ABSTRACT
Objective: This study determined the correlation between several laboratory variables, chest computed tomography severity score (CTSS), and coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) Reporting and Data System (CO-RADS) in COVID-19 patients. Materials and Methods: Ninety-one patients with COVID-19 infection verified by polymerase chain reaction test, presented to the emergency department with COVID-19 symptoms, and had a thoracic computed tomography (CT) scan at the time of admission were included in this retrospective study. 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), D-dimer, glucose, ferritin, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, phosphorous, and calcium levels recorded and CO-RADS and CTSS data. The correlation of laboratory parameters with radiological findings was analyzed. Results: A positive correlation was found between CTSS and age, ESR, CRP, D-dimer while a negative correlation was found between CTSS and lymphocyte count. Patients with high CTSS levels had higher ESR, CRP, D-dimer, ferritin values and lower lymphocyte count, and lower calcium levels. Patients with typical CO-RADS involvement had higher sedimentation, CRP, glucose, and ferritin levels and lower lymphocyte count. No significant correlation was determined between the 25(OH)D level, CO-RADS, and CTSS. Conclusion: The results of this study highlight that the reduced lymphocyte count, high D-dimer, sedimentation, ferritin, and CRP levels are predictors of severe lung involvement in COVID-19 patients. Hypocalcemia can also be considered a marker of severe lung involvement evaluated by CT in COVID-19 patients. the association between vitamin D deficiency and COVID-19 pneumonia should be investigated in future studies.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: This study aims to investigate coronaphobia and physical activity levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Patients and methods: Between December 2021 and February 2022, a total of 68 RA patients (11 males, 57 females;mean age: 48.3 +/- 10.1 years;range, 29 to 78 years) and 64 age-and sex-matched healthy individuals (4 males, 60 females;mean age: 47.9 +/- 10.2 years;range, 23 to 70 years) were included in this cross-sectional study. Demographic, physical, lifestyle, and medical characteristics of all participants were recorded. The COVID-19 Phobia Scale (C19PS) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) were administered to all participants. The RA patients were divided into two groups as: patients treated with biological and non-biological agents. The Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS28) and Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) were used to measure disease activity.Results: The total and subgroup scores of the C19P-S were found to be statistically significantly higher in both the biological and non-biological RA groups than in the control group (p=0.001). However, there was no statistically significant difference between the RA groups in terms of total and subgroup C19P-S scores. The mean IPAQ score was significantly lower in the RA group using biological drugs than in the control group (p=0.002). A significant correlation was found between DAS28 and total C19P-S scores (r:0.63, p<0.05), and CDAI and total C19P-S scores (r:0.79, p<0.05).Conclusion: Patients with RA have an increased risk of coronaphobia and disease activity is correlated with coronaphobia. Patients treated with biological agents seem to have lower activity levels compared to other RA patients and healthy controls. These results should be considered in the management of RA during COVID-19 pandemic and preventive intervention strategies should be formulated to cope with coronaphobia.