Ophthalmic manifestations in patients recovered from COVID-19 in Mexico.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Although the ophthalmic manifestations appear to be associated with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), there is not enough evidence. Hence, the aim of this study was to determine the various types and frequency of ophthalmic manifestations in patients recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection in Mexico. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective, observational and descriptive study included all patients recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection attending the tertiary level hospital of Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) from June 2020 to June 2022. During the hospital admission of patients, the demographic data such age, name, gender was recorded. Ophthalmologic examination was performed under torchlight by an ophthalmologist in the Department of Ophthalmology from IMSS. Data was compiled and statistically analyzed using Fisher's exact test and Spearman correlation. RESULTS: A total of 3081 SARS-CoV-2-positive patients were recorded, of which 318 (10.32%) met the inclusion criteria. Of them, 21 (6.60%) had ophthalmic manifestations and the female-to-male ratio was 1.6:1. The mean age (±SD) was 47.95±15.27 years and the median (interquartile range) time from the diagnosis of COVID-19, as defined by positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR testing, to detection of the ophthalmic manifestation was 31 (142) days. The most common ocular manifestation was orbital mucormycosis (23.80%). Interestingly, the presence of ophthalmic manifestations was not associated with severe COVID-19 (p=0.665). CONCLUSIONS: The ophthalmic manifestations are infrequent in patients recovered from severe COVID-19. Nevertheless, further large sample studies are needed to confirm these findings.

[Ophthalmic manifestations in patients recovered from COVID-19 in Mexico]. / Manifestaciones oftálmicas en pacientes recuperados de COVID-19 en México.

Introduction and objectives: Although the ophthalmic manifestations appear to be associated with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), there is not enough evidence. Hence, the aim of this study was to determine the various types and frequency of ophthalmic manifestations in patients recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection in Mexico. Material and methods: This retrospective, observational and descriptive study included all patients recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection attending the tertiary level hospital of Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) from June 2020 to June 2022. During the hospital admission of patients, the demographic data such age, name, gender was recorded. Ophthalmologic examination was performed under torchlight by an ophthalmologist in the Department of Ophthalmology from IMSS. Data was compiled and statistically analyzed using Fisher's exact test and Spearman correlation. Results: A total of 3,081 SARS-CoV-2-positive patients were recorded, of which 318 (10.32%) met the inclusion criteria. Of them, 21 (6.60%) had ophthalmic manifestations and the female-to-male ratio was 1.6:1. The mean age (±SD) was 47.95 ± 15.27 years and the median (interquartile range) time from the diagnosis of COVID-19, as defined by positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR testing, to detection of the ophthalmic manifestation was 31 (142) days. The most common ocular manifestation was orbital mucormycosis (23.80%). Interestingly, the presence of ophthalmic manifestations was not associated with severe COVID-19 (p = 0.665). Conclusions: The ophthalmic manifestations are infrequent in patients recovered from severe COVID-19. Nevertheless, further large sample studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Mortality in pregnant women with COVID - 19 during the 2020-2021 period in Latin America

Objective: To conduct a review on mortality in pregnant women with COVID-19 during the 2020-2021 period in Latin America. Methods: A systematic review of scientific articles published from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2021, was carried out in the Medline databases via PubMed, SciELO, Google Scholar. The question was: What is the mortality in pregnant women with COVID-19 during the 2020-2021 period in Latin America? through the controlled descriptors: "Pregnant women”, "COVID-19”, "Mortality”. Population: Pregnant women, Exposure: COVID-19, Outcome: Mortality. Results: One of the most vulnerable populations were pregnant women, as they are more susceptible to developing serious viral infections due to the physiological adaptations that occur during pregnancy. After the selection process, we included 10 studies that showed results. They were developed in pregnant women with a positive COVID-19 test and had a study population varying between 40 and 29,416 participants. Mortality in intensive care units was found to be 49% in Mexico City. A study in 8 Latin American countries reported that 86.4% of women were infected before delivery and 60.3% in the third trimester. Studies coincide in describing comorbidities in pregnant women with COVID-19, among which hypertensive disorders stand out. Conclusion: This study provides information about maternal mortality associated with COVID-19 among women in Latin America. In addition, pregnant women were found to present health barriers to accessing intensive care unit services. © 2023 Sociedad de Obstetricia y Ginecologia de Venezuela. All rights reserved.

