Characterization of nailfold capillaroscopy in covid-19: A case control study

Background: Nailfold capillaroscopy is a relatively easy-to-access, low-cost clinical tool that could help identify early coagulopathy in subjects with SARS-CoV-2, but specific findings vs. controls and its possible prognostic role has not been studied. Objectives: To describe capillaroscopic findings and their usefulness in patients with COVID-19 compared to healthy controls. Methods: We designed a cross-sectional study, carried out in a single care center for critical patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia at the ABC Medical Center, Mexico City, which included patients from an intensive care unit (ICU) and internal medicine ward from March to April 2020. Demographic, biochemical and clinical features were collected. All patients signed the informed consent and the study was approved by the hospital ethics committee. All patients underwent nail capillary imaging of the 3 central fingers of each hand with a portable microscope with 60-100x magnification coupled to a smartphone with 7 megapixel images in an immersion medium. Capillaroscopy was performed in patients who did not have fever or hypothermia, or need vasopressors at the time of evaluation. Control subjects are healthy subjects matched on age and sex from a database of healthy controls without rheumatic diseases. Image evaluation of COVID-19 patients was performed in a blinded way for their characteristics. Prior to the analysis of the images, a pilot test was obtained with 4 rheumatologists in random cases, obtaining an acceptable global agreement in the visualization of capillaries and specific alterations of the nail bed. (Kappa = 0.58, p = 0.0019). Obtained data from capillaroscopies were used to be compared between severe and moderate cases of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. Additionally, we compared the findings against a healthy population in order to establish a reference. Results: We included data from 27 patients and 32 controls with similar demographic features. Patients with COVID-19 patients had a mean age of 43 +/-13.8 years, 63% female. Comorbidities were present in 44.4% with: type II Diabetes Mellitus 18.5%, systemic arterial hypertension 18.5%, and rheumatoid arthritis 3.7%. The mean length of stay time was 13 +/-7.1 days, 48.1% were admitted to the ICU, and 40.7% required invasive mechanical ventilation. In the capillaroscopic review remarkable findings of patients vs. controls were hemosiderin deposits (33 vs 12.5%, p=0.05), less frequently observable capillaries (77 vs 100%, p=0.005), any abnormality in capillaries (25.9 vs. 6.3%, p=0.03). Of notice, specific findings in COVID-19 patients were capillary tortuosities in 19%, dilatation in 9.5%, serpentine pattern in 4.8%, bush pattern in 9.5% and decreased density in only 4.8% of the cases. No avascular areas or capillaries of neoformation were observed. Finally, the presence of hemosiderin was associated with worse presentation and risk factors for severe COVID-19: Male sex 66.7 vs. 27.8%, (p = 0.024);Admission to ICU 77% vs 33% (p = 0.029);BMI > 30 kg/m2 66.7 vs. 27.8% (p = 0.053). And risk for ICU admission OR = 7.0 (95% CI 1.098 -44.6). No significant associations were found for abnormalities in capillary morphology. Conclusion: We present one of the first reports of nailfold capillaroscopic findings in patients with COVID-19 and the first to compare to healthy controls. Previous data on this regard suggests the presence of endothelial dysfunction and microvascular complications such as micro hemorrhage or micro thrombosis. Further studies may confirm these findings and prognostic value for worse outcomes in COVID-19 patients.

Factors associated with mortality in patients with rheumatic diseases and COVID-19 in Mexico

Background: As of the 25th of January 2021, more than 150 thousand deaths as consequence of COVID-19 have been reported in Mexico [1]. Advanced age, male gender and comorbidities have been described as risk factors for severe disease and mortality in general population [2]. COVID-19 mortality in Mexican patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) is unknown. Objectives: To describe characteristics of Mexican patients with RMDs and COVID-19, and to analyse factors associated with mortality. Methods: The Global Rheumatology Alliance COVID-19 (GRA) physician reported registry, is an international effort to collect information on COVID19 in adult patients with RMDs. GRA is an observational registry. The first patient from Mexico was registered on April 17, 2020. All Mexican patients registered in GRA until October 30, 2020 were included in this analysis. The association of mortality with demographic and clinical variables was estimated using logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 323 patients were registered, with a median age of 52 (IQR 41-61) years old, 166 (51.4%) patients lived in Mexico City. The most frequent RMDs were rheumatoid arthritis, 149 (46.1%) and systemic lupus erythematosus, 24 (19.8%). Over a third of patients with RMDs and COVID-19 (119 (36.8%)) were hospitalized, and 43 (13.3%) died. Table 1 shows clinical and demographic characteristics. In the univariable analysis, the absence of comorbidities was a protective factor, OR 0.3 (95% CI 0.1-0.6). Factors associated with mortality at COVID-19 diagnosis were age over 65 years old, having type 2 diabetes, chronic renal insufficiency, treatment at COVID-19 diagnosis with corticosteroids or with CD20 inhibitors. In the multivariable adjusted analysis, these factors remained independently associated with mortality. No associations with other treatments or comorbidities at COVID-19 diagnosis were found. Conclusion: Mexican patients with RMDs and COVID-19 in the GRA physician reported registry had a mortality of 13.3%. Factors associated with mortality were those described in the general population, such as older age and being on corticosteroids and CD20 inhibitors treatment at COVID-19 diagnosis.

Facing post COVID-19 era, what is really important for Ecuadorian SMEs?

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have to face the time post COVID-19. The pandemic impacted the SMEs with great force worsening the well-known situation of lack of resources and its tendency to disappear in the very early years of existence. This systemic crisis jeopardizes SMEs in many ways and it is necessary to find ways to emerge and survive from this crisis. This manuscript conducts a literature study on more than 100 manuscripts that present recommendations from McKinsey & Company for SMEs to face post-pandemic time. Through the application of the entropy-weight coefficient method this paper finds priorities from Ecuadorian SMEs out of essential elements proposed at the literature review, to introducing at the managing process to face post COVID-19 era. © The Author(s) 2020.