ABSTRACT
Background: Post-COVID-19 conditions are defined as new, recurring, or ongoing health issues which present weeks after SARS-CoV-2 infection. The gastrointestinal (GI) involvement of COVID-19 suggests that a group of patients with lingering GI symptoms may develop Post-COVID-19 DGBI including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (Schmulson M et al. Am J Gastroenterol. 2021;116:4-7). In this study, we aimed to determine the epidemiological features of Post-COVID-19 DGBI. Methods: Subjects with confirmed COVID-19 at least 6 months before the study who had sustained GI symptoms were invited to complete an internet-based survey on Qualtrics, between March and August 2021. The survey included demographics, acute symptoms, comorbidities, as well as Rome IV questionnaire, Generalized Anxiety Disorder questionnaire (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 for depression. Data was analyzed using ANOVA and multivariate analysis. Findings were reported as percentage or [p-value;(95% odds ratio CI)]. Results: Overall, 164 subjects (70% female, 14% male, and others unknown) with a positive COVID-19 test completed the survey. Among them, 4% were >65 years old and 24% reported hospitalization. Body mass index ³30 was present in 38%, diabetes in 6.7%, and vitamin D deficiency in 11% of the participants. In total, 108 (66%) subjects fulfilled Rome IV criteria for at least one DGBI. Of 108 with DGBI, only 27 (25%) had DGBI before COVID-19;DGBI developed in 81 subjects after COVID-19. The most common Post-COVID-19 DGBI were functional dyspepsia observed in 38 (postprandial distress syndrome n=31, epigastric pain syndrome n=22) followed by IBS in 26 subjects (IBS with Diarrhea n=7, IBS with Constipation n=4, Mixed-IBS n=14, Unsubtyped IBS n=1) (Table-1). The risk factors of severe COVID-19 including age >65, diabetes, and obesity were not associated with developing Post-COVID- 19 DGBI. Seventy (86%) of subjects with Post-COVID-19 DGBI had at least one GI symptom (abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting, and/or diarrhea) in the acute phase of COVID-19. Nausea/ vomiting during the acute illness increased [p-value of 0.02 with 95% OR CI (0.7-10.4)], and BMI less than 25 also increased the odds [p-value of 0.03 (95% OR CI: 0.26-8.4)] for Post-COVID-19 IBS. Anxiety was present in 48% and depression in 65% of subjects with Post-COVID-19 DGBI. Conclusions: Post-COVID-19 DGBI are new entities associated with a high rate of anxiety and depression. Although the majority of those with Post-COVID-19 DGBI reported having GI symptoms in the acute illness, some appeared in subjects without acute GI symptoms. (Table Presented)
ABSTRACT
Background: This study reports incidence, timing, characteristics, and surveillance imaging of mammographic axillary adenopathy following COVID-19 vaccination. As COVID-19 immunizations continue, with possible booster vaccines upcoming, this study offers timing considerations and potential follow-up recommendations for breast imaging after vaccination. Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients (pts) who received at least one COVID-19 vaccine prior to screening (SM) or diagnostic mammography (DM) at Mayo Clinic Florida between January 15 to May 31, 2021. Vaccine-related information was queried by mammography technologists. Adenopathy was assessed by interpreting radiologists and follow-up studies were collated. Mammogram adenopathy included single enlarged node, multiple enlarged nodes, and adenopathy with soft tissue stranding. Ultrasound adenopathy included mildly prominent nodes with preserved fatty hila to rounded nodes with apparent loss of a fatty hilum. Wilcoxon rank-sum test and Fisher's exact test were used to compare continuous and categorical variables, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression model was used to evaluate the association between days from vaccine and adenopathy. Results: Of 2349 pts, 34 (1.4%) had adenopathy (DM=6;SM=28) and 3 (0.1%) were symptomatic. Presence of axillary symptoms was associated with abnormal imaging (p<0.001) with an odds ratio of 33 in multivariable model. Median time after vaccine for pts with adenopathy was significantly shorter at S 14 days compared to 33 days for pts without adenopathy (p<0.001). Incidence of adenopathy decreased as days from vaccine increased (3.4% for 0-14 days, 2.1% for 15-28 days, and 0.4% for > 28 days, p<0.001). After adjusting for being symptomatic, days from vaccine still had a significant impact on finding mammographic adenopathy (for each day after vaccine, OR=0.96, p<0.001). No significant difference was seen based on age (p=0.66), vaccine brand (p=0.66), vaccine dose (p=0.18). ROC analysis to identify a cutoff value for presence/absence of adenopathy was 0.74 (95% CI 0.67-0.81) at 22.5 days following vaccination. Additional imaging with mammogram and/or ultrasound was requested for 31 pts. These included no follow-up (n=4, 12.9%), repeat ultrasound with or without mammogram in 1-3 months (n=26, 83.9%), and biopsy (n=1, 3.2%, pt with ipsilateral breast cancer with negative results, presumably vaccine induced). To date, all pts who underwent surveillance imaging demonstrated normalization of lymph node appearance. The median time for abnormal imaging related to adenopathy to return to BI-RADS 1 or 2 was 84 (range 13-157) days. Conclusion: The incidence of COVID-19 vaccine-induced adenopathy in this study (1.4%) appeared to be lower than self-reported axillary swelling in COVID-19 vaccine trials (16%) but is still higher than the reported incidence of adenopathy on an otherwise normal SM (0.02-0.04%). The incidence of adenopathy decreased significantly over time and was not present in most pts 28 days after the vaccine. In patients with abnormal adenopathy, followup imaging showed resolution of vaccine-induced adenopathy in most patients by 3 months.
ABSTRACT
With the COVID-19 pandemic progressing, guidance on strategies to mitigate its devastating effects in nursing facilities (NFs) is critical to preventing additional tragic outcomes. Asymptomatic spread of COVID-19 from nursing facility staff and residents is a major accelerator of infection. Facility-wide point-prevalence testing is an emerging strategy in disease mitigation. Because time is not available to await the results of randomized controlled trials before implementing strategies in this high-risk setting, an expert Delphi panel composed of experienced long-term care medicine professionals has now met to provide testing guidance for SARS-Coronavirus-2 to NFs. After many email and telephone discussions, the panel responded to a questionnaire that included six different scenarios, based on varying availability of Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) testing and personal protective equipment (PPE). The panel endorsed facility-wide testing of staff and residents without dissent when diagnostic RT-PCR was available. While the panel recognized the limitations of RT-PCR testing, it strongly recommended this testing for both staff and residents in NFs that were either COVID-19 naive or had limited outbreaks. There was also consensus on testing residents with atypical symptoms in a scenario of limited testing capability. The panel favored testing every 1 to 2 weeks if testing was readily available, reducing the frequency to every month as community prevalence declined or as the collection of additional data further informed clinical critical thinking and decision-making. The panel recognized that frequent testing would have consequences in terms of potential staff shortages due to quarantine after positive tests and increased PPE use. However, the panel felt that not testing would allow new clusters of infection to form. The resulting high mortality rate would outweigh the potential negative consequences of testing. The panel also recognized the pandemic as a rapidly evolving crisis, and that new science and increasing experience might require an updating of its recommendations. The panel hopes that its recommendations will be of value to the long-term care industry and to policy makers as we work together to manage through this challenging and stressful time.