Trajectory of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Previously Hospitalized COVID-19 Survivors: The Long COVID Experience Multicenter Study.

This multicenter cohort study used Sankey plots and exponential bar plots to visualize the fluctuating evolution and the trajectory of gastrointestinal symptoms in previously hospitalized COVID-19 survivors during the first 18 months after acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. A total of 1266 previously hospitalized COVID-19 survivors were assessed at four points: hospital admission (T0), at 8.4 months (T1), at 13.2 months (T2), and at 18.3 months (T3) after hospitalization. Participants were asked about their overall gastrointestinal symptoms and particularly diarrhea. Clinical and hospitalization data were collected from hospital medical records. The prevalence of overall gastrointestinal post-COVID symptomatology was 6.3% (n = 80) at T1, 3.99% (n = 50) at T2 and 2.39% (n = 32) at T3. The prevalence of diarrhea decreased from 10.69% (n = 135) at hospital admission (T0), to 2.55% (n = 32) at T1, to 1.04% (n = 14) at T2, and to 0.64% (n = 8) at T3. The Sankey plots revealed that just 20 (1.59%) and 4 (0.32%) patients exhibited overall gastrointestinal post-COVID symptoms or diarrhea, respectively, throughout the whole follow-up period. The recovery fitted exponential curves revealed a decreasing prevalence trend, showing that diarrhea and gastrointestinal symptoms recover during the first two or three years after COVID-19 in previously hospitalized COVID-19 survivors. The regression models did not reveal any symptoms to be associated with the presence of gastrointestinal post-COVID symptomatology or post-COVID diarrhea at hospital admission or at T1. The use of Sankey plots revealed the fluctuating evolution of gastrointestinal post-COVID symptoms during the first two years after infection. In addition, exponential bar plots revealed the decreased prevalence of gastrointestinal post-COVID symptomatology during the first three years after infection.

Clinical prediction model for pulmonary thrombosis diagnosis in hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Background and Aim: We aimed to develop a clinical prediction model for pulmonary thrombosis (PT) diagnosis in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Methods: Non-intensive care unit hospitalized COVID-19 patients who underwent a computed tomography pulmonary angiogram (CTPA) for suspected PT were included in the study. Demographic, clinical, analytical, and radiological variables as potential factors associated with the presence of PT were selected. Multivariable Cox regression analysis to develop a score for estimating the pre-test probability of PT was performed. The score was internally validated by bootstrap analysis. Results: Among the 271 patients who underwent a CTPA, 132 patients (48.7%) had PT. Heart rate >100 bpm (OR = 4.63 [95% CI: 2.30-9.34]; P < 0.001), respiratory rate >22 bpm (OR = 5.21 [95% CI: 2.00-13.54]; P < 0.001), RALE score ≥4 (OR = 3.24 [95% CI: 1.66-6.32]; P < 0.001), C-reactive protein (CRP) >100 mg/L (OR = 2.10 [95% CI: 0.95-4.63]; P = 0.067), and D-dimer >3.000 ng/mL (OR = 6.86 [95% CI: 3.54-13.28]; P < 0.001) at the time of suspected PT were independent predictors of thrombosis. Using these variables, we constructed a nomogram (CRP, Heart rate, D-dimer, RALE score, and respiratory rate [CHEDDAR score]) for estimating the pre-test probability of PT. The score showed a high predictive accuracy (area under the receiver-operating characteristics curve = 0.877; 95% CI: 0.83-0.92). A score lower than 182 points on the nomogram confers a low probability for PT with a negative predictive value of 92%. Conclusions: CHEDDAR score can be used to estimate the pre-test probability of PT in hospitalized COVID-19 patients outside the intensive care unit. Relevance for Patients: Developing a new clinical prediction model for PT diagnosis in COVID-19 may help in the triage of patients, and limit unnecessary exposure to radiation and the risk of nephrotoxicity due to iodinated contrast.

