The influence of home and environmental characteristics on 5-18 years old children's health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study in Iran.

Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has dramatically changed the health and wellbeing of children. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between the home environment and the environmental characteristics on 5-18 years old children health in Iran. Method: An online survey was conducted among parents of children aged 5 to 18 living in large cities in Iran in 2021. The statistical population of this cross-sectional study was 500 people. In this survey, questionnaires on the quality of the home environment, exterior and interior landscapes of homes, and the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ) were used to investigate the relationship between the home environment and environmental characteristics on 5-18 years old children health during the COVID-19 pandemic. The t-test and analysis of variance were used in SPSS 24, and the structural equation modeling (SEM) was utilized in AMOS 24 for analyzing the data. Results: The average age of respondents was 37.13 ± 7.20, and that of children was 11.57 ± 3.47. 73.02% of the families were covered by insurance, and 74.08% of them lived in the metropolis. In addition, 65.04% of the families complied with the restrictions of the quarantine period. A share of 31% of the families live in villas, and 55% paid more attention to cleaning their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic than before. A positive and significant statistical relationship (ß = 0.414, p < 0.001) was observed between the residence environment and child health. Thus, explained 17.5% of variations in child health. Conclusion: The results showed that the children who lived in homes with an exterior landscape in nature had better health. In addition, the 5-18 years old children whose home landscape was a garden, compared to the other two groups (yard, balcony), had better health. Gardens are a potential source of health and not necessarily replaced by other natural environments, thus providing them along with green space is one of the crucial issues that should be considered.

Presentation and outcomes of chronic kidney disease patients with COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 is currently a global health issue and an important cause of mortality. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the risk factors for infection, morbidity and mortality by SARS-CoV-2. In our study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical presentation and outcomes of CKD patients with COVID-19, as well as identify predictors of mortality. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of CKD patients admitted in a tertiary-care Portuguese hospital between March and August of 2020. Variables were submitted to univariate and multivariate analysis to determine factors predictive of in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: 130 CKD patients were analyzed (median age 73.9 years, male 60.0%). Hypertension (81.5%), cardiovascular disease (36.2%), and diabetes (54.6%) were frequent conditions. Cough, dyspnea, fever and respiratory failure were also common. Almost 60% had anemia, 50% hypoalbuminemia, 13.8% hyperlactacidemia and 17% acidemia. Mean serum ferritin was 1531 µg/L, mean CRP 8.3 mg/dL and mean LDH 336.9 U/L. Most patients were treated with lopinavir/ritonavir, hydroxychloroquine or corticosteroids and only 2 with remdesivir. Eighty percent had acute kidney injury and 16.2% required intensive care unit admission. The 34 patients who died were older and more likely to have heart failure. They had higher neutrophils/lymphocytes ratio, ferritin, lactate, and LDH levels. Multivariate analysis identified an association between older age [OR 1.1 (CI 1.01-1.24), p=0.027], higher ferritin [OR 1.0 (CI 1.00-1.00), p=0.009] and higher LDH levels [OR 1.0 (CI 1.00-1.01), p=0.014] and mortality. CONCLUSION: In our cohort of CKD patients with COVID-19, older age, higher ferritin, and higher LDH levels were independent risk factors for mortality.

The impact of transient and persistent acute kidney injury in hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients.

INTRODUCTION: Acute kidney injury (AKI) has been described in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients and is considered a marker of disease severity and a negative prognostic factor for survival. In this study, the authors aimed to study the impact of transient and persistent acute kidney injury (pAKI) on in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in the Department of Medicine of the Centro Hospitalar Universitario Lisboa Norte, Lisbon, Portugal, between March 2020 and August 2020. A multivariate analysis was performed to predict AKI development and in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: Of 544 patients with COVID-19, 330 developed AKI: 166 persistent AKI (pAKI), 164 with transient AKI. AKI patients were older, had more previous comorbidities, had higher need to be medicated with RAAS inhibitors, had higher baseline serum creatine (SCr) (1.60 mg/dL vs 0.87 mg/dL), higher NL ratio, and more severe acidemia on hospital admission, and more frequently required admission in intensive care unit, mechanical ventilation, and vasopressor use. Patients with persistent AKI had higher SCr level (1.71 mg/dL vs 1.25 mg/dL) on hospital admission. In-hospital mortality was 14.0% and it was higher in AKI patients (18.5% vs 7.0%). CKD and serum ferritin were independent predictors of AKI. AKI did not predict mortality, but pAKI was an independent predictor of mortality, as was age and lactate level. CONCLUSION: pAKI was independently associated with in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients but its impact on long-term follow-up remains to be determined.