Cardiac troponin as major mortality risk factor in SARS-CoV-2 infection

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has collapsed the health system, making it necessary to identify factors that help to predict and stratify the risk of patients on admission. Many factors have been used in clinical practice, but the scientific evidence available to date is limited. Purpose: The objective of this study was to identify clinical and analytical predictors of 30-day mortality in SARS-CoV- 2 infection. Methods: A total of 1708 consecutive patients hospitalized in our centre between 18th and 23rd March 2020 and 22nd August and 9th January 2021 with a confirmed microbiological diagnosis of COVID-19 by PCR were prospectively included. Cox regression analysis was performed to assess whether sex and race, smoking habit, chronic kidney disease, D-dimer, heart disease (defined as a history of acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, atrial fibrillation) and troponin at admission (cTnI levels greater than the 99th percentile of a healthy population) were related to the 30-day mortality of these patients. Results: Baseline characteristic are shown in the table 1. Median hospital length of stay was 9 days (IQR 5 to 16). A total of 338 patients (19.8%) died within 30 days and 153 (9.0%) were admitted to the ICU. Furthermore, 52.1% of patients developed ARDS and 9.3% required non-invasive ventilation. A troponin at admission greater than the 99th percentile of a healthy population (HR 1.9, 95% CI 1.4-2.5, p<0.001) and a Charlson Comorbidity Index above 4 (HR 2.6, 95% CI 1.9-3.6, p<0.001) were independent predictors of 30-day mortality in patients admitted due to COVID- 19 infection. Conclusions: At admission time, troponin values and patient comorbidity (Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥4) can be useful as prognostic markers of SARS-CoV-2 infection. (Figure Presented).

The novel Mechanical Ventilator Milano for the COVID-19 pandemic.

This paper presents the Mechanical Ventilator Milano (MVM), a novel intensive therapy mechanical ventilator designed for rapid, large-scale, low-cost production for the COVID-19 pandemic. Free of moving mechanical parts and requiring only a source of compressed oxygen and medical air to operate, the MVM is designed to support the long-term invasive ventilation often required for COVID-19 patients and operates in pressure-regulated ventilation modes, which minimize the risk of furthering lung trauma. The MVM was extensively tested against ISO standards in the laboratory using a breathing simulator, with good agreement between input and measured breathing parameters and performing correctly in response to fault conditions and stability tests. The MVM has obtained Emergency Use Authorization by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in healthcare settings during the COVID-19 pandemic and Health Canada Medical Device Authorization for Importation or Sale, under Interim Order for Use in Relation to COVID-19. Following these certifications, mass production is ongoing and distribution is under way in several countries. The MVM was designed, tested, prepared for certification, and mass produced in the space of a few months by a unique collaboration of respiratory healthcare professionals and experimental physicists, working with industrial partners, and is an excellent ventilator candidate for this pandemic anywhere in the world.

Intervention by the Clinical Psychology team from the Liaison Unit of the IPS Gregorio Maranon during the COVID-19 crisis

The Covid-19 pandemic is generating an array of psychological difficulties in survivors, families and first-line health professionals. The need for psychological interventions within the hospital has led to the increase in the capacity of the Clinical Psychology Liaison Service in the Gregorio Maraiion General University Hospital. The crisis intervention model has underpinned the organization of the care, with a focus on preventing complicated grief and post-traumatic stress disorder. In this paper, the most frequently reported psychological difficulties are outlined and the interventions carried out in the service are described (reduced groups for professionals, face-to-face and telephone-based interventions with patients, families and professionals, crisis intervention, consulting role of the physicians and nurses, etc.).

Socially responsible investing as a competitive strategy for trading companies in times of upheaval amid covid-19: Evidence from spain

Sustainable and responsible investing (SRI) is a strategy that seeks to combine both financial return and social good. The need to create and preserve SRI represents a key argument in investment decision-making, which leads other firms and investors to make strategic decisions beyond financial logic, based on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors. Within this framework, this paper aims to further clarify the understanding of potentially profitable strategies for firms during a global crisis such as a pandemic. Both primary and secondary data were gathered, and descriptive analyses were conducted. In Spain, several IBEX-35 companies announced donations amid the COVID-19 crisis. First, companies were classified into two groups based on donations made. For this, we searched for ESG online news. Then, profitability records amongst companies were identified and compared. In the trading session after the announcements, we found 12 of the 35 companies that made donations had a higher performance index of more than 2 and 3 points over the companies that did not make donations. With a weekly perspective, the difference was 91 and 60 basis points, respectively. These results suggest that in times of upheaval, investors base their strategy on ESG factors, contributing to the emerging literature on individual motives of SRI. Second, by conducting a survey and collecting data from 575 Spanish citizens, we conclude that after this crisis, people’s perceptions towards corporate social responsibility (CSR) will change, affecting consumption preferences in those companies that exhibited socially irresponsible or unsupportive behaviour. Hence, the reputation of firms, their social image, and social trust will play an important role in the near future. © 2020, MDPI Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute. All rights reserved.

Perspective on the primary prevention of COVID-19

This article seeks to describe the main preventive measures on COVID-19 that is affecting our country, considering epidemiological aspects and recommendations applied and reported in other countries. The topics covered are the prevention of traveling patients, the importance of hand hygiene, respiratory prevention, policies in educational centers, and Prevention for healthcare personnel. This is due to the need for a better characterization of this new health problem in our country, to establish public policies based on the Prevention of complications of this new virus, taking into account assessments based on scientific, preventive and social evidence.