Comorbidities That Increase Risk for Severe Acute Covid-19 in Pediatric Population

Background: Little is understood about which comorbidities are associated with severe outcomes in children hospitalized with acute COVID-19. Some confusion lies especially for cancer or diabetes. Method(s): Data from 2 multicenter prospective cohort studies of hospitalized children (aged 0-18 years) with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 in Spain and Colombia were combined for this analysis. Data were obtained from 116 hospitals. Outcome was classified as (in decreasing order of severity): death, mechanical ventilation (MV), pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission, high flow/CPAP, oxygen therapy with nasal prong (NP) and hospitalization without respiratory support. Risk factors for severity, adjusting for age and gender, were identified using multinominal logistic regression and a backwards selection process. Result(s): A total of 1,753 patients were included, 734 (41.8%) in Spain and 1,019 (58.1%) in Colombia. The most frequent comorbidities were asthma (9.0%), chronic neurological disorder (NRL) (7.4%), immunosuppressive medication (7.2%), malignant neoplasms (5.4%) and chronic lung disease (not asthma) (CLD) (4.5%). Comorbidities associated with the different endpoints are summarized in Figure 1. Asthma was associated with a significantly increased risk of death (OR: 4.17;95%CI 1.34-12.97), MV (OR: 7.94 (3.59-17.56)), PICU admission (OR: 3.37 (1.91- 5.96)), high flow/CPAP (OR: 6.65 (2.69-16.46)), and NP (OR: 3.85 (2.57-5.77)) compared to hospitalization without respiratory support. NRL was associated with increased risk of death (OR: 7.34 (3.01-17.90)), MV (OR: 3.07 (1.20-7.82)) and high flow/CPAP (OR: 4.36 (1.68-11.29)). CLD was associated with increased risk of death (OR: 6.22 [2.28-16.94]) and NP (OR: 3.1 (1.74-5.58)) and in addition, chronic cardiac disease was associated with increased risk of MV (OR: 5.21 (1.76-15.41)) and PICU (OR: 2.78 (1.27-6.08)). Risks of death (OR: 4.49 (2.03-9.05)), MV (OR: 2.97 (1.52-5.81)), PICU (OR: 4.27 (2.89-6.33)), and NP (OR: 4.67 (3.64-5.99)) were higher in the Colombia Cohort. Conclusion(s): Asthma, chronic neurological, cardiac and lung disease;and belonging to the Colombia cohort were consistently associated with multiple severe outcomes of COVID-19. Cancer and diabetes association with selected endpoints rather than with most endpoints may be more related to the baseline disease than with the actual COVID-19.

Echocardiographic phenotype in severe aortic valve stenosis with and without cardiac amyloidosis: The AMY-TAVI trial

