ABSTRACT
The Covid-19 pandemic has generated differential impacts from a gender perspective on health. The highest mortality in recent years has been mainly in men, one in every 5 men has already died at age 49 in the Americas, whose main causes are preventable, associated with hegemonic male behavior. These antecedents acted consequently in the higher male mortality from Covid-19, greater occupation of beds, together with biological factors that predispose men to become more seriously ill. But the pandemic has also increased alcohol consumption, modified illicit drug use patterns, increased the risk of sexual practices with drugs such as chemsex. At the same time, it has been an opportunity for the involvement of parents with their sons and daughters, in the school work of the television study, in care and upbringing or, failing that, zero involvement, maintaining the affective amputation imposed by the patriarchal system. Finally, it is important to generate public health policies towards men, from a gender relational perspective, which will positively affect their own health, but also the health of couples, sons, and daughters.
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The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted global supply chains, leading to shipment delays and soaring shipping costs. We study the impact of global shipping costs—measured by the Baltic Dry Index (BDI)—on domestic prices for a large panel of countries during the period 1992–2021. We find that spikes in the BDI are followed by sizable and statistically significant increases in import prices, PPI, headline, and core inflation, as well as inflation expectations. The impact is similar in magnitude but more persistent than for shocks to global oil and food prices. The effects are more muted in countries where imports make up a smaller share of domestic consumption, and those with inflation targeting regimes and better-anchored inflation expectations. The results are robust to several checks, including an instrumental variables approach in which changes in shipping costs are instrumented with an indicator of closures of the Suez Canal. © 2022
ABSTRACT
Knowledge of neurological manifestations secondary to infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in paediatric patients continues to be limited by the scarcity of reported cases, however, the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and Guillain-Barré demyelinating syndrome has been documented in school patients and adolescents. We present a clinical case of an infant with clinical manifestations of Guillain-Barré axonal syndrome associated with a positive serology report for SARS-CoV-2, which required invasive mechanical ventilation, and who showed improvement after the administration of immunoglobulin and systemic corticosteroids. © 2022 Asociación Colombiana de Medicina Crítica y Cuidado lntensivo
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This paper describes the current milestones achieved in our ongoing project that aims to understand the surveillance of, impact of, and effective interventions against the COVID-19 misinfodemic on Twitter. Specifically, it introduces a public dashboard which, in addition to displaying case counts in an interactive map and a navigational panel, also provides some unique features not found in other places. Particularly, the dashboard uses a curated catalog of COVID-19 related facts and debunks of misinformation, and it displays the most prevalent information from the catalog among Twitter users in user-selected U.S. geographic regions. The paper explains how to use BERT-based models to match tweets with the facts and misinformation and to detect their stance towards such information. The paper also discusses the results of preliminary experiments on analyzing the spatiotemporal spread of misinformation.
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Background and objective: The care of tracheostomized patients are high risk skills and low incidence. Strategies for improvement of health care in hospital wards and specialties other than otolaryngology based solely on training have not been able to offer an adequate solution. A tracheostomized patient unit is presented directed by the otolaryngology service to attend all tracheostomized hospitalized patients of all specialties. Material and methods: Background: Third level public hospital with 876 hospitalization beds and 30 ICU beds for 481,296 inhabitants. Unit model: Transversal unit for the hospital providing attention to all tracheostomized patients, adults, and children, of all specialties, with dedication of 50% of a ENT nurse of hospitalization that moves to the hospitalization bed of the specialty of each patient and 50% of another office ENT nurse for ambulatory patients care, with the consultancy of an ENT specialist and coordinated by the ENT supervisor. Results: 572 patients between 2016 and 2021, 80% men, aged 63 ± 14 years, were attended in the unit. 14.7 ± 2 tracheostomized patients daily and 96 ± 4 complication annual consultations were attended, rising up to 19 tracheostomized patients daily by 2020 and 141 ± 8.4 consultations by complications in 2020 and 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The mean stay of the non-ENT specialties was reduced in 13 days, increasing the satisfaction of the ENT and non-ENT professionals and the satisfaction of the users. Conclusions: A Tracheostomized Patient Care Unit proactively directed from the Otorhinolaryngology Service to transversally care for all tracheostomized patients improves the quality of health care by reducing stay, complications, and emergencies. Improves the satisfaction of non-otolaryngological professionals by reducing the anxiety of facing care of patients who lack knowledge and experience and that of ENT specialists and nurses by reducing unplanned extemporaneous demands for care. Improves user satisfaction by perceiving adequate continuity of care. The Otorhinolaryngology Services provide their experience in the management of laryngectomized and tracheostomized patients and in teamwork with other specialists and professionals without the need to create new structures outside otorhinolaryngology.
