ABSTRACT
Introduction: The pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) has caused high rates of morbidity and mortality. The use of adequate diagnostic methods to identify the evolution of this disease is necessary;computerized tomography (CT) is of the main tools by image, with sensitivity of 96-99%. Different studies have created scales to evaluate the extent and severity of lung disease from COVID-19, with a variability in the results. Objective: To evaluate the use of a tomographic scale (TS) to determine the severity of lung affectation in COVID-19. Material and methods: Analytical cross-sectional study including patients with confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 and initial CT. ATS was used to evaluate the lung affectation, to identify pulmonary pattern and to establish the state of the disease. Statistical analysis consisted in descriptive and analytical statistics (ROC curve). Results: 151 patients, mean age 50 years. The predominant pulmonary pattern was «crazy paving» (46%), identified in the phase of progression. The area under the ROC curve was 0.831 (95% CI: 0.764-0.898), with a cut-off value of 16.5 to discriminate the severe from non-severe affectation, with sensitivity 84% and specificity 74%. Conclusion: The use of TS in initial CT showed an acceptable sensitivity to identify the severity of the disease.
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic also raised questions about the practice of physical activity using a face mask and how this would affect breathing and performance. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of using a tissue face mask recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the variation of heart rate (HR), minute volume (VE), and muscle O 2 saturation (SO 2 m) parameters during performing the incremental load exercise and verifying the maximum time obtained at the end of the exercise. A 21-year-old male, 85 kg of total body mass and 1.68 m of height were selected. The individual performed an incremental load test to maximum exhaustion on the XT cycle ergometer (TRG Fitness ..) in two moments: No mask -Control (C);Cloth Mask (CM). The individual was instructed to maintain a cadence of 61-65 rpm and every 2 minutes a load of 30.8 watts was added until maximum exhaustion. A ventilometer VO2 Pro (Cefise ..) and a near infrared spectroscopy sensor (Moxy ..) were used, placed in the vastus lateralis muscle of the right leg. Data were analyzed every 20% of the total time (20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100%) under conditions C and CM. The parameters of HR, VE and SO 2 m were monitored throughout the test and the data were statistically processed by a software (Origin Pro .. 3.226) using a multivariate analysis technique (Principal Component Analysis -PCA) to analyze interrelationships between the variables. In test condition C, an eigenvalue of 2.979 was observed with two variables (VE and SO 2 m) associated with greater variation (PC1). The maximum time obtained at the end of the test was 1535 seconds. In the CM condition, na eigenvalue of 2.881 was observed with two variables (HR and SO 2 m) associated with greater variation (PC1). The maximum time obtained at the end of the test was1330 seconds. It is concluded that the use of CM reduces VE variation, which may be associated with greater airflow resistance. The greatest variation observed in HR was due to the use of CM, impacting the delay in the appearance of the plateau. In addition, the use of a tissue mask recommended by the WHO reduces the maximum exercise time performed on the cycle ergometer in a healthy individual. These findings are useful for evaluating the effects of using CM in high-performance sports. Additional studies in the elderly and people with lung or heart disease are needed.