Duration of symptoms caused by COVID-19 in patients discharged from tertiary hospitals in Ceará

Despite advances in knowledge about COVID-19, little is known about the course of the disease and its long-term outcomes. Therefore, post-pandemic research has focused on the sequelae and complications caused by the Coronavirus. Thus, the objective was to investigate symptomatological remains and their duration of discharged patients hospitalized for COVID-19 from three regional hospitals in Ceará. This is a descriptive, analytical cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach carried out from August to October 2021 through telesurvey. The final sample consisted of 49 patients in the first wave of the pandemic and 153 in the second, totaling 202 participants. Data were tabulated in an Excel® spreadsheet and analyzed according to descriptive statistics. There is a prevalence of male patients, 31 (63.3%) in the first period investigated, and 86 (56.2%) in the second wave. In the investigation of physical symptoms, fatigue/tiredness stood out, identified in 23 (46.9%) and 69 (45.1%) individuals according to the wave, followed by a lack of appetite in 13 (26.5%) and (40.5%). Shortness of breath was highlighted in the second period among 39 (25.5%) individuals. Symptoms such as memory loss, cough, and chest pain appear to be the most lasting, and were prevalent for up to 4 months after hospital discharge. While in the 2nd wave chest pain was cited lasting up to 6 months. In this context, this study exposes the main symptoms reported, pointing to the imminent need for public strategies for monitoring and intervention services with these patients. © 2022 Centro Universitario Sao Camilo. All rights reserved.

From autonomous monitoring to virtual collaborative research: partnership with the indigenous movement from the Northeast region during covid-19 pandemic as social control

In the first months of the covid-19 pandemic, in 2020, indigenous movements and organizations in the Northeast region of Brazil established an extensive network of support and partnerships with groups of researchers and civil society entities to organize campaigns of solidarity with the indigenous peoples. The production of general information and empirical data on how the disease reached indigenous territories and populations constituted one of the main strategies for action. This mobilization was the basis for establishing collaborative networks that investigated how the indigenous peoples faced the pandemic, from an anthropological bias and applying methods that we could define as virtual collaborative research. The article, thus, discusses the potential of this can constitute a kind of support for social control exercised by the communities.

LDL-C control according to risk: Is there a gender paradox?

Background and Aims : Background Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) treatment goals used for cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention. Sex differences in CVD have been reported and women are less likely to receive statin therapy for secondary prevention. Nevertheless, little is known about gender according to risk categories Aims To assess the degree of LDL-C control in men vs women by CV risk levels and to report possible associations with clinical characteristics and lipid lowering therapies (LLT) in Portugal Methods: A non-interventional, cross-sectional study of patients regularly consulted for primary/secondary CVD in Portugal (1 hospital, 14 primary care centres). Data spanned a 12-year period (01/2008-12/2020) with index date for patient identification the 31/12/2020. CVD risk assessment was done according to 2019 ESC/EAS guidelines for the management of dyslipidaemias. Result(s): In our cohort of 129 764 patients with an overall median age of 53 years, 56.9% were women. 38.9% of men and 28.9% of women were classified as high/very high risk. History of previous CV hospitalization was present in 7.3% males and 5.0% females (table 1). LDL-C targets were attained more commonly in men for high and very high risk levels, although prescription of any LLT was more frequent in women (table 2). We found similar pattern in the two years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. [Formula presented] [Formula presented] Conclusion(s): Women fail to achieve their LDL-C goals compared to men, although they are more frequent under LLT and have lower CV risk. The reasons and clinical associations require further research. More intensive therapies should perhaps be considered in women. Copyright © 2022

Motivation and Eco-Attitudes among Night Runners during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Running surrounded by nature at night, often with limited contact with other people, is one of the safest physical activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this article is to determine what motivates night recreational runners and to analyse the differences between men and women according to age, and also to see whether the fact of having had COVID-19 or not matters when it comes to athletes’ motivation behind participating in runs. Runners were also asked about participating in cities or out-of-town events in terms of verifying the cleanliness of the air before running, using masks or running in green areas. 233 individuals in total participated in this descriptive, quantitative, cross-sectional study. The questionnaire uses the division of motives used in the Marathon Motivation Scale (MOMS) and a number of additional questions on environmental factors. Overall, the main motivation that drives night-time runners is health orientation, weight concern, personal goal achievement, psychological coping, life meaning and self-esteem. The research also showed higher scores for health orientation, recognition, psychological coping, life meaning and self-esteem among runners who had had COVID-19 than runners who had not had the virus. In addition, respondents clearly indicated that night running makes it easier to fall asleep and improves the quality of sleep. Most runners rated their mental health as being good, did not run in the morning despite better air levels, did not choose running events outside the urban area and did not check the air quality index before running. Therefore, it will be important for coaches, event organisers and other professionals to consider athletes’ age, gender, whether they have had COVID-19 and runners’ approaches to eco-attitudes when trying to understand their reasons for participating in different sports or leisure events, especially those that focus on a priority in shaping environmental attitudes. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.