Acute kidney injury in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: A Portuguese cohort.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients ranges from 0.5% to 35% and has been associated with worse prognosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence, severity, duration, risk factors and prognosis of AKI in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective single-center analysis of 192 hospitalized COVID-19 patients from March to May of 2020. AKI was diagnosed using the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcome (KDIGO) classification based on serum creatinine (SCr) criteria. Persistent and transient AKI were defined according to the Acute Disease Quality Initiative (ADQI) workgroup definitions. RESULTS: In this cohort of COVID-19 patients, 55.2% developed AKI (n=106). The majority of AKI patients had persistent AKI (n=64, 60.4%). Overall, in-hospital mortality was 18.2% (n=35) and was higher in AKI patients (28.3% vs. 5.9%, p<0.001, unadjusted OR 6.03 (2.22-16.37), p<0.001). In this multivariate analysis, older age (adjusted OR 1.07 (95% CI 1.02-1.11), p=0.004), lower Hb level (adjusted OR 0.78 (95% CI 0.60-0.98), p=0.035), duration of AKI (adjusted OR 7.34 for persistent AKI (95% CI 2.37-22.72), p=0.001) and severity of AKI (adjusted OR 2.65 per increase in KDIGO stage (95% CI 1.32-5.33), p=0.006) were independent predictors of mortality. CONCLUSION: AKI was frequent in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Persistent AKI and higher severity of AKI were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality.

Acute kidney injury in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: A Portuguese cohort Lesión renal aguda en pacientes hospitalizados con COVID-19: una cohorte portuguesa

Introduction The incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients ranges from 0.5% to 35% and has been associated with worse prognosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence, severity, duration, risk factors and prognosis of AKI in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Methods We conducted a retrospective single-center analysis of 192 hospitalized COVID-19 patients from March to May of 2020. AKI was diagnosed using the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcome (KDIGO) classification based on serum creatinine (SCr) criteria. Persistent and transient AKI were defined according to the Acute Disease Quality Initiative (ADQI) workgroup definitions. Results In this cohort of COVID-19 patients, 55.2% developed AKI (n = 106). The majority of AKI patients had persistent AKI (n = 64, 60.4%). Overall, in-hospital mortality was 18.2% (n = 35) and was higher in AKI patients (28.3% vs. 5.9%, p < 0.001, unadjusted OR 6.03 (2.22–16.37), p < 0.001). In this multivariate analysis, older age (adjusted OR 1.07 (95% CI 1.02–1.11), p = 0.004), lower Hb level (adjusted OR 0.78 (95% CI 0.60–0.98), p = 0.035), duration of AKI (adjusted OR 7.34 for persistent AKI (95% CI 2.37–22.72), p = 0.001) and severity of AKI (adjusted OR 2.65 per increase in KDIGO stage (95% CI 1.32–5.33), p = 0.006) were independent predictors of mortality. Conclusion AKI was frequent in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Persistent AKI and higher severity of AKI were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality.

Inequality in Mortality between Black and White Americans by Age, Place, and Cause, and in Comparison to Europe, 1990-2018

Although there is a large gap between Black and White American life expectancies, the gap fell 48.9% between 1990-2018, mainly due to mortality declines among Black Americans. We examine age-specific mortality trends and racial gaps in life expectancy in rich and poor U.S. areas and with reference to six European countries. Inequalities in life expectancy are starker in the U.S. than in Europe. In 1990 White Americans and Europeans in rich areas had similar overall life expectancy, while life expectancy for White Americans in poor areas was lower. But since then even rich White Americans have lost ground relative to Europeans. Meanwhile, the gap in life expectancy between Black Americans and Europeans decreased by 8.3%. Black life expectancy increased more than White life expectancy in all U.S. areas, but improvements in poorer areas had the greatest impact on the racial life expectancy gap. The causes that contributed the most to Black mortality reductions included: Cancer, homicide, HIV, and causes originating in the fetal or infant period. Life expectancy for both Black and White Americans plateaued or slightly declined after 2012, but this stalling was most evident among Black Americans even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. If improvements had continued at the 1990-2012 rate, the racial gap in life expectancy would have closed by 2036. European life expectancy also stalled after 2014. Still, the comparison with Europe suggests that mortality rates of both Black and White Americans could fall much further across all ages and in both rich and poor areas.