[Utility of probability scores for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection: a systematic review]. / Utilidad de las escalas de predicción diagnósticas de embolia de pulmón en pacientes con infección por SARS-CoV-2: una revisión sistemática.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Clinical prediction models determine the pre-test probability of pulmonary embolism (PE) and assess the need for tests for these patients. Coronavirus infection is associated with a greater risk of PE, increasing its severity and conferring a worse prognosis. The pathogenesis of PE appears to be different in patients with and without SARS-CoV-2 infection. This systematic review aims to discover the utility of probability models developed for PE in patients with COVID-19 by reviewing the available literature. METHODS: A literature search on the PubMed, Scopus, and EMBASE databases was carried out. All studies that reported data on the use of clinical prediction models for PE in patients with COVID-19 were included. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale for non-randomized studies. RESULTS: Thirteen studies that evaluated five prediction models (Wells score, Geneva score, YEARS algorithm, and PERC and PEGeD clinical decision rules) were included. The different scales were used in 1,187 patients with COVID-19. Overall, the models showed limited predictive ability. The two-level Wells score with low (or unlikely) clinical probability in combination with a D-dimer level <3000 ng/mL or a normal bedside lung ultrasound showed an adequate correlation for ruling out PE. CONCLUSIONS: Our systematic review suggests that the clinical prediction models available for PE that were developed in the general population are not applicable to patients with COVID-19. Therefore, their use is in clinical practice as the only diagnostic screening tool is not recommended. New clinical probability models for PE that are validated in these patients are needed.

Clustering analysis reveals different profiles associating long-term post-COVID symptoms, COVID-19 symptoms at hospital admission and previous medical co-morbidities in previously hospitalized COVID-19 survivors.

PURPOSE: To identify subgroups of COVID-19 survivors exhibiting long-term post-COVID symptoms according to clinical/hospitalization data by using cluster analysis in order to foresee the illness progress and facilitate subsequent prognosis. METHODS: Age, gender, height, weight, pre-existing medical comorbidities, Internal Care Unit (ICU) admission, days at hospital, and presence of COVID-19 symptoms at hospital admission were collected from hospital records in a sample of patients recovered from COVID-19 at five hospitals in Madrid (Spain). A predefined list of post-COVID symptoms was systematically assessed a mean of 8.4 months (SD 15.5) after hospital discharge. Anxiety/depressive levels and sleep quality were assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, respectively. Cluster analysis was used to identify groupings of COVID-19 patients without introducing any previous assumptions, yielding three different clusters associating post-COVID symptoms with acute COVID-19 symptoms at hospital admission. RESULTS: Cluster 2 grouped subjects with lower prevalence of medical co-morbidities, lower number of COVID-19 symptoms at hospital admission, lower number of post-COVID symptoms, and almost no limitations with daily living activities when compared to the others. In contrast, individuals in cluster 0 and 1 exhibited higher number of pre-existing medical co-morbidities, higher number of COVID-19 symptoms at hospital admission, higher number of long-term post-COVID symptoms (particularly fatigue, dyspnea and pain), more limitations on daily living activities, higher anxiety and depressive levels, and worse sleep quality than those in cluster 2. CONCLUSIONS: The identified subgrouping may reflect different mechanisms which should be considered in therapeutic interventions.

Inter-Rater Variability in the Evaluation of Lung Ultrasound in Videos Acquired from COVID-19 Patients

