Critical COVID-19 and neurological dysfunction - a direct comparative analysis between SARS-CoV-2 and other infectious pathogens. / COVID-19 crítico e disfunção neurológica - uma análise comparativa direta entre o SARS-CoV-2 e outros agentes infecciosos.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether critical SARS-CoV-2 infection is more frequently associated with signs of corticospinal tract dysfunction and other neurological signs, symptoms, and syndromes, than other infectious pathogens. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study with consecutive inclusion of patients admitted to intensive care units due to primary infectious acute respiratory distress syndrome requiring invasive mechanical ventilation > 48 hours. Eligible patients were randomly assigned to three investigators for clinical evaluation, which encompassed the examination of signs of corticospinal tract dysfunction. Clinical data, including other neurological complications and possible predictors, were independently obtained from clinical records. RESULTS: We consecutively included 54 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome, 27 due to SARS-CoV-2 and 27 due to other infectious pathogens. The groups were comparable in most characteristics. COVID-19 patients presented a significantly higher risk of neurological complications (RR = 1.98; 95%CI 1.23 - 3.26). Signs of corticospinal tract dysfunction tended to be more prevalent in COVID-19 patients (RR = 1.62; 95%CI 0.72 - 3.44). CONCLUSION: Our study is the first comparative analysis between SARS-CoV-2 and other infectious pathogens, in an intensive care unit setting, assessing neurological dysfunction. We report a significantly higher risk of neurological dysfunction among COVID-19 patients. As such, we suggest systematic screening for neurological complications in severe COVID-19 patients.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar se a infecção grave pelo SARS-CoV-2 está mais comumente associada a sinais de disfunção do trato corticoespinhal e outros sinais, sintomas e síndromes neurológicas, em comparação com outros agentes infecciosos. MÉTODOS: Este foi um estudo de coorte prospectivo com inclusão consecutiva de doentes admitidos a unidades de cuidados intensivos devido a síndrome do desconforto respiratório agudo infeccioso primário, com necessidade de ventilação mecânica invasiva por > 48 horas. Os doentes incluídos foram atribuídos aleatoriamente a três investigadores para a avaliação clínica, a qual incluía a pesquisa de sinais de disfunção do trato corticoespinhal. Os dados clínicos, incluindo outras complicações neurológicas e possíveis preditores, foram obtidos independentemente a partir dos registros clínicos. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídos consecutivamente 54 doentes com síndrome do desconforto respiratório agudo, 27 devido a SARS-CoV-2 e 27 devido a outros agentes infecciosos. Os grupos eram comparáveis na maioria das características. Os doentes com COVID-19 apresentavam risco significativamente superior de complicações neurológicas (RR = 1,98; IC95% 1,23 - 3,26). Os sinais de disfunção do trato corticoespinhal tendiam a ser mais prevalentes em doentes com COVID-19 (RR = 1,62; IC95% 0,72 - 3,44). CONCLUSÃO: Este estudo foi a primeira análise comparativa visando avaliar disfunção neurológica, entre doentes com infecção SARS-CoV-2 e outros agentes infecciosos, em um contexto de unidade de cuidados intensivos. Reportamos um risco significativamente superior de disfunção neurológica em doentes com COVID-19. Como tal, sugere-se o rastreio sistemático de complicações neurológicas em doentes com COVID-19 crítico.

COVID-19 surveillance data quality issues: a national consecutive case series.

OBJECTIVES: High-quality data are crucial for guiding decision-making and practising evidence-based healthcare, especially if previous knowledge is lacking. Nevertheless, data quality frailties have been exposed worldwide during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Focusing on a major Portuguese epidemiological surveillance dataset, our study aims to assess COVID-19 data quality issues and suggest possible solutions. SETTINGS: On 27 April 2020, the Portuguese Directorate-General of Health (DGS) made available a dataset (DGSApril) for researchers, upon request. On 4 August, an updated dataset (DGSAugust) was also obtained. PARTICIPANTS: All COVID-19-confirmed cases notified through the medical component of National System for Epidemiological Surveillance until end of June. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Data completeness and consistency. RESULTS: DGSAugust has not followed the data format and variables as DGSApril and a significant number of missing data and inconsistencies were found (eg, 4075 cases from the DGSApril were apparently not included in DGSAugust). Several variables also showed a low degree of completeness and/or changed their values from one dataset to another (eg, the variable 'underlying conditions' had more than half of cases showing different information between datasets). There were also significant inconsistencies between the number of cases and deaths due to COVID-19 shown in DGSAugust and by the DGS reports publicly provided daily. CONCLUSIONS: Important quality issues of the Portuguese COVID-19 surveillance datasets were described. These issues can limit surveillance data usability to inform good decisions and perform useful research. Major improvements in surveillance datasets are therefore urgently needed-for example, simplification of data entry processes, constant monitoring of data, and increased training and awareness of healthcare providers-as low data quality may lead to a deficient pandemic control.

The Hidden Factor-Low Quality of Data is a Major Peril in the Identification of Risk Factors for COVID-19 Deaths: A Comment on Nogueira, P.J., et al. "The Role of Health Preconditions on COVID-19 Deaths in Portugal: Evidence from Surveillance Data of the First 20293 Infection Cases". J. Clin. Med. 2020, 9, 2368.

We read with great interest the article by Nogueira P [...].

Identifying common baseline clinical features of COVID-19: a scoping review.

OBJECTIVES: Our research question was: what are the most frequent baseline clinical characteristics in adult patients with COVID-19? Our major aim was to identify common baseline clinical features that could help recognise adult patients at high risk of having COVID-19. DESIGN: We conducted a scoping review of all the evidence available at LitCovid, until 23 March 2020. SETTING: Studies conducted in any setting and any country were included. PARTICIPANTS: Studies had to report the prevalence of sociodemographic characteristics, symptoms and comorbidities specifically in adults with a diagnosis of infection by SARS-CoV-2. RESULTS: In total, 1572 publications were published on LitCovid. We have included 56 articles in our analysis, with 89% conducted in China and 75% containing inpatients. Three studies were conducted in North America and one in Europe. Participants' age ranged from 28 to 70 years, with balanced gender distribution. The proportion of asymptomatic cases were from 2% to 79%. The most common reported symptoms were fever (4%-99%), cough (4%-92%), dyspnoea/shortness of breath (1%-90%), fatigue (4%-89%), myalgia (3%-65%) and pharyngalgia (2%-61%), while regarding comorbidities, we found cardiovascular disease (1%-40%), hypertension (0%-40%) and cerebrovascular disease (1%-40%). Such heterogeneity impaired the conduction of meta-analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The infection by COVID-19 seems to affect people in a very diverse manner and with different characteristics. With the available data, it is not possible to clearly identify those at higher risk of being infected with this condition. Furthermore, the evidence from countries other than China is, at the moment, too scarce.