Pandemia COVID-19 y uso de contención mecánica. Estudio observacional

Background: during the COVID-19 pandemic we have observed an increase in the use of mechanical restraints due to exceptional working conditions: limited access to the units, the type of strict isolation, the lack of accompaniment, etc. Objective: to estimate the incidence of physical restraint in patients admitted to a COVID-19 unit during the pandemic and compare it with that of patients in a non-COVID-19 unit and with patients prior to the pandemic. Method: retrospective cohort study, carried out at the Virgen de la Concha Hospital (Zamora Assistance Complex) with Internal Medicine inpatients older than 65 years and divided into three subgroups, one in the pre-pandemic period (June-December 2019) and another in the pandemic period (January-May 2021) that we divided into patients admitted for COVID-19 and patients admitted for other diseases (not COVID-19). Results: of the 312 cases evaluated, 104 were from the pre-pandemic period and 208 from the pandemic period (104 COVID-19 patients and 104 patients with other diseases). In pre-pandemic, the incidence of patients with mechanical restraint was 7.7% (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 3.4 to 14.7%), while during the pandemic the incidence was 21.2%. (95% CI: 13.7% to 30.2%) in COVID-19 patients and 20.2% (95% CI: 12.9% to 29.2%) in non-COVID-19 patients. Conclusions: during the pandemic period the incidence of restraints was higher than in the pre-pandemic period, regardless of accompaniment, age, sex, and COVID-19 diagnosis. Antecedentes: durante la pandemia de COVID-19 se observa en la realización del trabajo diario un aumento del uso de las contenciones mecánicas debido a las condiciones excepcionales de trabajo: la limitación de acceso a las unidades, el tipo de aislamiento estricto, la falta de acompañamiento, etc. Objetivo: estimar la incidencia de contención mecánica en pacientes ingresados en unidad COVID-19, durante la pandemia y compararla con la de los pacientes de una unidad no COVID-19 y con pacientes previos a la pandemia. Método: estudio de cohortes retrospectivo, realizado en el Hospital Virgen de la Concha (Complejo Asistencial de Zamora) con pacientes mayores de 65 años ingresados en Medicina interna y divididos en tres subgrupos, uno en periodo de prepandemia (junio-diciembre 2019) y otro en periodo de pandemia (enero- mayo 2021) que se dividieron en pacientes ingresados por COVID-19 y pacientes ingresados por otras enfermedades (no COVID-19). Resultados: de los 312 casos evaluados, 104 eran de periodo de prepandemia y 208 en periodo de pandemia (104 pacientes COVID-19 y 104 pacientes con otras enfermedades). En prepandemia la incidencia de pacientes con contención mecánica fue del 7,7% (Intervalo de confianza del 95% [IC 95%]: 3,4 a 14,7%), mientras que durante la pandemia las incidencias fueron 21,2% (IC 95%: 13,7% a 30,2%) en pacientes COVID-19 Y 20,2% (IC 95%: 12,9% A 29,2%) en pacientes no COVID-19. Conclusiones: durante el periodo de pandemia fue mayor la incidencia de las contenciones que en el periodo de prepandemia, con independencia del acompañamiento, edad, sexo y del diagnóstico, o no, de COVID-19.

Automated Quantification of Pneumonia Infected Volume in Lung CT Images: A Comparison with Subjective Assessment of Radiologists.

OBJECTIVE: To help improve radiologists' efficacy of disease diagnosis in reading computed tomography (CT) images, this study aims to investigate the feasibility of applying a modified deep learning (DL) method as a new strategy to automatically segment disease-infected regions and predict disease severity. METHODS: We employed a public dataset acquired from 20 COVID-19 patients, which includes manually annotated lung and infections masks, to train a new ensembled DL model that combines five customized residual attention U-Net models to segment disease infected regions followed by a Feature Pyramid Network model to predict disease severity stage. To test the potential clinical utility of the new DL model, we conducted an observer comparison study. First, we collected another set of CT images acquired from 80 COVID-19 patients and process images using the new DL model. Second, we asked two chest radiologists to read images of each CT scan and report the estimated percentage of the disease-infected lung volume and disease severity level. Third, we also asked radiologists to rate acceptance of DL model-generated segmentation results using a 5-scale rating method. RESULTS: Data analysis results show that agreement of disease severity classification between the DL model and radiologists is >90% in 45 testing cases. Furthermore, >73% of cases received a high rating score (≥4) from two radiologists. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the feasibility of developing a new DL model to automatically segment disease-infected regions and quantitatively predict disease severity, which may help avoid tedious effort and inter-reader variability in subjective assessment of disease severity in future clinical practice.

[Mental health interventions for college and university students during the COVID-19 pandemic: a critical synthesis of the literature]. / Intervenciones para la salud mental de estudiantes universitarios durante la pandemia por COVID-19: una síntesis crítica de la literatura.