Lung ultrasound (LUS) allows for the detection of a series of manifestations of COVID-19, such as B-lines and consolidations. The objective of this work was to study the inter-rater reliability (IRR) when detecting signs associated with COVID-19 in the LUS, as well as the performance of the test in a longitudinal or transverse orientation. Thirty-three physicians with advanced experience in LUS independently evaluated ultrasound videos previously acquired using the ULTRACOV system on 20 patients with confirmed COVID-19. For each patient, 24 videos of 3 s were acquired (using 12 positions with the probe in longitudinal and transverse orientations). The physicians had no information about the patients or other previous evaluations. The score assigned to each acquisition followed the convention applied in previous studies. A substantial IRR was found in the cases of normal LUS (kappa = 0.74), with only a fair IRR for the presence of individual B-lines (kappa = 0.36) and for confluent B-lines occupying < 50% (kappa = 0.26) and a moderate IRR in consolidations and B-lines > 50% (kappa = 0.50). No statistically significant differences between the longitudinal and transverse scans were found. The IRR for LUS of COVID-19 patients may benefit from more standardized clinical protocols.

Long-COVID Symptoms in Individuals Infected with Different SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

The association of SARS-CoV-2 variants with long-COVID symptoms is still scarce, but new data are appearing at a fast pace. This systematic review compares the prevalence of long-COVID symptoms according to relevant SARS-CoV-2 variants in COVID-19 survivors. The MEDLINE, CINAHL, PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science databases, as well as the medRxiv and bioRxiv preprint servers, were searched up to 25 October 2022. Case-control and cohort studies analyzing the presence of post-COVID symptoms appearing after an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection by the Alpha (B.1.1.7), Delta (B.1.617.2) or Omicron (B.1.1.529/BA.1) variants were included. Methodological quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. From 430 studies identified, 5 peer-reviewed studies and 1 preprint met the inclusion criteria. The sample included 355 patients infected with the historical variant, 512 infected with the Alpha variant, 41,563 infected with the Delta variant, and 57,616 infected with the Omicron variant. The methodological quality of all studies was high. The prevalence of long-COVID was higher in individuals infected with the historical variant (50%) compared to those infected with the Alpha, Delta or Omicron variants. It seems that the prevalence of long-COVID in individuals infected with the Omicron variant is the smallest, but current data are heterogeneous, and long-term data have, at this stage, an obviously shorter follow-up compared with the earlier variants. Fatigue is the most prevalent long-COVID symptom in all SARS-CoV-2 variants, but pain is likewise prevalent. The available data suggest that the infection with the Omicron variant results in fewer long-COVID symptoms compared to previous variants; however, the small number of studies and the lack of the control of cofounders, e.g., reinfections or vaccine status, in some studies limit the generality of the results. It appears that individuals infected with the historical variant are more likely to develop long-COVID symptomatology.

Efficacy and Safety of Tinzaparin in Prophylactic, Intermediate and Therapeutic Doses in Non-Critically Ill Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19: The PROTHROMCOVID Randomized Controlled Trial.

Hospitalized patients with COVID-19 are at increased risk of thrombosis, acute respiratory distress syndrome and death. The optimal dosage of thromboprophylaxis is unknown. The aim was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tinzaparin in prophylactic, intermediate, and therapeutic doses in non-critical patients admitted for COVID-19 pneumonia. PROTHROMCOVID is a randomized, unblinded, controlled, multicenter trial enrolling non-critical, hospitalized adult patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. Patients were randomized to prophylactic (4500 IU), intermediate (100 IU/kg), or therapeutic (175 IU/kg) groups. All tinzaparin doses were administered once daily during hospitalization, followed by 7 days of prophylactic tinzaparin at discharge. The primary efficacy outcome was a composite endpoint of symptomatic systemic thrombotic events, need for invasive or non-invasive mechanical ventilation, or death within 30 days. The main safety outcome was major bleeding at 30 days. Of the 311 subjects randomized, 300 were included in the prespecified interim analysis (mean [SD] age, 56.7 [14.6] years; males, 182 [60.7%]). The composite endpoint at 30 days from randomization occurred in 58 patients (19.3%) of the total population; 19 (17.1 %) in the prophylactic group, 20 (22.1%) in the intermediate group, and 19 (18.5%) in the therapeutic dose group (p = 0.72). No major bleeding event was reported; non-major bleeding was observed in 3.7% of patients, with no intergroup differences. Due to these results and the futility analysis, the trial was stopped. In non-critically ill COVID-19 patients, intermediate or full-dose tinzaparin compared to standard prophylactic doses did not appear to affect the risk of thrombotic event, non-invasive ventilation, or mechanical ventilation or death. Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT04730856). Edura-CT registration number: 2020-004279-42.