The impact of healthcare-associated infections on COVID-19 mortality: a cohort study from a Brazilian public hospital.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to analyze the risk factors for in-hospital mortality in a cohort of patients admitted to a newly adapted intensive care unit in a public hospital in Rio de Janeiro. METHODS: This was an observational, retrospective, and descriptive study. Data were obtained from electronic medical records. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was diagnosed by detecting viral ribonucleic acid using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Factors associated with the risk/protection from death were determined using the odds ratio and adjusted odds ratio. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients were admitted to the hospital. The median age of the patients was 63 years, 60% were male patients, and 54% were white patients. Sixty-seven percent of the patients were diagnosed with COVID-19. Sepsis at admission increased the chance of in-hospital death by 21 times (adjusted odds ratio=21.06 [0.79-555.2]; p=0.06). The strongest risk factor for death was the development of septic shock during hospitalization (adjusted odds ratio=98.56 [2.75-352.5]; p=0.01), and one in four patients had multidrug-resistant bacteria. Mechanical ventilation, vasopressors, neuromuscular blockers, and sedatives were also the risk factors for in-hospital mortality. The in-hospital mortality rate was 41%, and the mortality rate of patients on mechanical ventilation was 60%. The diagnosis of COVID-19 was not statistically related to the adverse outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort, the strongest risk factor for in-hospital death was the development of nosocomial septic shock. Healthcare-associated infections have a significant impact on mortality rates. Therefore, to have a better outcome, it is important to consider not only the availability of beds but also the way healthcare is delivered.

Acute Kidney Disease and Mortality in Acute Kidney Injury Patients with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of AKI in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients is variable and has been associated with worse prognosis. A significant number of patients develop persistent kidney damage defined as Acute Kidney Disease (AKD). There is a lack of evidence on the real impact of AKD on COVID-19 patients. We aim to identify risk factors for the development of AKD and its impact on mortality in COVID-19 patients. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of COVID-19 patients with AKI admitted at the Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte between March and August of 2020. The Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) classification was used to define AKI. AKD was defined by presenting at least KDIGO Stage 1 criteria for >7 days after an AKI initiating event. RESULTS: In 339 COVID-19 patients with AKI, 25.7% patients developed AKD (n = 87). The mean age was 71.7 ± 17.0 years, baseline SCr was 1.03 ± 0.44 mg/dL, and the majority of patients were classified as KDIGO stage 3 AKI (54.3%). The in-hospital mortality was 18.0% (n = 61). Presence of hypertension (p = 0.006), CKD (p < 0.001), lower hemoglobin (p = 0.034) and lower CRP (p = 0.004) at the hospital admission and nephrotoxin exposure (p < 0.001) were independent risk factors for the development of AKD. Older age (p = 0.003), higher serum ferritin at admission (p = 0.008) and development of AKD (p = 0.029) were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality in COVID-19-AKI patients. CONCLUSIONS: AKD was significantly associated with in-hospital mortality in this population of COVID-19-AKI patients. Considering the significant risk of mortality in AKI patients, it is of paramount importance to identify the subset of higher risk patients.

Inequality in mortality between Black and White Americans by age, place, and cause and in comparison to Europe, 1990 to 2018.

Although there is a large gap between Black and White American life expectancies, the gap fell 48.9% between 1990 and 2018, mainly due to mortality declines among Black Americans. We examine age-specific mortality trends and racial gaps in life expectancy in high- and low-income US areas and with reference to six European countries. Inequalities in life expectancy are starker in the United States than in Europe. In 1990, White Americans and Europeans in high-income areas had similar overall life expectancy, while life expectancy for White Americans in low-income areas was lower. However, since then, even high-income White Americans have lost ground relative to Europeans. Meanwhile, the gap in life expectancy between Black Americans and Europeans decreased by 8.3%. Black American life expectancy increased more than White American life expectancy in all US areas, but improvements in lower-income areas had the greatest impact on the racial life expectancy gap. The causes that contributed the most to Black Americans' mortality reductions included cancer, homicide, HIV, and causes originating in the fetal or infant period. Life expectancy for both Black and White Americans plateaued or slightly declined after 2012, but this stalling was most evident among Black Americans even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. If improvements had continued at the 1990 to 2012 rate, the racial gap in life expectancy would have closed by 2036. European life expectancy also stalled after 2014. Still, the comparison with Europe suggests that mortality rates of both Black and White Americans could fall much further across all ages and in both high-income and low-income areas.

