Age, Anxiety, Stress, and Depression Associated with Eating Problems During COVID-19

This cross-sectional web-based study investigated the association of age, gender, and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress with eating problems in Brazilian adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 715 participants (237 men and 478 women) were recruited from all regions of Brazil. The instruments used were the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and the Eating Attitudes Test – 26 (EAT-26). Data analysis was conducted through the independent t test, Pearson's correlation, and multiple regression analysis. Multiple regression showed that DASS total score made the largest positive contribution to EP for men (β = .17, p < .01) and women (β = .22, p < .001). The data showed significant differences between men and women for all variables (p < .001), indicating that women presented more symptoms in all variables. Our findings show that symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress were associated whit risky behavior for EP in Brazilian adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.Alternate : Este estudio transversal basado en la web investigó la asociación de edad, sexo y los síntomas de depresión, ansiedad y estrés con los problemas alimentarios (PAs) en adultos brasileños durante la pandemia del coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Se reclutó un total de 715 participantes (237 hombres y 478 mujeres) de todas las regiones de Brasil. Los instrumentos utilizados fueron la Escala de Depresión, Ansiedad y Estrés – 21 (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 [DASS-21]) y el Teste de Actitudes Alimentarias – 26 (Eating Attitudes Test – 26 [EAT-26]). El análisis de los datos se realizó mediante la prueba t independiente, la correlación de Pearson y el análisis de regresión múltiple. La regresión múltiple mostró que la puntuación total en DASS-21 contribuyó positivamente a los PAs en hombres (β = 0.17, p < 0.01) y mujeres (β = 0.22, p < 0.001). Los datos mostraron que las mujeres tenían más síntomas en todas las variables (p < 0.001). Los síntomas de DASS-21 se asocian con conductas de riesgo para PAs en adultos brasileños durante la pandemia de COVID-19.Alternate : Este estudo transversal baseado na web investigou a associação de idade, sexo e sintomas de depressão, ansiedade e estresse com problemas alimentares (PAs) em adultos brasileiros durante a pandemia da coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). Um total de 715 participantes (237 homens e 478 mulheres) foram recrutados em todas as regiões do Brasil. Os instrumentos utilizados foram a Escala de Depressão, Ansiedade e Estresse – 21 (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 [Dass-21]) e o Teste de Atitudes Alimentares – 26 (Eating Attitudes Test – 26 [EAT-26]). A análise dos dados foi realizada por meio de teste t independente, correlação de Pearson e análise de regressão múltipla. A regressão múltipla mostrou que a pontuação total na Dass-21 contribuiu positivamente para PAs em homens (β = 0,17, p < 0,01) e mulheres (β = 0,22, p < 0,001). Os dados mostraram que as mulheres apresentaram mais sintomas em todas as variáveis (p < 0.001). Assim, os sintomas da Dass-21 foram associados a comportamentos de risco para PAs em adultos brasileiros durante a pandemia da Covid-19.

A control framework to optimize public health policies in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic (preprint)

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic triggered substantial economic and social disruptions. Mitigation policies varied across countries based on resources, political conditions, and human behavior. In the absence of widespread vaccination able to induce herd immunity, strategies to coexist with the virus while minimizing risks of surges are paramount, which should work in parallel with reopening societies. To support these strategies, we present a predictive control system coupled with a nonlinear model able to optimize the level of policies to stop epidemic growth. We applied this system to study the unfolding of COVID-19 in Bahia, Brazil, also assessing the effects of varying population compliance. We show the importance of finely tuning the levels of enforced measures to achieve SARS-CoV-2 containment, with periodic interventions emerging as an optimal control strategy in the long-term. One-sentence summary We present an adaptive predictive control algorithm to provide optimal public health measures to slow the COVID-19 transmission rate.

