ABSTRACT
Antigen tests to screen coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is effective in symptomatic patients, leading to its wide usage in informing whether the person is COVID-19 positive or negative. Our current work had an objective to investigate the diagnostic performance of two antigen-detecting rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDTs) which are commonly used in Indonesia. A cross-sectional study was carried out to compare specificity, sensitivity, as well as expected predictive values of Anhui Ag-RDT and Lungene Ag-RDT by comparing the results with that obtained from real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. A total of 98samples were tested for both Ag-RDTs and RT-PCR. The median value of the patients age obtained to be 41.78 years old (interquartile range: 1 to 91 years old). The proportion between female and males was: 52.53% vs 47.47%. The sensitivities of Anhui Ag-RDT and Lungene Ag-RDT were 55.56% and 51.58%, where both Ag-RDTs had specificity of 100%. In conclusion, sensitivity values of Lungene Ag-RDT and Anhui Ag-RDT are similar, where both possess 100% specificity with zero false-positive results. Both of the investigated Ag-RDTs are useful since positive results are likely to be COVID-19 positive. Copyright © 2022 Oriental Scientific Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
The treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)remains in debate, and the use of chloroquine has not been validated by accurate clinical trials.The aim of this study was to provide the possible cardiotoxicity effect of chloroquine in patients with COVID-19. This study was a case-series of prolonged QT interval of COVID-19 patients treated with chloroquine in a hospital in Bali, Indonesia. There were two cases of COVID-19 with exhibited a prolonged QT interval after being administrated of chloroquine.The prolonged QT interval returned to normal after chloroquine was stopped.These cases alert us the cardiotoxicity effect of chloroquine and the need for serial electrocardiography monitoring before and during therapy. In conclusion, although antiviral and anti-inflammation properties of chloroquine on COVID-19 are promising, its cardiotoxicity effects should be monitored closely for less harm to the patients. © 2021 Oriental Scientific Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Background: The unpredictability of the progression of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be attributed to the low precision of the tools used to predict the prognosis of this disease. Objective: To identify the predictors associated with poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Methods: Relevant articles from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science were searched and extracted as of April 5, 2020. Data of interest were collected and evaluated for their compatibility for the meta-analysis. Cumulative calculations to determine the correlation and effect estimates were performed using the Z test. Results: In total, 19 papers recording 1,934 mild and 1,644 severe cases of COVID-19 were included. Based on the initial evaluation, 62 potential risk factors were identified for the meta-analysis. Several comorbidities, including chronic respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension were observed more frequent among patients with severe COVID-19 than with the mild ones. Compared to the mild form, severe COVID-19 was associated with symptoms such as dyspnea, anorexia, fatigue, increased respiratory rate, and high systolic blood pressure. Lower levels of lymphocytes and hemoglobin;elevated levels of leukocytes, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, blood creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, high-sensitivity troponin, creatine kinase, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin 6, D-dimer, ferritin, lactate dehydrogenase, and procalcitonin;and a high erythrocyte sedimentation rate were also associated with severe COVID-19. Conclusion: More than 30 risk factors are associated with a higher risk of severe COVID-19. These may serve as useful baseline parameters in the development of prediction tools for COVID-19 prognosis.