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Background and aims: The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of the Covid-19 pandemic on the incidence of stroke in the months of lockdown in Andalusia. According to the Spanish Society of Neurology, in March 2020 there were 28% fewer activations of emergency medical services for stroke in Andalusia (Spain) than in the same period of 2019. A study carried out by the Barcelona emergency services detected a decrease of 18% in the same period. A study published in Portugal by the journal Neurology reported a 34% reduction. Methods: The periods of March and April of the years 2019, 2020 and 2021 were studied. The study variables were: Number of activations of emergency medical services for stroke, number of stroke patients diagnosed, age, gender . Results: 298 patients were diagnosed with stroke in 2019 and 2020. The percentage of activation of the emergency medical services was 66.7% and 55.2% in 2019 and 2020 respectively. The number of stroke diagnoses in 2021 was 353 cases and the activation percentage 56.2%. The median age of stroke patients decreases progressively each year. The percentage of men was 60% and remains stable during the three year period. Conclusions: The decrease in the activation of the emergency medical services for stroke that was reported in the bibliography was not detected in Andalusia. In a pandemic situation, call centers must be prepared to respond to the increasing volume of calls and to ensure call centers remain accessible.
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Introduction: Confinement has led to changes in the work patterns of some workers that have an impact on habits such as physical activity. Objective:The aim was to analyse differences in sedentary time and physical activity before (2018) and after the pandemic (2021) in sedentary workers (N=44), differentiated by sex, who switched to teleworking. Material and Methods: Single-group retrospective observational before-after study. The variables age, sex, sedentary time and energy expenditure in metabolic equivalents were collected. Percentages, mean, median and standard deviation were calculated. Mann-Whitney U-test, t-test for independent and related samples and the sign test for absence of symmetry were applied. Results: Sedentary time decreased between 2018 and 2021 (p=0.005). Total expenditure and partial expenditure for heavy and light physical activity increased between the two years (p<0.001). Conclusion: Switching to telework decreased sedentary time and increased heavy and light physical activity.
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Introduction: From the onset of COVID-19 epidemic, a multidisciplinary team is formed in Santiago de Cuba with the participation of several institutions and activated by the Provincial Defense Council. Integrated epidemiological analysis, government management and social response would be decisive in controlling the disease. Objectives: To identify possible groups of COVID-19 cases in the Santiago de Cuba province and to describe the transmission according to epidemiological variables.
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Introduction: COVID-19, a disease caused by the virus named SARS-CoV-2, was declared pandemic by the WHO in March 2020. Until 9 June Cuba had reported 2 211 cases and 83 deaths. Forty-nine of these cases were from Santiago de Cuba, for a lethality of 6.12.
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The Spanish Society of Pneumonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR) has elaborated this document of recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination in patients with respiratory diseases aimed to help healthcare personnel make decisions about how to act in case of COVID-19 vaccination in these patients. The recommendations have been developed by a group of experts in this field after reviewing the materials published up to March 7, 2021, the information provided by different scientific societies, drug agencies and the strategies of the governmental bodies up to this date. We can conclude that COVID-19 vaccines are not only safe and effective, but also prior in vulnerable patients with chronic respiratory diseases. In addition, an active involvement of healthcare professionals, who manage these diseases, in the vaccination strategy is the key to achieve good adherence and high vaccination coverage.