Headache as a COVID-19 onset symptom and post-COVID-19 symptom in hospitalized COVID-19 survivors infected with the Wuhan, Alpha, or Delta SARS-CoV-2 variants.

OBJECTIVE: This study looked at differences in the presence of headache as an onset symptom of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and as a post-COVID-19 symptom in individuals previously hospitalized owing to infection with the Wuhan, Alpha, or Delta variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). BACKGROUND: Headache can be present in up to 50% of individuals during the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection and in 10% of subjects during the post-COVID-19 phase. There are no data on differences in the occurrence of headache in the acute- and post-COVID-19 phase according to the SARS-CoV-2 variants. METHODS: A cross-sectional cohort study was conducted. Unvaccinated subjects previously hospitalized for COVID-19 caused by the Wuhan (n = 201), Alpha (n = 211), or Delta (n = 202) SARS-CoV-2 variants were scheduled for a telephone interview 6 months after hospital discharge. Hospitalization data were collected from hospital medical records. RESULTS: The presence of headache as a COVID-19 onset symptom at hospitalization was higher in subjects with the Delta variant (66/202, 32.7%) than in those infected with the Wuhan (42/201, 20.9%; odds ratio [OR] 1.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17-2.88) or Alpha (25/211, 11.8%; OR 3.61, 95% CI, 2.16-6.01) variants. The prevalence of post-COVID-19 headache 6 months after hospital discharge was higher in individuals infected with the Delta variant (26/202, 12.9%) than in those infected with the Wuhan (11/201, 5.5%; OR 2.52, 95% CI 1.22-5.31) or Alpha (eight of 211, 3.8%; OR 3.74, 95% CI 1.65-8.49) variants. The presence of headache as a COVID-19 onset symptom was associated with post-COVID-19 headache in subjects infected with the Wuhan (OR 7.75, 95% CI 2.15-27.93) and Delta variants (OR 2.78, 95% CI 1.20-6.42) but not with the Alpha variant (OR 2.60, 95% CI 0.49-13.69). CONCLUSION: Headache was a common symptom in both the acute- and post-COVID-19 phase in subjects infected with the Wuhan, Alpha, and Delta variants but mostly in those infected with the Delta variant.

Effect of EARLY administration of DEXamethasone in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia without acute hypoxemic respiratory failure and risk of development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (EARLY-DEX COVID-19): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Corticosteroids are one of the few drugs that have shown a reduction in mortality in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In the RECOVERY trial, the use of dexamethasone reduced 28-day mortality compared to standard care in hospitalized patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 requiring supplemental oxygen or invasive mechanical ventilation. Evidence has shown that 30% of COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms at presentation will progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), particularly patients in whom laboratory inflammatory biomarkers associated with COVID-19 disease progression are detected. We postulated that dexamethasone treatment in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 pneumonia without additional oxygen requirements and at risk of progressing to severe disease might lead to a decrease in the development of ARDS and thereby reduce death. METHODS/DESIGN: This is a multicenter, randomized, controlled, parallel, open-label trial testing dexamethasone in 252 adult patients with COVID-19 pneumonia who do not require supplementary oxygen on admission but are at risk factors for the development of ARDS. Risk for the development of ARDS is defined as levels of lactate dehydrogenase > 245 U/L, C-reactive protein > 100 mg/L, and lymphocyte count of < 0.80 × 109/L. Eligible patients will be randomly assigned to receive either dexamethasone or standard of care. Patients in the dexamethasone group will receive a dose of 6 mg once daily during 7 days. The primary outcome is a composite of the development of moderate or more severe ARDS and all-cause mortality during the 30-day period following enrolment. DISCUSSION: If our hypothesis is correct, the results of this study will provide additional insights into the management and progression of this specific subpopulation of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia without additional oxygen requirements and at risk of progressing to severe disease. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04836780. Registered on 8 April 2021 as EARLY-DEX COVID-19.

