Impact of COVID-19 on Hospital Admissions, Health Status, and Behavioral Changes of Patients with COPD.

Introduction: Patient with chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) have an increased risk of severe Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which is why self-isolation was recommended. However, long periods of social isolation accompanied with limited access to health care systems might influence the outcome of patients with severe COPD negatively. Methods: Data from COPD and pneumonia patients at Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin and the volume of endoscopic lung volume reduction (ELVR) from the German lung emphysema registry (Lungenemphysem Register e.V.) were analyzed from pre-pandemic (2012 to 2019) to pandemic (2020 and 2021) period. In addition, 52 patients with COPD GOLD IV status included in the lung emphysema registry received questionnaires during lockdowns from June 2020 to April 2021. Results: Admissions and ventilation therapies administered to COPD patients significantly decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Likewise, there was a reduction of ELVR treatments and follow-ups registered in German emphysema centers. Mortality was slightly higher among patients hospitalized with COPD during pandemic. Increasing proportions of COPD patients with GOLD III and GOLD IV status reported behavioral changes and subjective feelings of increasing COPD symptoms the longer the lockdown lasted. However, COPD symptom questionnaires revealed stable COPD symptoms over the pandemic time-period. Summary: This study reveals reduced COPD admissions and elective treatment procedures of COPD patients during pandemic, but a slight increase of mortality among patients hospitalized with COPD irrespective of COVID-19. Correspondingly, patients with severe COPD reported subjective deterioration of their health status probably caused by their very strict compliance to lockdown measures.

SARS-CoV-2 Infection, Risk Perception, Behaviour and Preventive Measures at Schools in Berlin, Germany, during the Early Post-Lockdown Phase: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Briefly before the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Berlin, Germany, schools closed in mid-March 2020. Following re-opening, schools resumed operation at a reduced level for nine weeks. During this phase, we aimed at assessing, among students and teachers, infection status, symptoms, individual behaviour, and institutional infection prevention measures. Twenty-four primary and secondary school classes, randomly selected across Berlin, were examined. Oro-nasopharyngeal swabs and capillary blood samples were collected to determine SARS-CoV-2 infection (PCR) and specific IgG (ELISA), respectively. Medical history, household characteristics, leisure activities, fear of infection, risk perception, hand hygiene, facemask wearing, and institutional preventive measures were assessed. Descriptive analysis was performed. Among 535 participants (385 students, 150 staff), one teenager was found to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 (0.2%), and seven individuals exhibited specific IgG (1.3%). Compared to pre-pandemic times, screen time (e.g., TV, gaming, social media) increased, and the majority of primary school students reported reduced physical activity (42.2%). Fear of infection and risk perception were relatively low, acceptance of adapted health behaviors was high. In this post-lockdown period of low SARS-CoV-2 incidence in Berlin, individual and school-level infection prevention measures were largely adhered to. Nevertheless, vigilance and continued preventive measures are essential to cope with future pandemic activity.