Aspirin with or without statin in the treatment of endotheliitis, thrombosis, and ischemia in coronavirus disease

INTRODUCTION: In the genesis of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), there is a process of endotheliitis associated with thrombotic changes, no studies have reported the use of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) as a possible therapeutic approach. Statins could potentiate the ASA therapy. METHODS: This is a series of 14 cases with a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. All patients underwent the ASA therapy. Those who had risk factors for vascular disease also underwent the high-potency statin therapy. When symptoms were totally or practically resolved, patients were discharged and advised to continue medications for a complementary time, according to the clinical evolution of each patient. RESULTS: The mean age of monitored patients was 48.6 years. A total of 78.6% patients presented with at least one comorbidity, which could have contributed as a risk factor for a poor prognosis in the evolution of COVID-19. Four patients had secondary bacterial infections;three patients needed hospitalization. None of the cases progress to stage III, and all patients had remission of symptoms, with 100% survival. CONCLUSIONS: the process of endothelial dysfunction in COVID-19 involves disseminated thrombosis, initially microvascular and later expansion into larger vessels. ASA could act as a secondary prophylaxis and prevent thrombosis from developing and reaching stage III of the disease. As this was a case series, we cannot provide definitive conclusions;however, this study allows us to formulate hypotheses and support clinical trials to evaluate benefits of the ASA therapy in the treatment of COVID-19.

Do Age and Symptoms of Anxiety, Stress and Depression Predict Risk Behaviors for Eating Disorders in Brazilian Men and Women During the Covid-19 Pandemic? (preprint)

ObjectiveThis study investigated the predicting role of age and symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress on risk behavior for eating disorders in Brazilian adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA web‐based cross‐sectional survey was administered during the COVID‐19 in Brazil. A total of 715 participants were recruited (237 men and 478 women) with a mean age of 29.20 (10.73) years from all regions of Brazil. The instruments used were the depression, anxiety and stress scale (DASS-21) and eating attitudes test-26 (EAT-26). Data analysis was conducted through the independent t-test, Pearson’s correlation and multiple regression Analysis (p<.05). ResultsThe data showed significant differences between men and women for anxiety (p<.001), stress (p<.001), depression (p<.001), total DASS score (p<.001) and eating disorders (p<.001), indicating that women presented more symptoms in all variables. Depression, stress and DASS total score were significantly and positively associated with eating disorders (EDs) (r range= .16 to .21) for men and EDs was significantly and negatively associated with all dimensions of DASS and DASS total score (r range -.19 to -.22) for women. Multiple regression showed that DASS total score made the largest positive contribution to eating disorders for men (β= .17, p <.01) and women (β= .22, p <.001). ConclusionOur findings show that symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress predict risk behavior for eating disorders in Brazilian adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aspirin with or without statin in the treatment of endotheliitis, thrombosis, and ischemia in coronavirus disease.

INTRODUCTION: In the genesis of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), there is a process of endotheliitis associated with thrombotic changes, no studies have reported the use of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) as a possible therapeutic approach. Statins could potentiate the ASA therapy. METHODS: This is a series of 14 cases with a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. All patients underwent the ASA therapy. Those who had risk factors for vascular disease also underwent the high-potency statin therapy. When symptoms were totally or practically resolved, patients were discharged and advised to continue medications for a complementary time, according to the clinical evolution of each patient. RESULTS: The mean age of monitored patients was 48.6 years. A total of 78.6% patients presented with at least one comorbidity, which could have contributed as a risk factor for a poor prognosis in the evolution of COVID-19. Four patients had secondary bacterial infections; three patients needed hospitalization. None of the cases progress to stage III, and all patients had remission of symptoms, with 100% survival. CONCLUSIONS: the process of endothelial dysfunction in COVID-19 involves disseminated thrombosis, initially microvascular and later expansion into larger vessels. ASA could act as a secondary prophylaxis and prevent thrombosis from developing and reaching stage III of the disease. As this was a case series, we cannot provide definitive conclusions; however, this study allows us to formulate hypotheses and support clinical trials to evaluate benefits of the ASA therapy in the treatment of COVID-19.