ABSTRACT
Introduction: Considering that the new corona virus (COVID -19) is still prevalent, one of the important concerns is the variables affecting the severity of the corona disease in the health of society. In this study, the CART algorithm was fitted to predict and determine the status of patients infected with COVID-19 in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This paper is a cross sectional-analytical study. Datasets were obtained from all of the people referred for the disease of COVID -19 collected at the Sinai system during the second peak and the fourth peak of the disease in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. Data analysis was performed using JMP statistical software version 13. Then for modeling, data mining methods and CART algorithm are used. Results: The descriptive findings of our study showed that 6% of patients with positive PCR suffer from severe disease of COVID-19. The age variable was very important in the severity of the disease. The age of 60 years old is the cut-off point for the severity of the disease, which increases COVID-19 severe from about 3% under the age of 60 to about 18% over the age of 60. The diseases of heart, kidney, respiratory, blood fat, and diabetes were other important variables. Conclusion: The results of the CART model showed that for the age under 60 years the variables of heart disease, age, diabetes, respiratory disease, fat, gender, and kidney, and for the age over 60 years the variables of age, heart disease, kidney, respiratory and diabetes were respectively the most critical risk factors. According to the ROC curve, the fitted model has a good performance for COVID-19 severe disease, so it increases up to 6 times the prediction of the COVID-19 severe disease.
ABSTRACT
Background: Limited medications are available for post-exposure prophylaxis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Whether bromhexine can prevent or mitigate symptomatic infection after virus exposure is undetermined. Objective(s): We aimed to evaluate bromhexine's effect on preventing COVID-19 after close contact exposure. Method(s): A multi-center randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted on 372 adults (>= 18 years) who had close contact within four days with a household member with confirmed COVID-19. They were randomly assigned to receive bromhexine 8 mg (n = 187) or placebo (n = 185) three times a day for two weeks. The primary outcome was the incidence of symptomatic COVID-19. Secondary outcomes included hospitalization or death, confirmed COVID-19 by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in symptomatic patients, and adverse drug reactions. Result(s): The incidence of symptomatic COVID-19 was significantly lower in individuals who received bromhexine than in those who received the placebo (16 [8.6%] vs. 34 [18.4%], relative risk = 0.47, P = 0.005). PCR confirmation was reported in 13 (7.0%) and 26 (14.1%) individuals in the bromhexine and placebo groups, respectively (P = 0.025), with a relative risk reduction of 50%. The hospitalization rate, death, and medication side effects did not vary significantly between the bromhexine and placebo arms. Conclusion(s): Bromhexine is an effective, non-invasive, affordable agent with a low side-effect profile to prevent symptomatic COVID-19. Early use of bromhexine potentially provides another layer of protection;hence, it can play a role in controlling the pan-demic. Copyright © 2022, Author(s).