ABSTRACT
Background: Due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, an increase in stress, anxiety, and depression has been seen, as well as greater use of substances and a decrease in prenatal care in pregnant women. (1) Women of childbearing age with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) experience greater psychological stress, which can negatively influence behavior. (2) Objectives: This study aims to compare changes in prenatal laboratory and ultrasound tests by trimester, as well as the detection of anxiety and depression in pregnant women with ARDs due to the SARS CoV-2 pandemic. Methods: This study was carried out on pregnant patients with ARDs from the Pregnancy and Rheumatic Diseases clinic of the rheumatology department of the University Hospital 'Dr. José Eleuterio González' during the period from February 2018 to August 2021. Two standardized evaluations of anxiety and depression were carried out using the Inventory of Trait and State Anxiety (IDARE) and the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) respectively in the third trimester of pregnancy. Maternal report of alcohol consumption during any trimester of pregnancy, as well as adherence to routine laboratory studies such as structural ultrasound and gesta-tional diabetes screening, was addressed. Positive COVID-19 nasopharynx PCR results were evaluated during pregnancy beginning in the pandemic period (March 2020). The pre-pandemic recruited group was compared with the pandemic group. The comparison of the groups was carried out using the Chi-Square and Fisher tests. A significant value of p < 0.05 was considered. Statistical analysis was performed using the IBM SPSS v.25 program. Results: 50 pregnant patients with ARDs were recruited, of which 24 were included in the pre-pandemic group and 26 in the pandemic group. Compared with the pre-pandemic group, pregnant women recruited during the pandemic had a statistically signifcant higher positivity for state anxiety (p=0.023), likewise trait anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation were detected more frequently, but the difference was not statistically signifcant, a higher rate of adherence to laboratory and cabinet studies was found, being signifcant for laboratories performed in the 1st and 2nd trimesters (0.005 and 0.025 respectively). See Table 1. Conclusion: A higher frequency of positivity for state anxiety was demonstrated in pregnant women with ARDs recruited during the pandemic, as well as higher trait anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation, although this increase was not statistically signifcant. On the other hand, concern about the pandemic and health status could positively influence better adherence to screening and routine studies during pregnancy.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way the classes were conducted worldwide. Ecuadorian teachers were required to implement synchronously and asynchronously classes. Consequently, all the content was adapted to this new type of class. On the other hand, students have presented tiredness during classes, demotivation to learn, and unhappiness with this new modality. Studies have demonstrated the advantages of Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) to motivate learners. Method: This case study aimed to investigate the efficiency of ClassDojo to motivate Ecuadorian students' participation during the English online classes. A sample of 29 sixth-graders from a private school, ranging from 9 to 11 years old, participated in this research. The data were collected during four months of classes (August to November 2020) through tests (pre and post), interview, and teacher's journal. Results: After the implementation of the app, the participants presented a significant difference between the pre-test (M=2.03, SD=1.26) and post-test (M=7.28, SD=1.69) with a p=0.00 and Cohen's d=3.52. The results gathered from the pre and post-test revealed that ClassDojo motivated students' participation in class. Results from the interview showed students' positive opinions on the use of ClassDojo. Conclusions: This app allowed participants to learn, interact, and have fun at the same time. This research is addressed to teachers who have online classes and want to increase learners' participation.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Age and chronic kidney disease have been described as mortality risk factors for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Currently, an important percentage of patients in hemodialysis are elderly. This study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 in this population and to determine risk factors associated with mortality. METHOD: Data was obtained from the Spanish COVID-19 CKD Working Group Registry, that included patients in renal replacement therapy (dialysis and kidney transplantation) infected by COVID-19. From March 18, 2020, to August 27, 2020, 1165 patients on hemodialysis affected by COVID-19 were included in the Registry. A total of 328 patients were under 65 years-old and 837 were 65 years old or older (elderly group). RESULTS: Mortality was 18.6% higher (95% confidence interval (CI): 13.8%-23.4%) in the elderly hemodialysis patients compared to the non-elderly group (see figure). Death from COVID-19 infection was increased 5.5-fold in hemodialysis patients compared to mortality in the general population for a similar period, and there was an age-associated mortality increase in both populations (see figure 1). In multivariate Cox regression analysis, age (hazard ratio (HR) 1.58, 95% CI: 1.31-1.92), dyspnea at presentation (HR 1.61, 95% CI: 1.20-2.16), pneumonia (HR 1.76, 95% CI: 1.12-2.75) and admission to hospital (HR 4.13, 95% CI: 1.92-8.88) were identified as independent mortality risk factors in the elderly hemodialysis population. Treatment with glucocorticoids reduced the risk of death (HR 0.71, 95% CI: 0.51-0.98) in aged patients on hemodialysis. CONCLUSION: Mortality is dramatically increased in elderly hemodialysis patients affected by COVID-19. Age, dyspnea at presentation, pneumonia or hospitalization are factors associated with a worse prognosis, after adjusting dialysis population to other confounding factors. Treatment with glucocorticoids could be a therapeutic option for this specific population. (Table Presented).