Impulse Oscillometry Findings and Their Associations With Lung Ultrasound Signs in COVID-19 Survivors.

BACKGROUND: Because impulse oscillometry (IOS) can detect changes in the small airways and is safer to perform during the COVID-19 pandemic than other pulmonary function tests, it may have value in investigating pulmonary sequelae in COVID-19 survivors. This study evaluated the performance of IOS in detecting lung abnormalities in COVID-19 survivors and investigated the associations of the findings with those of lung ultrasound (LUS) and spirometry. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 117 subjects underwent IOS at a frequency range of 4-20 Hz 2 months after COVID-19 diagnosis. They also underwent spirometry and LUS, and their aeration scores were calculated. RESULTS: On IOS, the resonance frequency was > 12 Hz, and the area under the reactance curve was > 3.60 cm H2O/L/s in 70 (59.8%) and 55 (47.0%) subjects, respectively. A heterogeneity of resistance between R4 and R20 (R4-R20) > 20% was observed in 60 (51.3%) participants. Based on their abnormalities in resistive and reactive parameters, 76 (65.0%) participants had abnormal IOS. Spirometry abnormalities were detected in 40 (34.2%) cases. LUS was abnormal in 51 (43.6%) participants, and the median aeration score was 0 (0-8) points. Abnormal IOS was associated with abnormal LUS (P < .001) and abnormal spirometry (P = .002). Abnormal spirometry had a significant but weaker association with abnormal LUS (P = .031). In participants who reported hospitalization, abnormal IOS was associated with both abnormal LUS (P = .001) and abnormal spirometry (P = .006). In participants who did not report hospitalization, abnormal IOS was associated with abnormal LUS (P < .001) but not abnormal spirometry (P = .063). CONCLUSIONS: In COVID-19 survivors, IOS detected changes even when spirometry was normal. In these individuals, IOS parameters were more strongly associated with abnormalities on LUS than with abnormalities on spirometry.

Impact of Chronic RAAS Use in Elderly COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective Analysis.

Corona Virus Disease-19 (COVID-19) recently emerged as a global pandemic. Advanced age is the most important risk factor for increased virus susceptibility and worse outcomes. Many older adults are currently treated with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors and there is concern that these medications might increase the risk of mortality by COVID-19. This is a retrospective cohort of 346 patients older than 65 years with COVID-19, at the Department of Medicine of the Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, in Portugal, hospitalized between March 2020 and August 2020. Mean age was 80.9 ± 8.7 years old. Most patients had arterial hypertension (n = 279, 80.6%), almost half (n = 161, 46.5%) had cardiovascular disease and approximately one-third of patients had heart failure (n = 127, 36.7%) or diabetes Mellitus (n = 113, 32.7%). Ninety-eight patients (28.3%) had chronic kidney disease and almost half of the patients (49.4%) were chronically under renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors. Twenty percent of patients died during hospitalization. In a multivariate analysis, older age (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.04, 1.18, p = 0.002), absence of baseline medication with RAAS inhibitors (OR 0.27, 95% CI 0.10, 0.75, p = 0.011), higher serum ferritin (OR 1.00, 95% CI 1.00, 1.00, p = 0.003) and higher lactate levels (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.02, 1.14, p = 0.006) were independent predictors of mortality. Older age, higher serum ferritin and lactate levels at admission were found to be independent predictors of mortality and might act as early predictors of worsening disease in clinical practice. Chronic treatment with RAAS inhibitors appeared to be protective, supporting guidelines in not discontinuing such drugs.

