ABSTRACT
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a severe disease that can progress to clinical decompensation, risk of hospitalization and death owing to disease-related or other diseases. In the context of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), PH was considered a risk factor for complications. The purpose of the study was to assess the mortality rate of COVID-19 in PH patients from a PH Center in Brazil. We conducted a telephone survey between June and August 2021 among all patients or relatives from the PH referral center who were followed after the first case of COVID- 19 in Brazil. Only patients with a confirmed diagnosis of PH were included in the analysis. Of the 426 patients followed in the first 18 months of the pandemic, 115 patients were excluded (lost to follow-up, post-acute PE or unconfirmed PH). Among 311 patients included, 39 had a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 (COVID-19 + ), and 38.5% of patients were hospitalized. The estimated incidence rate was 12.5%. Comparing the COVID-19+ versus patients without infection (COVID-19 - ) in the period, the mean age was similar (55 +/- 17 vs. 54 +/- 16 years) and the majority in the COVID-19+ group were female (85% vs. 69%, p = 0.039), respectively. There was no difference in the proportion of patients diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH;49% and 42%) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH;24% and 33%) between groups. All PAH patients and the majority of CTEPH patients were treated on specific therapy (combination/triple therapy, 70%). The case fatality rate in the PH-COVID-19+ group was 23%. Considering only PAH and CTEPH, the case fatality rate was 21,9%, while COVID-19 mortality was 2.9% and overall lethality in Brazil was 2.8%. In the COVID-19+ group, the mean pulmonary artery pressure was 48 +/- 14 mmHg, cardiac index 2.7 +/- 0.6 L/min/m2 and pulmonary vascular resistance 730 +/- 424 dyn.s/cm5. In conclusion, among PH patients there was high incidence and mortality from COVID-19, even in those with PHspecific therapy. Further studies are needed to evaluate the prognostic predictors in PH-COVID-19 patients.
ABSTRACT
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a severe disease that can progress to clinical decompensation, risk of hospitalization and death owing to disease-related or other diseases. In the context of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), PH was considered a risk factor for complications. The purpose of the study was to assess the mortality rate of COVID-19 in PH patients from a PH Center in Brazil. We conducted a telephone survey between June and August 2021 among all patients or relatives from the PH referral center who were followed after the first case of COVID- 19 in Brazil. Only patients with a confirmed diagnosis of PH were included in the analysis. Of the 426 patients followed in the first 18 months of the pandemic, 115 patients were excluded (lost to follow-up, post-acute PE or unconfirmed PH). Among 311 patients included, 39 had a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 (COVID-19 + ), and 38.5% of patients were hospitalized. The estimated incidence rate was 12.5%. Comparing the COVID-19+ versus patients without infection (COVID-19 - ) in the period, the mean age was similar (55 +/- 17 vs. 54 +/- 16 years) and the majority in the COVID-19+ group were female (85% vs. 69%, p = 0.039), respectively. There was no difference in the proportion of patients diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH;49% and 42%) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH;24% and 33%) between groups. All PAH patients and the majority of CTEPH patients were treated on specific therapy (combination/triple therapy, 70%). The case fatality rate in the PH-COVID-19+ group was 23%. Considering only PAH and CTEPH, the case fatality rate was 21,9%, while COVID-19 mortality was 2.9% and overall lethality in Brazil was 2.8%. In the COVID-19+ group, the mean pulmonary artery pressure was 48 +/- 14 mmHg, cardiac index 2.7 +/- 0.6 L/min/m2 and pulmonary vascular resistance 730 +/- 424 dyn.s/cm5. In conclusion, among PH patients there was high incidence and mortality from COVID-19, even in those with PHspecific therapy. Further studies are needed to evaluate the prognostic predictors in PH-COVID-19 patients.
ABSTRACT
The world is in the midst of a COVID-19 education crisis, and schools need to urgently overcome this and emerge stronger. It is in times of crisis that good leaders emerge. As such, De La Salle Santiago Zobel School (DLSZ) is in the process of revisiting its leadership practices regarding the selection of administrators. The major purpose of this study was to gather the perspectives of the employees about leadership appointments, taking on administration roles, and succession planning and development. This collaborative action research employed a descriptive mixed method approach. Employees (N=174) from different departments and offices were the research participants. Quantitative data were extracted from the online survey questionnaire. The qualitative data, subjected to thematic analysis, were gathered from document review, open-ended questions from the survey, and future creating workshops. The guidelines, criteria for selection and screening process are described in its Administrators Manual. While findings revealed that the majority of the respondents are knowledgeable about and in favor of the DLSZ's appointment practices, less than half of them expressed willingness to be administrators. Those who favorably considered assuming school leadership roles had similar opinions about acquiring graduate degrees and corresponding certifications. Results showed that almost all of the employees regarded that succession planning initiatives can bring forth a positive impact in honing future leaders. Based on this study, DLSZ may prioritize implementing a succession planning and development program which will facilitate the effective identification, selection, and development of its leaders. © 2022 ACM.
ABSTRACT
Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has shifted the academic environment into distance learning. In the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Faculty of Pharmacy, an Enriched Virtual Mode of Learning was used to deliver the online teaching and learning process. This study aimed to determine the influences that online learning had on the standard of pharmacy education. Methods: A qualitative case study research design was utilised and gathered the perspectives of eight UST pharmacy professors. Results: During thematic analysis, several themes were identified which were rooted in the ten key components of online learning. Conclusions: The study concluded that online learning had more negative influences than positive influences on pharmacy education. Regarding pharmacy courses, the Quality Control, Microbiology, and Public Health clusters were identified as the most difficult to teach online while the Biochemistry and Pharmacognosy clusters were the least. Recommended adjustments to improve learning outcomes focused on enhanced review methods during the course audit.
ABSTRACT
Objective. To determine the extent of pulmonary involvement in patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia using tomography. Method. Retrospective evaluation in patients with evidence of COVID-19 at the Guillermo Almenara Irigoyen National Hospital, Lima - Peru, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, between March 15 and May 14, 2020. The extent of pneumonia was determined by means of tomography based on the Classification of the French Society of Thoracic Imaging. Results. 485 patients were included in the study. The extent of pneumonia was: 1.2% absent, 4.9% minimal, 20.6% moderate, 27.4% extensive, 30.7% severe, and 15.1% critical. Lung involvement was associated with age older than 60 years (p=0.014) and ambient oxygen saturation below 90% (n=372, p=0.000). Conclusions. Due to its extension, the SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia in the first two months of the COVID-19 epidemic at Hospital Almenara were severe, extensive and mostly moderate. The extent of pneumonia was associated with age and ambient oxygen saturation at admission.