What changed between the peak and plateau periods of the first COVID-19 pandemic wave? A multicentric Portuguese cohort study in intensive care

Objective: To analyze and compare COVID-19 patient characteristics, clinical management and outcomes between the peak and plateau periods of the first pandemic wave in Portugal. Methods: This was a multicentric ambispective cohort study including consecutive severe COVID-19 patients between March and August 2020 from 16 Portuguese intensive care units. The peak and plateau periods, respectively, weeks 10 - 16 and 17 - 34, were defined. Results: Five hundred forty-one adult patients with a median age of 65 [57 - 74] years, mostly male (71.2%), were included. There were no significant differences in median age (p = 0.3), Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (40 versus 39;p = 0.8), partial arterial oxygen pressure/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio (139 versus 136;p = 0.6), antibiotic therapy (57% versus 64%;p = 0.2) at admission, or 28-day mortality (24.4% versus 22.8%;p = 0.7) between the peak and plateau periods. During the peak period, patients had fewer comorbidities (1 [0 - 3] versus 2 [0 - 5];p = 0.002) and presented a higher use of vasopressors (47% versus 36%;p < 0.001) and invasive mechanical ventilation (58.1 versus 49.2%;p < 0.001) at admission, prone positioning (45% versus 36%;p = 0.04), and hydroxychloroquine (59% versus 10%;p < 0.001) and lopinavir/ ritonavir (41% versus 10%;p < 0.001) prescriptions. However, a greater use of high-flow nasal cannulas (5% versus 16%, p < 0.001) on admission, remdesivir (0.3% versus 15%;p < 0.001) and corticosteroid (29% versus 52%, p < 0.001) therapy, and a shorter ICU length of stay (12 days versus 8, p < 0.001) were observed during the plateau. Conclusion: There were significant changes in patient comorbidities, intensive care unit therapies and length of stay between the peak and plateau periods of the first COVID-19 wave. © 2023 Associacao de Medicina Intensiva Brasileira - AMIB. All rights reserved.

Quality of life of higher education students at the Polytechnic Institutes of Santarem and Leiria during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective: This study aims to determine the quality of life of higher education students at the Polytechnic Institutes of Santarem and Leiria during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The population consists of 6483 students attending higher education, from both Institutes. A total of 775 participants selected by convenience sampling, participated in the study. Study with a quantitative, descriptive, correlational character, aiming to describe phenomena and, in addition, identify and explore possible relationships between variables. The WHOQOL-Bref instrument adapted from WHO was applied. The data treatment and analysis were performed using descriptive, correlational and inferential statistics. Results: Students' self-assessment about Quality of Life is globally superior to the self-assessment with their satisfaction with health, where the female students have lower average values than the male students. The WHOQOL-Bref domains referring to Quality of Life with higher values were the Physical and Environment domain, with the Social Relations and Psychological domains having the lowest values. Conclusion: The results point to the need for intervention to promote the Quality of Life of students, focusing on psychosocial factors, due to the conditions imposed during the confinement period, by the pandemic COVID-19.

Relationship between physical activity and health-related quality of life in children and adolescents during COVID-19 social distancing

This study aimed to verify the relationship between physical activity (PA) with health-related quality (HQOL) of life domains in children and adolescents during COVID-19 social distancing. A Cross-sectional and analytical study with a quantitative approach in a sample of 119 girls and 121 boys. Questionnaires and statistical methods were applied. The correlation between PA and HQOL was stronger in boys (46.9%) than girls (14.5%), which may be explained because there is a considerable and stronger relationship between age, and the school grade with HQOL in girls. In conclusion, physical activity was associated with the quality of life of children and adolescents during social distance due to the COVID-19. These findings show the importance of this population to remain physically active so that health parameters are not affected during this period © Copyright 2018: Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad de Murcia

The Portuguese Football Federation's new paradigm during COVID-19

Sport is probably the main form of physical activity. Football (i.e., soccer) is often mentioned as the most popular sport. Not surprisingly, the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) consistently registers the largest number of participants among 60 sport federations that are recognized by the Portuguese Government. To enhance quality, FPF created the Portugal Football School (PFS) aimed to promote education and applied research in parallel to knowledge transfer. The targets are players, managers, clinical professionals, nutritionists, and media. Until the emergence of the current pandemic, COVID-19, the educational model followed the traditional classroom setting for teaching and learning. This chapter's focus will be only on the PFS Education area and presenting results related to the PFS courses and participants in the pre-COVID-19 period and during COVID-19 pandemic time. © 2021 by IGI Global. All rights reserved.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Influenza vaccination coverage of healthcare workers in a portuguese general hospital: a 9-year study comparison