Background: Longitudinal Strain (LS) pattern in cardiac amyloidosis (CA) typically spares the apex of the heart, which is a sensitive and specific finding that can be used to distinguish CA from other causes of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy. RELAPS >1 suggests with high specificity CA, and shows a bright red in the apical segments of the polar map. Purpose(s): To identify differential echocardiographic characteristics of aortic stenosis (AS) with concomitant TTR-CA (AS-CA) compared to AS alone. Method(s): Patients with severe symptomatic AS undergoing TAVI were prospectively and consecutively included between Jan-19 and Dec-20. Pre-procedure, a complete echocardiogram was performed that included deformation parameters using Speckle-Tracking. Strain derived Indices accepted for CA screening were calculated: RELAPS: Relative apical LS (average apical LS/average basal+mid LS);SAB: (apical-septal/basal-septal LS);EFSR: (LVEF/GLS). After TAVI, a 99Tc-DPD scintigraphy and a proteinogram were performed to screen for CA. Result(s): 324 patients were included. The mean age was 81 yo, 52% women. 39 (12%) patients presented cardiac uptake on scintigraphy: 14 (4.3%) grade 1;13 (4%) grade 2, and 11 (3.4%) grade 3. Strain analysis could be performed in 243 patients due to acoustic window and covid19 pandemic restrictions. Echocardiographic characteristics between AS alone and those with grade 1 (AS-DTD1) and grade 2/3 (AS-CA) are shown in Table 1. Compared with AS alone, patients with AS-CA had significantly lower transvalvular gradients, although similar AVA, and low flow-low gradient (LF-LG) AS was more prevalent. AS-CA exhibited slightly worse cardiac remodeling (LV mass ind: 202 g/m2 vs 176 g/m2, p=0.032), and worse diastolic dysfunction, but without significant differences in thickness, diameters or volumes, with similar relative wall thickness (RWT: 0.53 vs. 0.51 mm, p=0.52). LVEF was similar, however myocardial contraction fraction (MCF= stroke volume/myocardial volume) and MAPSE were worse in AS-CA. GLS, RELAPS, SAB and EFSR were not different, but RELAPS >1 pattern was more prevalent in AS-CA (74% vs 44%, p=0,006) (Figure 1). Mass/strain ratio (RMS) was similar. There were no differences in size and fractional emptying of left atrium, or atrial septum thickness. Right ventricle (RV) size was similar, as well as conventional function parameters (TAPSE and S'). However, RV LS was worse in AS-CA. Pericardial effusion was more prevalent in AS-CA (25% vs 7.4%, p=0.013). In the multivariate analysis, predictors of AS-CA were: Age (OR: 1,2, p=0,02), BG (OR: 0,2, p=0,01), E/A (OR: 4,7, p=0,02), LV Mass index (OR: 1,02, p=0,04) and RELAPS >1 (OR: 0,12, p=0,01). Conclusion(s): Dual pathology of AS-AC is common in older patients referred for TAVI. Although it is more prevalent in patients with AS-CA, RELAPS>1 pattern can be present in almost 50% of patients with severe AS alone, which reduces its value as screening tool for CA in this clinical setting respect to others. (Table Presented).

Echocardiographic phenotype and prognostic value of relative apical sparing of longitudinal strain pattern in severe aortic stenosis with and without cardiac amyloidosis. The AMYTAVI study

Introduction: It is estimated that 15% of patients with AS have concomitant cardiac amyloidosis (CA). Left ventricular (LV) longitudinal strain (LS) pattern with relative apical sparing (RELAPS>1), shown as bright red in the apical segments on the polar map, has been strongly associated with CA. Its presence and its significance in AS is yet to be determined. Purpose(s): To determine the prevalence of the RELAPS>1 pattern in patients with severe AS with and without concomitant CA, and to analyze the echocardiographic phenotype associated with this strain pattern and its prognostic value. Method(s): Patients with severe symptomatic AS undergoing TAVI were prospectively and consecutively included between Jan-19 and Dec-20. Pre-procedure, a complete echocardiogram was performed that included deformation parameters using Speckle-Tracking. Strain derived Indices accepted for CA screening were calculated: RELAPS: Relative apical LS (average apical LS/average basal+mid LS);SAB: (apical-septal/basal-septal LS);EFSR: (LVEF/GLS). After TAVI, a 99Tc-PYP scintigraphy and a proteinogram were performed to screen for CA. Result(s): 324 patients were included. The mean age was 81 yo, 52% women. Strain analysis could be performed in 243 patients due to acoustic window and covid19 pandemic restrictions. Among those, 111 (46%) presented relative apical sparing (RELAPS>1). There were no differences in clinical characteristics between patients with RELAPS <1 and >1: Similar age, sex, cardiovascular risk factors and funcional class, renal function or NT-proBNP. Among patients with RELAPS>1 there was more frecuently CA with uptake grade 2 and 3 on scintigraphy (15% vs. 4.5%, P=0.006) (Figure 1). RELAPS>1 group showed greater LV hypertrophic remodeling: Thicker myocardial wall with smaller ventricular cavity, especially concentric hypertrophy;LVEF and GLS was similar, however, MAPSE and myocardial contraction fraction (MCF) were worse in RELAPS >1 group, and EFSR was significantly higher (4.2 vs 3.9, p=0.002). RELAPS >1 group had smaller aortic valve area (AVA: 0.6 vs 0.7 cm2, p=0.045), but similar transvalvular gradients due to lower stroke volume. It had larger atria and less left atrial (LA) fractional emptying, as well as higher prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF: 41% vs 27%, p=0.03). Right ventricle (RV) size were similar, however, RV function was worse in RELAPS >1 group (TAPSE: 19 vs 21 mm, p=0.003;free Wall LS: -24 vs -27%, p=0.008). There was no difference in all-cause mortality at 1 year of follow-up between groups (6.4% vs. 6.3%, p=1). Figure 2 represents the morphological characteristics according to the LS phenotype. Conclusion(s): In severe AS, RELAPS >1 is present in almost half of the patients. It is associated with worse cardiac remodeling, as well as higher prevalence of AF. However, it wasn't associated with higher mortality at 1 year. 1 in 7 patients with AS and RELAPS >1 have concomitant ATTR CA grade 2/3.

