The mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and exposure to other potentially traumatic events up to old age.

We investigated whether the impact of potentially traumatic events (PTEs) on trauma-related symptoms changes across the transitional adult lifespan (i.e., 16-100 years old) and if this association differs for self-reported COVID-19-related PTEs compared to other PTEs. A web-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 7,034 participants from 88 countries between late April and October 2020. Participants completed the Global Psychotrauma Screen (GPS), a self-report questionnaire assessing trauma-related symptoms. Data were analyzed using linear and logistic regression analyses and general linear models. We found that older age was associated with lower GPS total symptom scores, B = -0.02, p < .001; this association remained significant but was substantially weaker for self-reported COVID-19-related PTEs compared to other PTEs, B = 0.02, p = .009. The results suggest an association between older age and lower ratings of trauma-related symptoms on the GPS, indicating a blunted symptom presentation. This age-related trend was smaller for self-reported COVID-19-related PTEs compared to other PTEs, reflecting the relatively higher impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on older adults.

Characterization of respiratory sequelae following SARSCoV-2 infection, a monocenter study

Introduction: During the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection, alveolar and microvascular damages are observed in some patients. These lesions are promoted by hyper inflammation and immunothrombosis, respectively. While dyspnea is a very prevalent symptom following SARS-CoV-2 infection, the consequences on the lung are currently poorly documented. Aims and objectives: We hypothesized that patients retained parenchymal and also vascular sequelae after the infection. This single-center ambispective study aimed to characterize these sequelae after the infection. Method(s): All patients hospitalized at the University Hospital of Caen for a PCR-proven SARS-CoV-2 infection were offered a follow-up including a clinical evaluation and the realization of complete LFT, non-injected CT scan, ventilation/perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and a cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CET). This assessment was performed within 6 to 9 months after the infection. Result(s): 105 patients were included. At 6-9 months after infection, 71% of our patients retained radiological abnormalities, mainly ground glass and/or reticulations. LFT revealed that 21.3% of patients had abnormal FVC (<80%) and 51.2% of patients had abnormal DLCO (<80%). SPECT showed mismatched defects for 15% of patients. Finally, CET showed that 28.6% of the patients had an exercise limitation and 25% showed an abnormality of the vascular parameters. Conclusion(s): These preliminary data suggest the persistence of vascular and parenchymal abnormalities in a significant proportion of patients at 6-9 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Eosinophils and COVID-19: diagnosis, prognosis, and vaccination strategies.

The unprecedented impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in global challenges to our health-care systems and our economic security. As such, there has been significant research into all aspects of the disease, including diagnostic biomarkers, associated risk factors, and strategies that might be used for its treatment and prevention. Toward this end, eosinopenia has been identified as one of many factors that might facilitate the diagnosis and prognosis of severe COVID-19. However, this finding is neither definitive nor pathognomonic for COVID-19. While eosinophil-associated conditions have been misdiagnosed as COVID-19 and others are among its reported complications, patients with pre-existing eosinophil-associated disorders (e.g., asthma, eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders) do not appear to be at increased risk for severe disease; interestingly, several recent studies suggest that a diagnosis of asthma may be associated with some degree of protection. Finally, although vaccine-associated aberrant inflammatory responses, including eosinophil accumulation in the respiratory tract, were observed in preclinical immunization studies targeting the related SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV pathogens, no similar complications have been reported clinically in response to the widespread dissemination of either of the two encapsulated mRNA-based vaccines for COVID-19.