ABSTRACT
Background. Homeless shelters are high risk settings for SARS-CoV-2 transmission. People experiencing homelessness (PEH) have high rates of chronic illness, and have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19. The burden of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) in PEH has not been well-studied and PEH may be uniquely affected due to barriers to medical care and the potential exacerbation of existing threats to health, housing, employment, and self-care. Methods. The Seattle Flu Study conducted community-based surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in nine homeless shelters from September 1, 2020 and May 31, 2021. Individuals with and without respiratory symptoms were tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection using a PCR assay. We completed follow-up surveys with shelter residents age ≥18 years at days 5, 10, 30 and 60+ after positive or inconclusive diagnosis with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Individuals were asked about residual symptoms, impact on activities of daily living, access to medical care, and health-related quality of life. Results. Of 51 eligible participants, 22 (43%) completed a follow-up survey, with six at day 5 or 10 survey, 11 at day 30, and 18 at day 60+. The median time from enrollment to last follow-up survey was 77 (range 49-138) days. Five (23%) participants reported at least one symptom at day 0, five (83%) at day 5 or 10, eight (73%) at day 30 and seven (39%) at day 60+ (Figure 1). Eight (36%) reported at least one symptom on a day 30 or 60+ follow up survey that interfered or prevented their daily activities. Nine (41%) received medical care at the quarantine facility. Of those with symptoms persisting beyond day 10, four (30%) received medical care outside of a medical provider at the quarantine facility. Prevalence of self-reported symptoms at Day 0 (enrollment), Day 5 or 10, Day 30, and Day 60+ in shelter residents who tested positive or inconclusive for SARS-CoV-2. Conclusion. PEH reported a high prevalence of persistent COVID-19 symptoms 30+ days after their SARS-CoV-2 detection. Few participants accessed medical care for their persistent illness. The impact of COVID-19 extends beyond acute illness and PASC may exacerbate existing challenges PEH face in health and wellbeing.
ABSTRACT
AIM: To evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic performance of alternative diagnostic strategies to oral glucose tolerance tests, including random plasma glucose, fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c , during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Retrospective service data (Cambridge, UK; 17 736 consecutive singleton pregnancies, 2004-2008; 826 consecutive gestational diabetes pregnancies, 2014-2019) and 361 women with ≥1 gestational diabetes risk factor (OPHELIA prospective observational study, UK) were included. Pregnancy outcomes included gestational diabetes (National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence or International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups criteria), diabetes in pregnancy (WHO criteria), Caesarean section, large-for-gestational age infant, neonatal hypoglycaemia and neonatal intensive care unit admission. Receiver-operating characteristic curves and unadjusted logistic regression were used to compare random plasma glucose, fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c performance. RESULTS: Gestational diabetes diagnosis was significantly associated with random plasma glucose at 12 weeks [area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve for both criteria 0.81 (95% CI 0.79-0.83)], fasting plasma glucose [National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence: area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve 0.75 (95% CI 0.65-0.85); International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups: area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve 0.92 (95% CI 0.85-0.98)] and HbA1c at 28 weeks' gestation [National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence: 0.83 (95% CI 0.75-0.90); International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups: 0.84 (95% CI 0.77-0.91)]. Each measure predicts some, but not all, pregnancy outcomes studied. At 12 weeks, ~5% of women would be identified using random plasma glucose ≥8.5 mmol/l (sensitivity 42%; specificity 96%) and at 28 weeks using HbA1c ≥39 mmol/mol (sensitivity 26%; specificity 96%) or fasting plasma glucose ≥5.2-5.4 mmol/l (sensitivity 18-41%; specificity 97-98%). CONCLUSIONS: Random plasma glucose at 12 weeks, and fasting plasma glucose or HbA1c at 28 weeks identify women with hyperglycaemia at risk of suboptimal pregnancy outcomes. These opportunistic laboratory tests perform adequately for risk stratification when oral glucose tolerance testing is not available.