradition in several domains, including the discovery and therapeutic development for diseases such as hepatitis B and C and studying the natural history of many forms of chronic liver disease. National Institutes of Health, foundation, and industry funding have provided important opportunities to advance the academic careers of young investigators while they strived to make contributions to the field. Instantaneously, however, all nonessential research activities were halted when the pandemic started, forcing those involved in clinical research to rethink their research strategy, including a shift to coronavirus disease 2019 research while endeavoring to maintain their preexisting agenda. Strategies to maintain the integrity of ongoing studies, including patient follow-up, safety assessments, and continuation of investigational products, have included a shift to telemedicine, remote safety laboratory monitoring, and shipping of investigational products to study subjects. As a revamp of research is being planned, unique issues that face the research community include maintenance of infrastructure, funding, completion of studies in the predetermined time frame, and the need to reprogram career path timelines. Real-world databases, biomarker and long-term follow up studies, and research involving special groups (children, the homeless, and other marginalized populations) are likely to face unique challenges. The implementation of telemedicine has been dramatically accelerated and will serve as a backbone for the future of clinical research. As we move forward, innovation in clinical trial design will be essential for conducting optimized clinical research.