Acute kidney injury in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: A Portuguese cohort.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients ranges from 0.5% to 35% and has been associated with worse prognosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence, severity, duration, risk factors and prognosis of AKI in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective single-center analysis of 192 hospitalized COVID-19 patients from March to May of 2020. AKI was diagnosed using the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcome (KDIGO) classification based on serum creatinine (SCr) criteria. Persistent and transient AKI were defined according to the Acute Disease Quality Initiative (ADQI) workgroup definitions. RESULTS: In this cohort of COVID-19 patients, 55.2% developed AKI (n = 106). The majority of AKI patients had persistent AKI (n = 64, 60.4%). Overall, in-hospital mortality was 18.2% (n = 35) and was higher in AKI patients (28.3% vs. 5.9%, p < 0.001, unadjusted OR 6.03 (2.22-16.37), p < 0.001). In this multivariate analysis, older age (adjusted OR 1.07 (95% CI 1.02-1.11), p = 0.004), lower Hb level (adjusted OR 0.78 (95% CI 0.60-0.98), p = 0.035), duration of AKI (adjusted OR 7.34 for persistent AKI (95% CI 2.37-22.72), p = 0.001) and severity of AKI (adjusted OR 2.65 per increase in KDIGO stage (95% CI 1.32-5.33), p = 0.006) were independent predictors of mortality. CONCLUSION: AKI was frequent in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Persistent AKI and higher severity of AKI were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality.

INTRODUCCIÓN: La incidencia de lesión renal aguda (LRA) en pacientes con enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) oscila entre el 0,5 y el 35% y se ha asociado a peor pronóstico. El propósito de este estudio fue evaluar la incidencia, gravedad, duración, factores de riesgo y pronóstico de la LRA en pacientes hospitalizados con COVID-19. MÉTODOS: Realizamos un análisis retrospectivo de un solo centro de 192 pacientes con COVID-19 hospitalizados de marzo a mayo de 2020. La LRA se diagnosticó utilizando la clasificación Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcome (KDIGO) basada en criterios de creatinina sérica (SCr). La LRA persistente y la transitoria se definieron de acuerdo con las definiciones del grupo de trabajo de la Iniciativa de Calidad de Enfermedades Agudas (ADQI). RESULTADOS: En esta cohorte de pacientes con COVID-19, el 55,2% desarrolló LRA (n = 106). La mayoría de los pacientes tenían LRA persistente (n = 64; 60,4%). En general, la mortalidad hospitalaria fue del 18,2% (n = 35) y fue mayor en los pacientes con LRA (28,3% frente a 5,9%; p < 0,001), (OR no ajustada 6,03; IC 95%: 2,22-16,37; p < 0,001). En este análisis multivariado, mayor edad (OR ajustada 1,07; IC 95%: 1,02-1,11; p = 0,004), menor nivel de Hb (OR ajustada 0,78; IC 95%: 0,60-0,98; p = 0,035), duración de la LRA (OR ajustada 7,34 para LRA persistente; IC 95%: 2,37-22,72; p = 0,001) y la gravedad de LRA (OR ajustada 2,65 por aumento en el estadio KDIGO; IC 95%: 1,32-5,33; p = 0,006) fueron predictores independientes de mortalidad. CONCLUSIÓN: La LRA fue frecuente en pacientes hospitalizados con COVID-19. La LRA persistente y su mayor gravedad fueron predictores independientes de mortalidad hospitalaria.

One-month outcomes of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and their relationships with lung ultrasound signs.

BACKGROUND: The role of lung ultrasound (LUS) in evaluating the mid- and long-term prognoses of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia is not yet known. The objectives of this study were to evaluate associations between LUS signs at the time of screening and clinical outcomes 1 month after LUS and to assess LUS signs at the time of presentation with known risk factors for COVID-19 pneumonia. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of data prospectively collected 1 month after LUS screening of 447 adult patients diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia. Sonographic examination was performed in screening tents with the participants seated. The LUS signs (B-lines > 2, coalescent B-lines, and subpleural consolidations) were captured in six areas of each hemithorax and a LUS aeration score was calculated; in addition, the categories of disease probability based on patterns of LUS findings (high-probability, intermediate-probability, alternate, and low-probability patterns) were evaluated. The LUS signs at patients' initial evaluation were related to the following outcomes: symptomatology, the need for hospitalization or invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), and COVID-19-related death. RESULTS: According to the evaluations performed 1 month after LUS screening, 36 patients were hospitalised, eight of whom required intensive care unit (ICU) admission and three of whom died. The presence of coalescent B-lines was associated with the need for hospitalization (p = 0.008). The presence of subpleural consolidations was associated with dyspnoea (p < 0.0001), cough (p = 0.003), the need for hospitalization (p < 0.0001), the need for ICU admission (p < 0.0001), and death (p = 0.002). A higher aeration score was associated with dyspnoea (p < 0.0001), the need for hospitalization (p < 0.0001), the need for ICU admission (p < 0.0001), and death (p = 0.003). In addition, patients with a high-probability LUS pattern had a higher aeration score (p < 0.0001) and more dyspnoea (p = 0.024) and more often required hospitalization (p < 0.0001) and ICU admission (p = 0.031). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, LUS signs were related to respiratory symptoms 1 month after LUS screening. Strong relationships were identified between LUS signs and the need for hospitalization and death.

