World capital markets facing the first wave of COVID-19: Traditional event study versus sensitivity to new cases 1

The aim of the paper is to analyse the impact of the new coronavirus on financial markets. The sample comprises returns from 80 countries, across all regions and incomes for the period known as the first wave. By combining event study methodology and time series analysis of new COVID-19 cases it is found that the negative price effect is widespread but unequal across regions. It is also noted that the distribution of the impact is also uneven with a high concentration in the week after the first local case but especially in the weeks around the pandemic declaration. Finally, it has been shown at different levels how the markets most affected by the crisis are not necessarily the most sensitive to the virus.

Post-Intensive Care Unit Multidisciplinary Approach in Patients with Severe Bilateral SARS-CoV-2 Pneumonia.

Background: Short and long-term sequelae after admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are to be expected, which makes multidisciplinary care key in the support of physical and cognitive recovery. Objective: To describe, from a multidisciplinary perspective, the sequelae one month after hospital discharge among patients who required ICU admission for severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Design: Prospective cohort study. Environment: Multidisciplinary outpatient clinic. Population: Patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia, post- ICU admission. Methods: A total of 104 patients completed the study in the multidisciplinary outpatient clinic. The tests performed included spirometry, measurement of respiratory muscle pressure, loss of body cell mass (BCM) and BCM index (BCMI), general joint and muscular mobility, the short physical performance battery (SPPB or Guralnik test), grip strength with hand dynamometer, the six-minute walk test (6-MWT), the functional assessment of chronic illness therapy-fatigue scale (FACIT-F), the European quality of life-5 dimensions (EQ-5D), the Barthel index and the Montreal cognitive assessment test (MoCA). While rehabilitation was not necessary for 23 patients, 38 patients attended group rehabilitation sessions and other 43 patients received home rehabilitation. Endpoints: The main sequelae detected in patients were fatigue (75.96%), dyspnoea (64.42%) and oxygen therapy on discharge (37.5%). The MoCA showed a mean score compatible with mild cognitive decline. The main impairment of joint mobility was limited shoulder (11.54%) and shoulder girdle (2.88%) mobility; whereas for muscle mobility, lower limb limitations (16.35%) were the main dysfunction. Distal neuropathy was present in 23.08% of patients, most frequently located in lower limbs (15.38%). Finally, 50% of patients reported moderate limitation in the EQ-5D, with a mean score of 60.62 points (SD 20.15) in perceived quality of life. Conclusions: Our findings support the need for a multidisciplinary and comprehensive evaluation of patients after ICU admission for COVID-19 because of the wide range of sequelae, which also mean that these patients need a long-term follow-up. Impact on clinical rehabilitation: This study provides data supporting the key role of rehabilitation during the follow-up of severe patients, thus facilitating their reintegration in society and a suitable adaptation to daily living.

“Valoración multidisciplinar de las secuelas al mes del alta hospitalaria por neumonía grave COVID 19, ¿existen diferencias en función de la terapia respiratoria empleada durante su ingreso en Cuidados Intensivos?” "Multidisciplinary Approach of the sequelae one month after hospital discharge in patients with severe bilateral COVID-19 pneumonia, are there differences depending on the respiratory therapy used during admission to Intensive Care?”

Objetivo: Describir las secuelas al mes del alta hospitalaria en pacientes que precisaron ingreso en Cuidados Intensivos por neumonía grave COVID 19 y analizar las diferencias entre los que recibieron terapia exclusivamente con oxigenoterapia con alto flujo con respecto a los que precisaron ventilación mecánica invasiva. Diseño: Estudio de cohorte, prospectivo y observacional Ámbito: Consulta multidisciplinar post cuidados intensivos Pacientes o participantes: Pacientes que superaron el ingreso en la unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI) por neumonía grave COVID 19 desde abril 2020 hasta octubre 2021 Intervenciones: Inclusión en el programa multidisciplinar post UCI Variables de interés principales: Secuelas motoras, sensitivas, psicológicas/psiquiátricas, respiratorias y nutricionales tras el ingreso hospitalario. Resultados: Se incluyeron 104 pacientes. 48 pacientes recibieron oxigenoterapia nasal de alto flujo (ONAF) y 56 ventilación mecánica invasiva (VMI). Las principales secuelas encontradas fueron la neuropatía distal (33,9% VMI vs 10,4% ONAF);plexopatía braquial (10,7% VMI vs 0% ONAF);disminución de fuerza de agarre: mano derecha 20,67kg (+/- 8,27) en VMI vs 31,8 kg (+/- 11,59) en ONAF y mano izquierda 19,39kg (+/- 8,45) en VMI vs 30,26kg (+/- 12,74) en ONAF;y balance muscular limitado en miembros inferiores (28,6% VMI vs 8,6% ONAF). Las diferencias observadas entre ambos grupos no alcanzaron significación estadística en el estudio multivariable. Conclusiones: Los resultados obtenidos tras el estudio multivariable sugieren no existir diferencias en cuanto a las secuelas físicas percibidas al mes del alta hospitalaria en función de la terapia respiratoria empleada, ya fuera oxigenoterapia nasal de alto flujo o ventilación mecánica prolongada, si bien son precisos más estudios para poder obtener conclusiones al respecto.

COVID-19 Related Anxiety in Men With Localized Prostate Cancer at Tertiary Hospitals in Cape Town, South Africa

INTRODUCTION: The health profile of older adults places them at risk of infirmity and death from COVID-19 which may induce anxiety or exacerbate pre-existing anxiety. We examined COVID-19 related anxiety in men undergoing treatment for prostate cancer (CaP). METHOD: This study was conducted between July and September 2020. Sixty participants from a larger prospective, longitudinal study assessing depression, anxiety and health related quality of life in men with localized prostate cancer (DAHCaP) were included. COVID-19 related anxiety was measured at a single time point using, the Corona Virus Anxiety Scale (CAS). In addition, the following, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S), the Connor-Davidson Resilience (CD-RISC) scale and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) that form part of the DAHCaP study were used in the analysis. We extracted pre-pandemic data for the STAI-S. RESULTS: Twenty-one percent had diabetes, 62.3% had hypertension and 24.6% had cardiac diseases, all known risk factors for severe COVID-19. Only 3% scored ≥9 on the CAS, indicating COVID 19 anxiety dysfunction. Half knew of family or friends that had contracted COVID-19 especially those scoring higher on the CAS (P = 0.042). There was a significant decrease in STAI-S scores pre-pandemic to the pandemic phase (34.7 to 29.8, P = 0.003). No correlation was observed between CAS and STAI-S (rho = 0.08), CD-RISC (rho = -0.06) or MSPSS (rho = -0.15). There was a weak positive correlation between the CAS and monthly income (rho = 0.33; P = 0.010). CONCLUSION: COVID-19 did not induce significant anxiety in men being treated for CaP nor did it place an additional psychological burden, nor was there any correlation with state anxiety, resilience or social support.