BACKGROUND: College and university students are a population vulnerable to mental disorders, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their mental health has been affected by confinement, difficulties in the development of academic activities, and the demands of new pedagogical modalities. We aimed to respond to the question: what are the actions around a) promotion and prevention, b) mental symptoms care, and c) pedagogical adaptations that can be developed in order to improve the mental health of college and university students? METHODS: We conducted a critical synthesis from a systematic review of the literature. A search was made for scientific articles with descriptive, analytical, empirical or evaluative designs, as well as web resources of organisations related to the topic. A synthesis was carried out based on the three aspects of the question by means of a constant comparative method, until the aggregation of actions by similarity in the actors. We anticipated low evidence quality; therefore, a standardised evaluation was not performed. RESULTS: We explored 68 articles and 99 web resources. After reviewing the full text, 12 scientific articles and 11 web resources were included. As general guidelines, we found that the most frequent suggestion is the design of a specific structured mental health programme within universities, one that should be multidisciplinary, inclusive, dynamic and culturally sensitive. All actions taken by the university should be reported and published periodically so that students and other members of the university community are clear about them. Ideally, it is suggested to keep them until the post-pandemic period and include alumni. Regarding a) promotion and prevention, digital psychoeducation was recommended, with information about healthy lifestyles, common emotional reactions to epidemics, coping strategies and warning signs. Peer participation is suggested as a support strategy, as well as spaces for social interaction that focus not only on academic aspects but also on leisure. Screening for mental symptoms is suggested through frequent submission of online forms or mobile applications. In addition to mental health, it is important to inquire about the degree of satisfaction of basic and technology-related needs. For b) the care of mental symptoms, one of the actions commonly identified was a consulting centre that can provide mental health care by telephone, by technology, and even in person --if required --, with permanent availability with rapid response teams for crisis situations, such as suicidal behaviour and domestic violence. For c) pedagogical adaptations, fluent communication is an indispensable requirement; having clear instructions on academic activities can reduce uncertainty and therefore anxiety. The teaching and pedagogical staff at the institution can offer direct advice (via video calls or online group meetings) to provide support in study habits, degree-specific material and mental health. CONCLUSIONS: Included resources suggest the creation of a programme that specifically addresses the mental health of students. This synthesis can provide guidelines that facilitate decision-making by the university, without losing sight of the fact that the institution and the student are immersed in a complex context, with circumstances and other actors at various levels that also intervene in mental health. Research is required on the evolution of the mental health situation and the effect of the actions that are being taken.

Mental health care of health workers during Covid-19: Recommendations based on evidence and expert consensus.

INTRODUCTION: The crisis situation generated by COVID-19 and the measures adopted have generated social changes in the normal dynamics of the general population and especially for health workers, who find themselves caring for patients with suspected or confirmed infection. Recent studies have detected in them depression and anxiety symptoms and burnout syndrome, with personal and social conditions impacting their response capacity during the health emergency. Our aim was to generate recommendations for the promotion and protection of the mental health of health workers and teams in the first line of care in the health emergency due to COVID-19. METHODS: A rapid literature search was carried out in PubMed and Google Scholar, and an iterative expert consensus and through electronic consultation, with 13 participants from the areas of psychology, psychiatry and medicine; the grading of its strength and directionality was carried out according to the international standards of the Joanna Briggs Institute. RESULTS: Thirty-one recommendations were generated on self-care of health workers, community care among health teams, screening for alarm signs in mental health and for health institutions. CONCLUSIONS: The promotion and protection activities in mental health to face the health emergency generated by COVID-19 worldwide can include coordinated actions between workers, health teams and health institutions as part of a comprehensive, community care, co-responsible and sustained over time.

Mental health interventions for college and university students during the COVID-19 pandemic: A critical synthesis of the literature.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study is to compare the emotional effects of COVID-19 among three different groups, namely: health personnel, medical students, and a sample of the general population. METHODS: 375 participants were recruited for this study, of which 125 were medical students (preclinical studies, 59; clinical studies, 66), 125 were health personnel (COVID-19 frontline personnel, 59; personnel not related with COVID-19, 66), and 125 belonged to the general population. The PHQ-9, GAD-7, and CPDI scales were used to assess the emotional impact. A multinomial logistic regression was performed to measure differences between groups, considering potential confounding factors. RESULTS: Regarding CPDI values, all other groups showed reduced values compared to COVID-19 frontline personnel. However, the general population, preclinical and clinical medical students showed increased PHQ-9 values compared to COVID-19 frontline personnel. Finally, confounding factors, gender and age correlated negatively with higher CPDI and PHQ-9 scores. CONCLUSIONS: Being frontline personnel is associated with increased COVID-19-related stress. Depression is associated, however, with other groups not directly involved with the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Female gender and younger age correlated with COVID-19-related depression and stress.

[Mental Health Care of Health Workers During Covid-19: Recommendations Based on Evidence and Expert Consensus]. / Cuidado de la salud mental del personal de salud durante COVID-19: recomendaciones basadas en evidencia y consenso de expertos.

INTRODUCTION: The crisis situation generated by COVID-19 and the measures adopted have generated social changes in the normal dynamics of the general population and especially for health workers, who find themselves caring for patients with suspected or confirmed infection. Recent studies have detected in them depression and anxiety symptoms and burnout syndrome, with personal and social conditions impacting their response capacity during the health emergency. Our aim was to generate recommendations for the promotion and protection of the mental health of health workers and teams in the first line of care in the health emergency due to COVID-19. METHODS: A rapid literature search was carried out in PubMed and Google Scholar, and an iterative expert consensus and through electronic consultation, with 13 participants from the areas of psychology, psychiatry and medicine; the grading of its strength and directionality was carried out according to the international standards of the Joanna Briggs Institute. RESULTS: Thirty-one recommendations were generated on self-care of health workers, community care among health teams, screening for alarm signs in mental health and for health institutions. CONCLUSIONS: The promotion and protection activities in mental health to face the health emergency generated by COVID-19 worldwide can include coordinated actions between workers, health teams and health institutions as part of a comprehensive, community care, co-responsible and sustained over time.