COVID-19 in donation and transplant.

SARS-CoV-2 infection has had a major impact on donation and transplantation. Since the cessation of activity two years ago, the international medical community has rapidly generated evidence capable of sustaining and increasing this neccesary activity. This paper analyses the epidemiology and burden of COVID-19 in donation and transplantation, the pathogenesis of the infection and its relationship with graft-mediated transmission, the impact of vaccination on donation and transplantation, the evolution of donation in Spain throughout the pandemic, some lessons learned in SARS-CoV-2 infected donor recipients with positive PCR and the applicability of the main therapeutic tools recently approved for treatment among transplant recipients.

Metabolic characterization of structural lung changes in patients with suggestive COVID-19 pneumonia on 18F-FDG PET/CT

Aim/Introduction: Although pulmonary findings of COVID-19 on PET/CT have been previously described, a comprehensive metabolic characterization of diagnostic lung parenchyma changes of COVID-19 pneumonia is still lacking. Our purpose is to evaluate the metabolic uptake of different tomographic signs observed in patients with incidental structural findings suggesting COVID-19 pneumonia through 18F-FDG PET/CT. Material(s) and Method(s): We retrospectively analyzed 596 PET/CT studies performed from February 21, 2020 to April 17, 2020. After excluding 37 scans (PET with non-18F-FDG tracers and brain studies), we analyzed the metabolic activity of several individual structural changes integrated and beyond CO-RADS score through SUVmax of multimodal studies with18F-FDG. Result(s): 43 patients with 18F-FDG PET/CT findings suggestive of COVID-19 pneumonia were included (mean age: 68+/-12.3 years, 22 male). SUVmax values were higher in patients with CO-RADS categories 5-6 than in those with lower, nonspecific CO-RADS categories (6.1+/-3.0 vs. 3.6+/-2.1, p=0.004). Groundglass opacities, bilaterality, consolidations, patchy distribution and crazy paving pattern were associated with higher SUVmax values in patients with CO-RADS 5-6 scores (p-values of 0.01, 0.02, 0,01, 0.002 and 0.01, respectively). SUVmax was significantly associated with a positive structural diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia (odds ratio=0.63, 95% confidence interval=0.41-0.90;p=0.02). The ROC curve of the regression model aimed to confirm or discard the structural diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia showed an AUC of 0.77 (standard error=0.072, p=0.003). Conclusion(s): Multimodal18F-FDG PET/CT is a useful tool during the incidental detection of COVID-19 pneumonia in patients referred for standard oncological and nononcological indications (43/559;7.7%). CT findings characteristic of COVID-19 pneumonia, specifically CO-RADS 5-6, were associated with higher SUVmax.

Confined community health: reflections and experiences from the local public health

This paper aims to share the reflections related to the community actions in which the Agencia de Salut Publica de Barcelona has been involved during the emergency of COVID-19. The tasks carried out can be arranged in three stages, frequently overlapping: detection of needs and problems;contact with key stakeholders to assess what to do and how to do it;adaptation of the interventions to the "new normal" and generation of new responses. The emerging problems included: not being able to do the confinement (due to homelessness, material conditions, living in a situation of violence);digital gap (lack of knowledge, devices, access to Wifi);greater exposure to COVID-19 in the essential but precarious, feminized and racialized jobs (care, cleaning, food shops) that are the most frequent in the neighborhoods in where we work;language and cultural barriers that preclude to follow recommendations;to lose employment;insufficient income to cover basic needs;social isolation;and the deterioration of emotional health caused by the situation. During the process, some interventions were adapted to be delivered on-line. Solidarity networks and local resources were key to meet basic needs, but also other needs related to lack of digital knowledge or device. Community action in health, from a critical, intersectional and local perspective, and with intersectoral work and community participation, can contribute to: facilitate a contextualized response in the event of a health crisis;mitigate the effects derived from its economic and social crisis.