The Effects of a Therapeutic Strategy Guided by Lung Ultrasound on 6-Month Outcomes in Patients with Heart Failure: Results from the EPICC Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary congestion (PC) is associated with an increased risk of hospitalization and death in patients with heart failure (HF). Lung ultrasound is highly sensitive for detecting PC. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether lung ultrasound-guided therapy improves 6-month outcomes in patients with HF. METHODS: A randomized, multicenter, single-blind clinical trial in patients discharged after hospitalization for decompensated HF. Participants were assigned 1:1 to receive treatment guided according to the presence of lung ultrasound signs of congestion (semi-quantitative evaluation of B lines and the presence of pleural effusion) versus standard of care (SOC). The primary endpoint was the combination of cardiovascular death, readmission, or emergency department or day hospital visit due to worsening HF at 6 months. In September 2020, after an interim analysis, patient recruitment was stopped. RESULTS: A total of 79 patients were randomized (mean age 81.2 +/- 9 years) and 41 patients (51.8%) showed a left ventricular ejection fraction >50%. The primary endpoint occurred in 11 patients (29.7%) in the SOC group and in 11 patients (26.1%) in the LUS group (log-rank = 0.83). Regarding nonserious adverse events, no significant differences were found. CONCLUSIONS: LUS-guided diuretic therapy after hospital discharge due to ADHF did not show any benefit in survival or a need for intravenous diuretics compared with SOC.

Differences in Long-COVID Symptoms between Vaccinated and Non-Vaccinated (BNT162b2 Vaccine) Hospitalized COVID-19 Survivors Infected with the Delta Variant.

This study compared differences in the presence of post-COVID symptoms among vaccinated and non-vaccinated COVID-19 survivors requiring hospitalization due to the Delta (B.1.617.2) variant. This cohort study included hospitalized subjects who had survived SARS-CoV-2 infection (Delta variant) from July to August 2021 in an urban hospital in Madrid, Spain. Individuals were classified as vaccinated if they received full administration (i.e., two doses) of BNT162b2 ("Pfizer-BioNTech") vaccines. Other vaccines were excluded. Those with just one dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine were considered as non-vaccinated. Patients were scheduled for a telephone interview at a follow-up around six months after infection for assessing the presence of post-COVID symptoms with particular attention to those symptoms starting after acute infection and hospitalization. Anxiety/depressive levels and sleep quality were likely assessed. Hospitalization and clinical data were collected from medical records. A total comprising 109 vaccinated and 92 non-vaccinated COVID-19 survivors was included. Vaccinated patients were older and presented a higher number of medical comorbidities, particular cardiorespiratory conditions, than non-vaccinated patients. No differences in COVID-19 onset symptoms at hospitalization and post-COVID symptoms six months after hospital discharge were found between vaccinated and non-vaccinated groups. No specific risk factor for any post-COVID symptom was identified in either group. This study observed that COVID-19 onset-associated symptoms and post-COVID symptoms six-months after hospitalization were similar between previously hospitalized COVID-19 survivors vaccinated and those non-vaccinated. Current data can be applied to the Delta variant and those vaccinated with BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine.

Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Post-COVID Pain in Hospitalized COVID-19 Survivors Depending on Infection with the Historical, Alpha or Delta SARS-CoV-2 Variant.