Impact of clinical and subclinical coronary artery disease as assessed by coronary artery calcium in COVID-19.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The potential impact of coronary atherosclerosis, as detected by coronary artery calcium, on clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients remains unsettled. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of clinical and subclinical coronary artery disease (CAD), as assessed by coronary artery calcium score (CAC), in a large, unselected population of hospitalized COVID-19 patients undergoing non-gated chest computed tomography (CT) for clinical practice. METHODS: SARS-CoV 2 positive patients from the multicenter (16 Italian hospitals), retrospective observational SCORE COVID-19 (calcium score for COVID-19 Risk Evaluation) registry were stratified in three groups: (a) "clinical CAD" (prior revascularization history), (b) "subclinical CAD" (CAC >0), (c) "No CAD" (CAC = 0). Primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality and the secondary endpoint was a composite of myocardial infarction and cerebrovascular accident (MI/CVA). RESULTS: Amongst 1625 patients (male 67.2%, median age 69 [interquartile range 58-77] years), 31%, 57.8% and 11.1% had no, subclinical and clinical CAD, respectively. Increasing rates of in-hospital mortality (11.3% vs. 27.3% vs. 39.8%, p < 0.001) and MI/CVA events (2.3% vs. 3.8% vs. 11.9%, p < 0.001) were observed for patients with no CAD vs. subclinical CAD vs clinical CAD, respectively. The association with in-hospital mortality was independent of in-study outcome predictors (age, peripheral artery disease, active cancer, hemoglobin, C-reactive protein, LDH, aerated lung volume): subclinical CAD vs. No CAD: adjusted hazard ratio (adj-HR) 2.86 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14-7.17, p=0.025); clinical CAD vs. No CAD: adj-HR 3.74 (95% CI 1.21-11.60, p=0.022). Among patients with subclinical CAD, increasing CAC burden was associated with higher rates of in-hospital mortality (20.5% vs. 27.9% vs. 38.7% for patients with CAC score thresholds≤100, 101-400 and > 400, respectively, p < 0.001). The adj-HR per 50 points increase in CAC score 1.007 (95%CI 1.001-1.013, p=0.016). Cardiovascular risk factors were not independent predictors of in-hospital mortality when CAD presence and extent were taken into account. CONCLUSIONS: The presence and extent of CAD are associated with in-hospital mortality and MI/CVA among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 disease and they appear to be a better prognostic gauge as compared to a clinical cardiovascular risk assessment.

