Factors Associated With The Covid-19 Infection Severity In Patients With Mental Disorders

Introduction: Recent research showed that persons with mental disorders may represent a population at increased risk for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection with more adverse outcomes. Objective(s): We aimed to analyze clinical profile of psychiatric inpatients during their infection with COVID-19, and to explore factors associated with the disease progression. Method(s): Weanalyzed retrospectively the medical records of 32 psychiatric inpatients, hospitalized in psychiatry "B" department at Hedi Chaker hospital (Sfax, Tunisia), and who contracted the COVID-19 infection. We used "Charlson Comorbidity Index Score" (CCIS), predicting 10-year survival in patients with multiple comorbidities. Result(s): Somatic history was reported in 50% of patients. The CCIS ranged between 0 and 4. Psychiatric diagnosis was schizophrenia in 81.3% and bipolar disorder in 18.7% of cases. The clinical symptoms reported were fever (50%), dry cough (75%);dyspnea (34.4%). Biological assessment showed a lymphopenia in 40.6% and a high C-Reactive Protein (CRP) in 53.1%. Among our patients, 37,5% needed oxygen, and 25% were transferred to the intensive care unit. The COVID-19 complications were mostly bacterial pulmonary superinfections (21.9%) and pulmonary embolism (9.4%). Only three (9.4%) patients died from the virus. Patients with medical history were more likely to need oxygen (p<0.001). Clinical and paraclinical parameters associated with oxygen need were: fever (p<0.001);dyspnea (p<0.001);lymphopenia (p<0.001);high CRP (p=0.001). Patients presenting pulmonary superinfection or embolism were more likely to require oxygen (p=0.006 and p=0.044 respectively). Conclusion(s): This study highlighted factors that may worsen the COVID-19 infection evolution, and which require special attention, in order to improve the prognosis of this disease.

Bidirectional Associations Between Covid-19 Infection And Mental Disorders

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic brought unbearable psychological pressure to people worldwide, because of serious threats to one's physical health and life. From early stages of this pandemic, concerns have been raised about its effect on mental health. However, we still know little whether pre-existing psychiatric disorder (PD) affects the susceptibility and evolution of this infection. Objective(s): We aimed to assess the interactions between COVID- 19 infection and PD. Method(s): We conducted a litterature review through pubmed database, using the keywords :COVID 19, psychiatry, mental disorders, schizophrenia , anxiety , depression , insomnia. Result(s): On one hand, prior surveys suggested that the infection is associated with increased incidence of a first psychiatric symptom. Mental health disturbances mostly include anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, cognitive impairment and posttraumatic stress disorder. On the other hand, recent studies showed that patients with pre-existing mental disorders were associated with high susceptibility to be infected, increased risk of intensive care unit admission and a high mortality. The susceptibility to contracting COVID-19 was associated with preexisting mood disorders, anxiety, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Infection severity was associated with preexisting or subsequent mood disorders and sleep disturbances;or a pre-extisting schizophrenia. Mortality is increased in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. Conclusion(s): The complicated interactions between COVID-19 infection and PD have several implications. Enhanced psychiatric follow-up should be considered for survivors of COVID-19. Besides, early detection and intervention for PD are needed to control morbidity and mortality induced by the COVID-19 infection.

The role of social studies teachers in enhancing consumption education in Jordan during COVID – 19 Pandemic

The researchers used the descriptive survey method. The study instrument consisted of the questionnaire which included (20) items, and the study sample individuals consisted of (72) male and female teachers. Results of the study showed that the role of social studies in developing consumption education in secondary schools during Corona pandemic (COVID – 19) came at high degree. the researchers have detected presence of differences between means of the teachers, answers on all fields of the questionnaire according to sex variable in favor of the females, presence of differences between means of the teachers’ answers on all fields of the questionnaire by the academic qualification variable in favor of the graduate studies, and the absence of differences between means of the teachers' answers to all fields of the questionnaire according to years of experience variable. The researcher's conclusions recommended conducting training courses, and including consumption education in the curricula. ©2021 Birlesik Dunya Yenilik Arastirma ve Yayincilik Merkezi. All rights reserved.

Raas inhibition, mortality, and severity in COVID-19 patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: The effect of angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) and angiotensinconverting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) on outcome and severity in COVID-19 patients has been postulated. Methods: We performed a systematic review in different databases to identify studies and research work that assessed the association of ACEi/ARBs on the severity of illness and mortality in COVID-19 subjects. Inclusion criteria for our meta-analysis were all studies that included human subjects with COVID-19 infection, reported mortality and severity of the disease, and described ACEi/ARB treatment. The data collected were the name of the first author, journal title, the country of the study, sample size, relative risk and confidence intervals for association of ACEi/ARB treatment and mortality and severity. We used the random-effects model for the meta-analysis and the funnel plot analysis to assess potential publication bias. Results: Out of 4,702 records reviewed in different databases, 11 papers were included in our meta-analysis. Altogether, 8,643 patients were included in the final analysis. Random effects model (REM) for the relationship between ACEi/ARB and survival showed that ACEi/ARB does not affect survival (relative risk [RR]=0.81, confidence interval ranges [CIR] from 0.53 to 1.23). There was no evidence of heterogeneity with I-squared =25.5% and p<0.235. By applying Egger's test, there was no evidence of small studies effect with P=0.64. REM for the relationship between ACEi/ARB and disease severity showed that ACEi/ARB are not related to disease severity (RR=0.90, CIR from 0.70 to 1.15). There was evidence of heterogeneity with I-squared =56.2% and p=0.01. By applying Egger's test, there was no evidence of small studies effect with P=0.93. Conclusions: Based on the results of this meta-analysis, ACEi/ARB are not associated with increased mortality or severity in COVID-19 subjects.