We compared the prevalence of musculoskeletal post-COVID pain between previously hospitalized COVID-19 survivors infected with the historical, Alpha or Delta SARS-CoV-2 variant. Data about musculoskeletal post-COVID pain were systematically collected through a telephone interview involving 201 patients who had survived the historical variant, 211 who had survived the Alpha variant and 202 who had survived the Delta variant six months after hospital discharge. Participants were recruited from non-vaccinated individuals hospitalized due to SARS-CoV-2 infection in one hospital of Madrid (Spain) during three different waves of the pandemic (historical, Alpha or Delta variant). Hospitalization and clinical data were collected from hospital medical records. In addition, anxiety/depressive levels and sleep quality were also assessed. The prevalence of musculoskeletal post-COVID pain was higher (p = 0.003) in patients infected with the historical variant (47.7%) than in those infected with the Alpha (38.3%) or Delta (41%) variants. A significantly (p = 0.002) higher proportion of individuals infected with the historical variant reported generalized pain (20.5%) when compared with those infected with the other variants. The prevalence of new-onset post-COVID musculoskeletal pain reached 80.1%, 75.2% and 79.5% of patients infected with the historical, Alpha or Delta variants, respectively. No specific risk factors for developing post-COVID pain were identified depending on the SARS-CoV-2 variant. In conclusion, this study found that musculoskeletal post-COVID pain is highly prevalent in COVID-19 survivors six months after hospital discharge, with the highest prevalence and most generalized pain symptoms in individuals infected with the historical variant. Approximately 50% developed "de novo" post-COVID musculoskeletal pain symptoms.

Utilidad de las escalas de predicción diagnósticas de embolia de pulmón en pacientes con infección por SARS-CoV-2: una revisión sistemática Utility of probability scores for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection: a systematic review

Antecedentes y objetivo: Las escalas de predicción clínica para embolia de pulmón (EP) determinan la probabilidad pretest y valoran la necesidad de las pruebas para estos pacientes. La infección por coronavirus se asocia a un mayor riesgo de EP aumentando su gravedad y confiriendo un peor pronóstico. La patogénesis de la EP parece ser diferente en pacientes con y sin infección por SARS-CoV-2. Esta revisión sistemática pretende conocer, revisando la bibliografía disponible, la utilidad de los modelos predictivos desarrollados para EP en pacientes con COVID-19. Métodos: Se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica en las bases de datos de PubMed, Scopus y EMBASE, incluyendo todos los estudios que comunican datos relacionados con la aplicación de escalas de predicción clínica para EP en pacientes con COVID-19. La calidad de los estudios se evaluó con la escala Newcastle-Ottawa para estudios no aleatorizados. Resultados: Se incluyeron 13 estudios de cohortes que evaluaron cinco modelos predictivos (escala de Wells, puntuación de Ginebra, algoritmo YEARS y las reglas de decisión clínica PERC y PEGeD). Las diversas escalas se aplicaron en 1.187 pacientes con COVID-19. En general, los modelos tuvieron una capacidad predictiva limitada. La escala de Wells de dos categorías con probabilidad clínica baja (o improbable) en combinación con un dímero D <3000 ng/mL o con una ecografía pulmonar a pie de cama normal mostraron una adecuada correlación para excluir la EP. Conclusión: Nuestra revisión sistemática sugiere que las escalas de predicción disponibles para EP desarrolladas en población general no son aplicables a los pacientes con COVID-19 por lo que, de momento, no se recomienda su uso en la práctica clínica como única herramienta de cribado diagnóstico. Se necesitan nuevas escalas de probabilidad clínica para EP validadas en estos pacientes.

Associated-Onset Symptoms and Post-COVID-19 Symptoms in Hospitalized COVID-19 Survivors Infected with Wuhan, Alpha or Delta SARS-CoV-2 Variant.