HPB talks: innovative virtual academic experience during the covid-19 pandemic in Colombia

Presenter: Juan C Sabogal Olarte MD, MSc ;Hospital Universitario Mayor Mederi/Universidad del Rosario Background: The covid-19 pandemic brought a myriad of changes both to the way we live and also to the way we learn. It boosted a radical shift in the paradigm of education, opening a new way of learning medicine through on-line seminars with different academic groups adapting in several ways. This article shows the academic experience of an hepatobiliary and pancreatic (HPB) surgery group in Bogotá, Colombia during the covid-19 pandemic. Methods: An evaluative qualitative study was made to evaluate the effects of the pandemic on the academic growth and adaptation of a hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery group. A survey was conducted with the participants of the seminars and results are tabulated taking into account qualitative and ethical parameters. Results: 35 seminars regarding HPB surgery were presented during a 8 month period with the participation of medical students, surgery residents, specialists and subspecialists from different cities of Colombia. 55 people answered the survey. 40% were specialists, 23.6% were residents. 90% of the participants found the themes of the seminars were appropriate and they received excellent both academic and quality of speakers. 96% of the participants considered the seminars were of superior quality confirming that the impact of the talks in academic formation was positive and it shows the necessity of continuing this space even after the end of the pandemic. Conclusion: HPB TALKS is considered a novel, original, innovative and successful academic experience in the Colombia. They contributing to the growth in knowledge regarding HPB surgery in Colombia. The pandemic has accelerated the relationship between technology and education. They also has facilitated access to complex topics and clincial cases on HPB surgery for not only students, Residents and surgical fellows, but also, specialists from different disciplines facilitating the multidisciplinary educational process. This experience constitutes a potential replicable exercise that allows the use of technology and virtuality as a strong strategy for learning.

Research tendencies about mental disorder symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic Tendências da investigação sobre sintomas de transtornos mentais durante a pandemia por COVID-19