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The purpose of this research was to determine the relevance of the media in the prevention, education and contextual management of COVID-19. Methodology: descriptive non-experimental transectional research. An international survey validated by experts was applied, surveying 1082 people during a month. The countries with the highest participation were Peru, Colombia, Mexico, the United States and Russia. The data was processed using SPSS version 25. 64.7% of the respondents affirmed that the means were decisive in preventing the pandemic;59.1% recognized the importance of the media for awareness and prevention of the pandemic, and 64% valued the importance of the media for the contextual management of the pandemic;demonstrating a significant relationship between the variables. Contributions: the need for strategic, prudent, ethical and socially responsible communication that benefits citizens in a pandemic situation is highlighted. © 2021 United World Center of Research Innovation and Publication. All rights reserved.
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Introduction: COVID-19, a disease caused by the virus named SARS-CoV-2, was declared pandemic by the WHO in March 2020. Until 9 June Cuba had reported 2 211 cases and 83 deaths. Forty-nine of these cases were from Santiago de Cuba, for a lethality of 6.12. Objective: Characterize COVID-19 morbidity in Santiago de Cuba based on the analysis of selected epidemiological, clinical and diagnostic aspects. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted of the 49 patients confirmed in the province. A review was performed of databases, statistics, and clinical and epidemiological records. Estimation was made of incidence rates, arithmetic mean and median, percentage difference between the rates, and Fischer's exact test. Statistical association was determined with the software EPIDAT, using a confidence level of 95% and a significance level of ≤ 0.05. Results: The incidence rate was 4.7 per 1 000 inhabitants. The municipalities involved were Santiago, Contramaestre and Palma Soriano. The greatest risk lay in patients aged over 60 years, among whom coughing, fever and rhinitis were common symptoms. Of the patients studied, 26.53% were asymptomatic. The main associated comorbidities were hypertension and neurological and respiratory disorders. The results of the diagnostic procedures applied were positive RT-PCR, high LDH, C-reactive protein, hyperglycemia and diffuse inflammatory pulmonary infiltrate. A statistical association was found between the evolution period, 7 and more days from symptom onset to admission, and the degree of severity. Conclusions: The highest risk of becoming ill and dying was found in the most advanced ages of life. The most common symptoms behaved in a manner similar to the one described in the bibliography consulted, and so did the laboratory results obtained. Delay in reporting to health institutions and associated comorbidities were risks for progression to severity and death. © 2020, Editorial Ciencias Medicas. All rights reserved.
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The rapid dynamics of COVID-19 calls for quick and effective tracking of virus transmission chains and early detection of outbreaks, especially in the “phase 2” of the pandemic, when lockdown and other restriction measures are progressively withdrawn, in order to avoid or minimize contagion resurgence. For this purpose, contact-tracing apps are being proposed for large scale adoption by many countries. A centralized approach, where data sensed by the app are all sent to a nation-wide server, raises concerns about citizens’ privacy and needlessly strong digital surveillance, thus alerting us to the need to minimize personal data collection and avoiding location tracking. We advocate the conceptual advantage of a decentralized approach, where both contact and location data are collected exclusively in individual citizens’ “personal data stores”, to be shared separately and selectively (e.g., with a backend system, but possibly also with other citizens), voluntarily, only when the citizen has tested positive for COVID-19, and with a privacy preserving level of granularity. This approach better protects the personal sphere of citizens and affords multiple benefits: It allows for detailed information gathering for infected people in a privacy-preserving fashion;and, in turn this enables both contact tracing, and, the early detection of outbreak hotspots on more finely-granulated geographic scale. The decentralized approach is also scalable to large populations, in that only the data of positive patients need be handled at a central level. Our recommendation is two-fold. First to extend existing decentralized architectures with a light touch, in order to manage the collection of location data locally on the device, and allowthe user to share spatio-temporal aggregates-if and when they want and for specific aims-with health authorities, for instance. Second, we favour a longerterm pursuit of realizing a Personal Data Store vision, giving users the opportunity to contribute to collective good in the measure they want, enhancing self-awareness, and cultivating collective efforts for rebuilding society. © 2020, University of Skovde. All rights reserved.
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Objective: To describe the transmission and severity risk of the Alpha and Gamma variants concerning SARS-CoV-2 compared with other variants. Materials and methods: Narrative and rapid review conducted in PubMed up to May 10, 2021.