Coronary and total thoracic calcium scores predict mortality and provides pathophysiologic insights in COVID-19 patients.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread worldwide determining dramatic impacts on healthcare systems. Early identification of high-risk parameters is required in order to provide the best therapeutic approach. Coronary, thoracic aorta and aortic valve calcium can be measured from a non-gated chest computer tomography (CT) and are validated predictors of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. However, their prognostic role in acute systemic inflammatory diseases, such as COVID-19, has not been investigated. OBJECTIVES: The aim was to evaluate the association of coronary artery calcium and total thoracic calcium on in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients. METHODS: 1093 consecutive patients from 16 Italian hospitals with a positive swab for COVID-19 and an admission chest CT for pneumonia severity assessment were included. At CT, coronary, aortic valve and thoracic aorta calcium were qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated separately and combined together (total thoracic calcium) by a central Core-lab blinded to patients' outcomes. RESULTS: Non-survivors compared to survivors had higher coronary artery [Agatston (467.76 â€‹± â€‹570.92 vs 206.80 â€‹± â€‹424.13 â€‹mm2, p â€‹< â€‹0.001); Volume (487.79 â€‹± â€‹565.34 vs 207.77 â€‹± â€‹406.81, p â€‹< â€‹0.001)], aortic valve [Volume (322.45 â€‹± â€‹390.90 vs 98.27 â€‹± â€‹250.74 mm2, p â€‹< â€‹0.001; Agatston 337.38 â€‹± â€‹414.97 vs 111.70 â€‹± â€‹282.15, p â€‹< â€‹0.001)] and thoracic aorta [Volume (3786.71 â€‹± â€‹4225.57 vs 1487.63 â€‹± â€‹2973.19 mm2, p â€‹< â€‹0.001); Agatston (4688.82 â€‹± â€‹5363.72 vs 1834.90 â€‹± â€‹3761.25, p â€‹< â€‹0.001)] calcium values. Coronary artery calcium (HR 1.308; 95% CI, 1.046-1.637, p â€‹= â€‹0.019) and total thoracic calcium (HR 1.975; 95% CI, 1.200-3.251, p â€‹= â€‹0.007) resulted to be independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSION: Coronary, aortic valve and thoracic aortic calcium assessment on admission non-gated CT permits to stratify the COVID-19 patients in-hospital mortality risk.

Clinical and laboratory characteristics in outpatient diagnosis of COVID-19 in healthcare professionals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

AIMS: This study aimed to identify the symptoms associated with early stage SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infections in healthcare professionals (HCPs) using both clinical and laboratory data. METHODS: A total of 1297 patients, admitted between 18 March and 8 April 2020, were stratified according to their risk of developing COVID-19 using their responses to a questionnaire designed to evaluate symptoms and risk conditions. RESULTS: Anosmia/hyposmia (p<0.0001), fever (p<0.0001), body pain (p<0.0001) and chills (p=0.001) were all independent predictors for COVID-19, with a 72% estimated probability for detecting COVID-19 in nasopharyngeal swab samples. Leucopenia, relative monocytosis, decreased eosinophil values, C reactive protein (CRP) and platelets were also shown to be significant independent predictors for COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: The significant clinical features for COVID-19 were identified as anosmia, fever, chills and body pain. Elevated CRP, leucocytes under 5400×109/L and relative monocytosis (>9%) were common among patients with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. These variables may help, in the absence of reverse transcriptase PCR tests, to identify possible COVID-19 infections during pandemic outbreaks. SUMMARY: From 19 March to 8 April 2020, 1297 patients attended the Polyclinic Piquet Carneiro for COVID-19 detection. HCP data were analysed, and significant clinical features were anosmia, fever, chills and body pain. Elevated CRP, leucopenia and monocytosis were common in COVID-19.

Comparison Between Lung Ultrasound and Computed Tomographic Findings in Patients With COVID-19 Pneumonia.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to describe findings from lung ultrasound (LUS) and computed tomography (CT) in health professionals with coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia and to evaluate the associations of the findings of both tests. METHODS: This cross-sectional observational study evaluated 45 health professionals who were initially seen in screening tents and had a diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 as confirmed by a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and lung involvement diagnosed by LUS. Subsequently, these individuals were admitted to the hospital, where chest CT was performed. Aeration scores were obtained for the LUS examinations based on the following findings: more than 2 B-lines, coalescent B-lines, and subpleural consolidations. A subjective assessment of the extent of lung disease on CT was performed on the basis of the percentage of lung parenchyma involvement as follows: 25% or less, 25% to 50%, and greater than 50%. RESULTS: Regarding LUS signs, more than 2 B-lines, coalescent B-lines, and subpleural consolidations were present in 73.3%, 68.2%, and 24.4% of cases, respectively. The main findings on CT were ground glass opacities, a crazy-paving pattern, and consolidations (66.7%, 20%, and 20% of cases); 17.8% of cases had examinations without abnormalities. Patients with more than 2 B-lines on LUS had more ground glass opacity areas on CT (P = .0007), whereas patients with subpleural consolidations on LUS had more consolidations on CT (P < .0001). In addition, patients with higher LUS aeration scores had more extensive disease on CT (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Lung ultrasound can detect lung injury even in the presence of normal CT results. There are associations between the abnormalities detected by both methods, and a relationship also exists between LUS aeration scores and the disease extent on CT.