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Introduction and objective: The SARS-CoV -2 epidemic represents a special risk for patients on hemodialysis (HD) due to their comorbidities and the fact that they often have a more severe case of inflammation with fewer symptoms and a worse evolution and outcome. The aim of this study was to detect the clinical and biochemical characteristics of patients on hemodialysis (HD) who presented a suspicious involvement of COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease – 2019), their risk factors and specific outcomes. Material and methods: This is a retrospective, observational case report study in HD patients suspected of having COVID-19. Records pointed to comorbidities, clinical and laboratory tests, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) tests for SARS-COV -2 and outcomes. Descriptive statistics and linear and logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: Of the total number of HD patients (1514), 248 HD patients were suspected to have COVID-19 (106 were positive, 83 were negative and 59 suspected using PCR testing);the median age was 51 years (IR 36-63 years), 54.8% were males, had hypertension (87.5%), with a hemoglobin count of 8.9 g (IR 7.5-10.6 g) and symptoms such as cough, fever and dyspnea (65.7, 64.5 and 53.2%, respectively). The fatality rate in the group of patients with positive RT-qPCR was 29.24%. Conclusions: The mortality and fatality rate is often high in this population. The age group, sex, and cardio-metabolic comorbidities behave similarly to the rest of the non-renal population. Pre-existing biochemical status does not make a difference in the outcome. The predominant symptomatology was pulmonary in nature.
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Introduction: The exhaustive registry of COVID-19 cases in patients with IBD is a unique opportunity to learn how to deal with this infection, especially in reference to the management of immunosuppressive treatment, isolation measures or if the disease is more severe in IBD patients due to immunosuppression. Aims & Methods: Aims: The aims of this study were to know the incidence and characteristics of COVID-19 in the ENEIDA cohort during the first wave of the pandemic;the outcomes among those under immunosuppressants/ biologics for IBD;the risk factors for contracting the infection and poor outcomes;and the impact of the infection after three-month followup. Methods: Prospective observational cohort study of all IBD patients with COVID-19 included in the ENEIDA registry (with 60.512 patients in that period) between March and July 2020, with at least 3 months of follow-up. Any patient with a confirmed (by PCR or SARS-CoV-2 serology) or probable (suggestive clinical picture) infection was considered as a case. Results: A total of 482 patients with COVID-19 from 63 centres were included: 247 Crohn's disease, 221 ulcerative colitis and 14 unclassified colitis;median age 52 years (IQR: 42-61), 48% women and 44% 1 comorbidity. Diagnosis was made by PCR: 62% and serology: 35%. The most frequent symptoms: fever (69%), followed by cough (63%) and asthenia (38%). During lockdown 78% followed strict isolation. 35% required hospital admission (ICU: 2.7%) and 12% fulfilled criteria for SIRS upon admission. 18 patients died from COVID-19 (mortality:3.7%). 12% stop IBD medication during COVID-19. At 3 months, taken into account all included cases, 76% were in remission of IBD. Age 50 years (OR 2.09;95% CI:1.27-3.4;p=0.004), 1 comorbidities (OR 2.28;95% CI:1.4-3.6;p=0.001), and systemic steroids <3 months before infection (OR 1.3;95%CI:1-1.6;p= 0.003), were risk factors for hospitalisation due to COVID-19. A Charlson score 2 (OR 5.4;95%CI:1.5-20.1;p=0.01) was associated with ICU admission. Age 60 years (OR 7.1;95%CI:1.8-27.4;p=0.004) and having 2 comorbidities (OR 3.9;95% CI:1.3-11.6;p=0.01) were risk factors for COVID- 19 related death. Conclusion: IBD does not seem to worsen the prognosis of COVID-19, even when immunosuppressants and biological drugs are used. Age and comorbidity are the most important prognostic factors for more severe COVID-19 in IBD patients.