This study compared associated-symptoms at the acute phase of infection and post-COVID-19 symptoms between individuals hospitalized with the Wuhan, Alpha or Delta SARS-CoV-2 variant. Non-vaccinated individuals hospitalized because of SARS-CoV-2 infection in one hospital during three different waves of the pandemic (Wuhan, Alpha or Delta) were scheduled for a telephone interview. The presence of post-COVID-19 symptoms was systematically assessed. Hospitalization and clinical data were collected from medical records. A total of 201 patients infected with the Wuhan variant, 211 with the Alpha variant and 202 with Delta variant were assessed six months after hospitalization. Patients infected with the Wuhan variant had a greater number of symptoms at hospital admission (higher prevalence of fever, dyspnea or gastrointestinal problems) than those infected with Alpha or Delta variant (p < 0.01). A greater proportion of patients infected with the Delta variant reported headache, anosmia or ageusia as onset symptoms (p < 0.01). The mean number of post-COVID-19 symptoms was higher (p < 0.001) in individuals infected with the Wuhan variant (mean: 2.7 ± 1.3) than in those infected with the Alpha (mean: 1.8 ± 1.1) or Delta (mean: 2.1 ± 1.5) variant. Post-COVID-19 dyspnea was more prevalent (p < 0.001) in people infected with the Wuhan variant, whereas hair loss was higher in those infected with the Delta variant (p = 0.002). No differences in post-COVID-19 fatigue by SARS-CoV-2 variant were found (p = 0.594). Differences in COVID-19 associated onset symptoms and post-COVID-19 dyspnea were observed depending on the SARS-CoV-2 variant. The presence of fatigue was a common post-COVID-19 symptom to all SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Serological Biomarkers at Hospital Admission Are Not Related to Long-Term Post-COVID Fatigue and Dyspnea in COVID-19 Survivors.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between serological biomarkers at the acute phase of infection at hospital admission with the development of long-term post-COVID fatigue and dyspnea. METHODS: A cohort study including patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 in one urban hospital of Madrid (Spain) during the first wave of the outbreak (from March 20 to June 30, 2020) was conducted. Hospitalization data, clinical data, and eleven serological biomarkers were systematically collected at hospital admission. Patients were scheduled for an individual telephone interview after hospital discharge for collecting data about the presence of post-COVID fatigue and dyspnea. RESULTS: A total of 412 patients (age: 62 years, standard deviation: 15 years; 47.5% women) were assessed with a mean of 6.8 and 13.2 months after discharge. The prevalence of post-COVID fatigue and dyspnea was 72.8% and 17.2% at 6 months and 45.4% and 13.6% at 12 months after hospital discharge, respectively. Patients exhibiting post-COVID fatigue at 6 or 12 months exhibited a lower hemoglobin level, higher lymphocyte count, and lower neutrophil and platelets counts (all, p < 0.05), whereas those exhibiting post-COVID dyspnea at 6 or 12 months had a lower platelet count and lower alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels (all, p < 0.05) than those not developing post-COVID fatigue or dyspnea, respectively. The multivariate regression analyses revealed that a lower platelet count and lower LDH levels were associated but just explaining 4.5% of the variance, of suffering from post-COVID fatigue and dyspnea, respectively. CONCLUSION: Some serological biomarkers were slightly different in patients exhibiting post-COVID fatigue or dyspnea, but they could not explain the long-COVID problems in those patients.

Effect of corticosteroids in patients with COVID-19 early stage pneumonia and risk of disease progression: An uncharted territory.

Corticosteroids are one of the few drugs that have shown a reduction in mortality in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In the RECOVERY trial, the use of dexamethasone reduced 28-day mortality compared to standard care in hospitalized patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 requiring supplemental oxygen or invasive mechanical ventilation. No benefit in patients not requiring respiratory support at randomization was observed. However, we believe that the use of corticosteroids in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia might not be subject to a decision based solely on oxygen needs. Evidence has shown that 30% of COVID-19 patients in its initial phases will progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome, particularly patients in whom laboratory inflammatory biomarkers associated with COVID-19 disease progression are detected. We postulated that corticosteroids in patients with COVID-19 in its initial phases and risk of progressing to severe disease might lead to a decrease in the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome, and thereby reduce death.