Introduction: Influenza seasonal infection claims half a million lives in the world every year due to complications. The most effective tool to prevent the seasonal flu infection is with an annual Influenza vaccine. Healthcare workers (HCW) are part of a high-risk occupational category, since they contact directly with flu patients, therefore the vaccination of these workers is paramount. After the breakout of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the prevention of the viral respiratory infections resurfaced to the public attention, including to HCW. The aim of this study is to evaluate the Influenza vaccination coverage of HCW in a general hospital located in Portugal (Centro Hospitalar do Baixo Vouga, Aveiro), in a 9-year timeframe. Material and Methods: This study determined the percentage of our hospital HCW who received the Influenza vaccine by our Occupational Health and Work Medicine Service, from 2012 to 2020. Results and Conclusions: Data shows a record-high vaccination coverage in 2020, the same year which the COVID-19 pandemic reached Portugal. Comparing to the previous year, data shows a 30% increase in the percentage of vaccinated HCW from all types (48,5% vs 37,4%). In comparison to 2019, the percentage of vaccinated nurse practitioners increased 24% (44,9% vs 36,1%) and the percentage of vaccinated physicians increased 46% (64,0% vs 43,9%). Although is not possible to assume causality, this study suggests a correlation between the breakout of the COVID-19 pandemic and the increase in HCW Influenza vaccination coverage of this hospital.

Digital health literacy and online information queries in Portuguese university students

Background Worldwide there is an overwhelming amount of information about COVID-19 circulating online, also named infodemic. Misinformation (the unintentional) and disinformation (the intentional) spreading of false information have proven to be very dangerous to public health. Hence, more than ever, people need skills for searching, evaluating and integrating information related to health in daily life, i.e., health literacy. Until now, little is known about the digital health literacy of university students and their information-seeking behaviour. Hence, this study aimed to analyse the associations between university students' digital health literacy and online information queries during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic (and infodemic) in Portugal. Methods A cross-sectional study of 3.084 Portuguese university students (75.7% females), with an average age of 24.2 (SD = 7.5), was conducted using an online survey. We used sociodemographic data (sex, age, subjective social status) and the digital health literacy questionnaire adapted to the specific COVID-19 context. Online information queries included the topics related to SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 searched by students. Logistic regression models were performed. Results Online information queries (e.g., individual measures to protect against infection, current spread of the virus, current situation assessments and recommendations) were associated with an increased odds of achieving sufficient digital health literacy. Conclusions Online information queries related to epidemiological and public health topics are significantly associated with digital health literacy in times of COVID-19. Further studies are needed, including programs that improve digital health literacy among university students and increase the availability of high-quality content information.

Analysis of the spatio-temporal dynamics of incidence, mortality and test rates (rapid and RT-PCR) of COVID-19 in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Background and Objectives: A novel type of coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, is responsible for an unprecedented pandemic with profound socioeconomic consequences. Owing to its recent discovery still represents a great unknown to researchers. Thus, this study aims to establish the spatio-temporal associations of the incidence, mortality, and the rate of both rapid and RT-PCR tests in Minas Gerais. Methods: This is a quantitative analysis of secondary data based on a cross-sectional research design. Incidence, mortality, date of the first notification of COVID-19 and number of rapid and RT-PCR tests were obtained from the sources: "GAL", "e-SUS VE" and "SES-MG". Pearson coefficient for correlation was calculated to establish the level of association between the relevant data. Descriptive statistical procedures were used to provide a comprehensive understanding of the distribution of incidence, mortality and test rates in the territory. Results: Positive correlations were found between the rate of rapid tests and incidence;rate of RT-PCR tests and incidence/mortality. At the municipal level, incidence, mortality, rate of rapid tests and RT-PCR revealed a negative correlation with days elapsed since the First Notified Case. The same effect occurs at the level of health macro-regions. Conclusion: The heterogeneity of the incidence and mortality of COVID-19 in the territory of Minas Gerais, as well as the rate of tests may be caused, in part, due to the different dates of introduction of the virus in the municipalities/macro-regions. It is speculated that this phenomenon occurs due to the dynamics of regional and inter-regional flows of people.

Social protection and therapeutic-occupational experiences: life during the Covid-19 pandemic

This text elaborates some reflections regarding the responses that have been undertaken by the sectors: health, social security and social assistance, which make up social security in Brazil. It assumes its centrality, to face the pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2. Considering this context and assuming a professional action for social participation with autonomy, we share experiences in Social Occupational Therapy with young people who live in urban peripheries, certainly poor for the market/consumption, but rich in life, in the Covid-19 pandemic. The aim was to produce care that is consistent with social protection and is directed, in defense of the non-negotiable value of each life and of its pulse, towards the promotion of an emancipatory circulation, an issue that existed prior to the pandemic, albeit now aggravated, and always present among this group of young people.