Objetivo: Realizar una revisión sistemática de la tendencia de investigación sobre síntomas de trastornos mentales durante la pandemia por COVID-19. Métodos: Se recuperaron artículos publicados entre el 31 de diciembre 2019 y el 3 de mayo 2020, en Pubmed, SCOPUS, EBSCO, PsycINFO, Science Direct, Redalyc y Web of Science, seleccionando, conforme a la metodología PRISMA, un total de 16 artículos, al descartarse duplicados o estudios no empíricos. Resultados: La mayoría se realizaron en China, el tamaño de la muestra osciló entre 20 y 7236 participantes, en su mayoría adolescentes y adultos, entre 12 a 80 años, con muestreo no probabilístico por conveniencia. La tendencia de los síntomas y trastornos más estudiados fueron ansiedad (28%), depresión (23%), estrés (15.3%), trastorno del sueño-vigilia (9.6%) y trastorno por estrés postraumático (5.7%), asociados con el consumo de sustancias psicoactivas, bajo rendimiento académico, pérdida de trabajo, calidad del sueño, bajo autocuidado y baja percepción del estado de salud durante la pandemia. Conclusiones: Los síntomas y trastornos de ansiedad, depresión y estrés son los más frecuentes. Algunas limitaciones son la ausencia de medición previa a la pandemia o cuarentena y el uso de muestreo no aleatorio, para hacer generalización de resultados. Es necesario formular investigaciones de intervención para mitigar el impacto psicológico. Los sistemas de salud deben ofrecer programas de prevención y de promoción de la salud, que consideren factores psicosociales dirigidos a la población general, pacientes y personal sanitario, para disminuir la prevalencia de estas dificultades, en particular, para Iberoamérica, en donde es escasa la producción científica al respecto. Objective: To carry out a systematic review of the research trend on mental disorders symptoms during the COVID -19 pandemic. Methods: Articles published between December 31, 2019 and May 3, 2020 were retrieved in Pubmed, SCOPUS, EBSCO, PsycINFO, Science Direct, Redalyc, and Web of Science, selected according to the PRISMA methodology, a total of 16 articles by ruling out duplicates or non-empirical studies. Results: Most were carried out in China, the sample size ranged between 20 and 7236 participants, mostly adolescents and adults, between 12 and 80 years old, with non-probability sampling for convenience. The most studied symptoms and disorders were anxiety (28%), depression (23%), stress (15.3%), sleep-wake disorder (9.6%) and post-traumatic stress disorder (5.7%), associated with psychoactive substance use, low academic performance, job loss, sleep quality, low self-care, and low perception of health status during the pandemic. Conclusions: The symptoms and disorders of anxiety, depression, and stress are the most frequent. Some limitations are the absence of pre-pandemic or quarantine measurement and the use of non-random sampling to generalize the results. Intervention research needs to be formulated to mitigate the psychological impact. Health systems must offer prevention and health promotion programs that consider psychosocial factors aimed at the general population, patients, and health personnel, to decrease the prevalence of these difficulties, particularly for Latin America where about scientific production is scarce. Objetivo: Realizar uma revisão sistemática da tendência de investigação sobre sintomas de transtornos mentais durante a pandemia por COVID-19. Métodos: Se recuperaram artigos publicados entre 31 de dezembro 2019 e 3 de maio 2020, em Pubmed, SCOPUS, EBSCO, PsycINFO, Science Direct, Redalyc e Web of Science, selecionando, conforme à metodologia PRISMA, um total de 16 artigos, ao descartar-se duplicados ou estudos não empíricos. Resultados: A maioria se realizaram na China, o tamanho da amostra oscilou entre 20 e 7236 participantes, na sua maioria adolescentes e adultos, entre 12 a 80 anos, com amostragem não probabilístico por conveniência. A tendência dos sintomas e transtornos mais estudados foram ansiedade (28%), depressão (23%), estresse (15.3%), transtorno do sono-vigília (9.6%) e transtorno por estresse pós-traumático (5.7%), associados com o consumo de substâncias psicoativas, sob rendimento acadêmico, perda de trabalho, qualidade do sono, baixo autocuidado e baixa percepção do estado de saúde durante a pandemia. Conclusões: Os sintomas e transtornos de ansiedade, depressão e estresse são os mais frequentes. Algumas limitações são a ausência de medição prévia à pandemia ou quarentena e o uso de amostragem não aleatório, para fazer generalização de resultados. É necessário formular investigações de intervenção para mitigar o impacto psicológico. Os sistemas de saúde devem oferecer programas de prevenção e de promoção da saúde, que considerem fatores psicossociais dirigidos à população geral, pacientes e pessoal sanitário, para diminuir a prevalência destas dificuldades, em particular, para Ibero América, onde é escassa a produção científica ao respeito.

Pediatric chest x-ray in covid-19 infection.

BACKGROUND: The outbreak of COVID-19 has become pandemic. Pediatric population has been less studied than adult population and prompt diagnosis is challenging due to asymptomatic or mild episodes. Radiology is an important complement to clinical and epidemiological features. OBJECTIVE: To establish the most common CXR patterns in children with COVID-19, evaluate interobserver correlation and to discuss the role of imaging techniques in the management of children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-four patients between 0 and 16 years of age with confirmed SARS-Cov-2 infection and CXR were selected. Two paediatric radiologists independently evaluated the images and assessed the type of abnormality, distribution and evolution when available. RESULTS: Median age was 79.8 months (ranging from 2 weeks to 16 years of age). Fever was the most common symptom (43.5 %). 90 % of CXR showed abnormalities. Peribronchial cuffing was the most common finding (86.3 %) followed by GGOs (50 %). In both cases central distribution was more common than peripheral. Consolidations accounted for 18.1 %. Normal CXR, pleural effusion, and altered cardiomediastinal contour were the least common. CONCLUSION: The vast majority of CXR showed abnormalities in children with COVID-19. However, findings are nonspecific. Interobserver correlation was good in describing consolidations, normal x-rays and GGOs. Imaging techniques have a role in the management of children with known or suspected COVID-19, especially in those with moderate or severe symptoms or with underlying risk factors.