ABSTRACT
Rationale: To reduce transmission of SARS-CoV-2, non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), including school closures, hand hygiene, mask mandates, and social distancing, were enforced in Arkansas from 3/2020-2/2021. We hypothesized that the presence of NPIs would correlate with a decrease in asthma exacerbations and viral infections. Methods: Demographic information was collected on subjects with asthma exacerbations or viral infections from 3/2018-5/2022, including age, race, ethnicity, and sex. To evaluate the effects of NPIs, three periods were considered: pre- (03/2018-02/2020), during (03/2020-02/2021), and post- (03/2021-05/2022) NPIs. ANOVA analysis and generalized linear models were performed to determine statistical significance. The stringency of NPIs was evaluated using publicly available data (Oxford Covid-19 Government Response Tracker), which allows for direct comparison of Arkansas NPI status to exacerbation data during the same time periods. Results: 5055 asthma exacerbations (3322 unique subjects) occurred between 3/2018-5/2022. Asthma exacerbations decreased from 3/2020-3/2021 and returned to pre-pandemic numbers by summer 2021 (p<0.0001). Similar downward trends occurred for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) with out-of-season return in summer 2021 (p<0.0001). Rhinovirus was present throughout NPIs. The mean age of exacerbations decreased by 0.9 years when comparing the during NPIs and after NPIs periods (p = 0.0002). An increase in the proportion of exacerbations was noted for non-black and other/unknown ethnicity subjects during and after NPIs. Conclusions: Fewer asthma exacerbations occurred during the most significant NPI employment period (03/2020-02/2021), and an increase in exacerbations was seen as mitigation strategies were relaxed, which correlated with timing of increasing RSV infections.
ABSTRACT
Due to the inherent thrombotic risk associated with the ECMO circuit, therapeutic anticoagulation is recommended. While unfractionated heparin is commonly used due to wide availability, the use of bivalirudin, a direct thrombin inhibitor, is gaining popularity. The benefits of bivalirudin over heparin include: Relatively organ-independent metabolism, inhibition of fibrin-bound and freely circulating thrombin, rapid clearance, and less resistance. Early reports in the COVID-19 pandemic suggest a hypercoagulable state. Particular attention should be paid to adequate anticoagulation in the high-risk patients with SARs-CoV-2 on ECMO support. To date, there are few reports discussing the use of bivalirudin in COVID ECMO patients. Bivalirudin is the anticoagulation of choice for the maintenance of patients on ECMO at our institution. We conducted a retrospective analysis of the first 20 patients with COVID that required ECMO support. Data was collected on outcomes related to hemostasis. Standard protocol for ECMO patients includes screening duplex ultrasound at regular intervals following decannulation to evaluate for thromboembolism. Three patients did not receive screening due to terminal weans. Of the remaining 17 patients, 7 had confirmed acute venous thromboembolism. Four patients had hemorrhage requiring intervention;two cases of epistaxis, one intra-abdominal bleeding, and one cannulation site bleeding. One patient developed nonfatal intracranial hemorrhage that did not require intervention. Only two patients developed renal failure requiring temporary renal replacement therapy. This is in comparison to the 24% rate noted in the ELSO COVID-19 database. Our findings suggest bivalirudin is an alternative to heparin for appropriate COVID ECMO patients.