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Introduction: The information regarding IBD patients with COVID-19 suggests that the factors related to bad outcome are older age and comorbidity whereas immunosuppressants do not have a significant impact worsening the disease evolution. Aims & Methods: Aims: To assess if there are differences in epidemiological, demographical, and clinical characteristics between infected and non-infected IBD patients. Methods: Case-control study in IBD patients with COVID-19 (cases) compared to IBD without COVID-19 (controls) in the period March-July/2020 within the ENEIDA registry (promoted by GETECCU and with more than 60.000 IBD patients included). Cases were matched 1:2 by age (±5y), type of disease (CD/UC), gender, and centre. All controls were selected from only one investigator blind to other clinical characteristics of the patients to avoid selection bias. Results: 482 cases and 964 controls from 63 Spanish centres were included. No differences were found within the basal characteristics including CD location, CD behaviour, extraintestinal manifestations, family history of IBD or smoking habits. Cases had ≥ 1 comorbidities (cases:43%vs. controls: 35%, p=0.01) and occupational risk (cases:27% vs. controls:10.6%, p<0.0001) in a higher proportion. Strict lock-down was the only measure demonstrating protection against COVID-19 (cases:49% vs. controls:70%, p<0.0001). There were no differences in the use of systemic steroids (p=0.19), immunosuppressants (p=0.39) or biologics (p=0.28) between cases and controls. Cases were more often treated with aminosalycilates (42% vs.34%, p=0.003). Having ≥ 1 comorbidities (OR:1.6, 95%CI: 1.2-2.1), occupational risk (OR:1.95, 95%CI:1.39-2.7) and the use of aminosalycilates (OR:1.4, 95%CI: 1-1.8) were risk factors for COVID-19. On the other hand, strict lockdown was a protective factor (OR:0.38, CI:0.29-0.49). Conclusion: Comorbidities and epidemiological risk factors are the most relevant aspects for the risk of COVID-19 in IBD patients. This risk of COVID- 19 seems to be increased by aminosalycilates but not by immunosuppressants or biologics. The attitude regarding treating IBD patients with aminosalicylates during COVID-19 pandemic deserves a deeper analysis. (Table Presented).
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Financial crises, such as the Great Financial Crisis of 2007-2009 and the COVID-19 Crisis of 2020-2021, lead to high volatility in financial markets and highlight the importance of the debate on the Efficient Markets Hypothesis, a corollary of which is that in an efficient market it should not be possible to systematically make excess returns. In this paper, we discuss a new empirical measure-Excess Trading Returns-that distinguishes between market and trading returns and that can be used to measure inefficiency. We define an Inefficiency Matrix that can provide a complete, empirical characterization of the inefficiencies inherent in a market. We illustrate its use in the context of empirical data from a pair of model markets, where information asymmetries can be clearly understood, and discuss the challenges of applying it to market data from commercial exchanges.
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During such a complex crisis as the one experienced by humanity since the first quarter of 2020, it is necessary to develop tools that contribute to creating the corporate image for organizations that are currently interested in being identified as brands with high social and environmental commitment. Likewise, elements that contribute to building strong brands during a context that has changed consumption priorities are required. For this reason, this paper aims at adapting the dimension of socially responsible brand personality (SRBP), proposed by Mayorga (2017), taking the situation experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic as a new context. The objective of this research is to contribute to the management of corporate social responsibility (CSR) by providing, from a communicative perspective, a tool that optimizes the creation of a socially responsible image by the different stakeholders. The results allow us to conclude that there is a structural modification of the brand personality proposed by Mayorga, which can be presumed to be generated by the current environment, and which, therefore, can be established as a pillar of CSR management in the new normal, from a relational point of view. The findings clearly identify the virtue of integrity in brand personality, which is made up of two attributes, which, in turn, are made up of 17 traits that can identify a socially responsible brand. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
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Background: Although severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARSCoV- 2) infection is primarily a respiratory disease, other organs are also affected. Several pathological studies confirm that SARS-CoV-2 invades kidney tissue causing endothelial damage, glomerular and vascular changes, extensive acute tubular injury and podocyte viral infection. AKI in COVID-19 appears to be frequent, with an AKI incidence of up to 46%, and a 20% requirement for renal replacement therapy (RRT). Patients with AKI show a trend towards worse outcomes and increased mortality. Information on Latin- American population is scarce. Methods: We created a cohort to describe the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes associated with AKI in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in Mexico City, excluding patients with a known chronic kidney disease. AKI was defined and classified according to KDIGO guidelines. Results: We included 127 patients. 11 patients (8.66%) met the criteria for severe COVID-19, and were more likely to have AKI (81.82% vs. 54.31%, p=0.078). Of the 72 (56.69%) patients that had AKI, 48% were diagnosed at the time of admission. Patients with AKI were more likely to be men (61.7% vs. 42.42%, p=0.043) and older (55.68 years vs. 48.89 years, 0.018). With regards disease severity, 72% of them had a grade 1 AKI. 7 patients (9.72%) had grade 3 AKI, 4 of which needed renal replacement therapy. Overall length of stay was longer in patients with AKI (12 days vs. 7 days, p=0.003). A nonsignificant trend towards stay in critical care units was observed. 3 out of 127 patients died, all 3 had AKI. Conclusions: Amongst our studied population, AKI was associated with a longer length of stay and with a trend towards a more use of critical care services. The lack of association of AKI with mortality could be due to the low overall in-hospital mortality of COVID-19 patients (2.40%).