Prevalence and influencing factors of sleep disorders in medical students after the COVID-19 pandemic (preprint)

Background The prevalence of sleep disorders among medical students was high during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there are fewer studies of sleep disorders in medical students after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and factors influencing sleep disorders among Chinese medical students after COVID-19.Methods We enrolled 1194 medical students. The Self-administered scale was used to collect the demographic characteristics. The Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), the Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used to assess subjects' depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders, respectively. The chi-square test and binary logistic regression were used to identify factors that influence sleep disorders. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the predictive value of relevant variables for sleep disorders.Results We found that the prevalence of sleep disorders among medical students after COVID-19 was 82.3%. According to logistic regression results, medical students with depression were 1.151 times more likely to have sleep disorders than those without depression (OR = 1.151, 95% CI 1.114 to 1.188). Doctoral students were 1.908 times more likely to have sleep disorders than graduate and undergraduate students (OR = 1.908, 95% CI 1.264 to 2.880). In addition, the area under the ROC curve for depression is 0.689.Conclusion The prevalence of sleep disorders among medical students is high after COVID-19. In addition, high academic level and depression are risk factors for sleep disorders. Therefore, medical colleges and administrators should pay more attention to sleep disorders in medical students after the COVID-19 pandemic. Regular assessment of sleep disorders and depression is extremely necessary.

Risk Factors for Poor Prognosis in Children and Adolescents With COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta Analysis (preprint)

Background: The prognosis of children and adolescents with COVID-19 obtain increasing attention worldwide. This study provides the first systematic review and meta-analysis to identify risk factors which predict poor prognosis in this group.Methods: Electronic databases from inception to March, 2021 were searched for cohort studies, case-control studies and case series that investigated risk factors for poor prognosis of children and adolescents with COVID-19. We estimated the summary effect size by use of random-effects models and the 95% confidential interval (CI).Findings: We identified 33 studies, comprising 32,225 individuals. The risk of bias were generally high. In children and adolescents with COVID-19, risk of death was significantly increased in patients with MIS-C complication (odds ratio [OR]=58.00, 95% CI 6.39 to 526.79) and in need for intensive care (OR=15.25, 95% CI 1.98 to 117.44). Congenital heart disease (OR=2.90, 95% CI 1.26 to 6.67), chronic pulmonary disease (OR=3.45, 95% CI 1.47 to 8.07), and gastrointestinal symptoms (OR=2.11, 95% CI 1.43 to 3.12) increased the odds to be admitted to ICU; MIS-C complication (OR=70.00, 95% CI 6.51 to 752.27) and neurological diseases (OR=2.51, 95% CI 1.03 to 6.15) increased the odds of respiratory support; neurological diseases (OR=4.59, 95% CI 1.99 to 10.61), obesity (OR=2.51, 95% CI 2.02 to 3.12), C-reactive protein (CRP) level ≥80mg/L (OR=11.70, 95% CI 4.37 to 31.37) and D-dimer level ≥0.5ug/mL (OR=20.40, 95% CI 1.76 to 236.44) on admission increased the odds of progression to severe/critical disease.Interpretation: Very low to moderate quality evidence found that MIS-C, congenital heart disease, chronic pulmonary disease, neurological diseases, obesity, and gastrointestinal symptoms, in need for intensive care, elevated CRP and D-dimer are risk factors for poor prognosis in children and adolescents with COVID-19.Funding: None.Declaration of Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Inpatient Use of Metformin and Acarbose Is Associated with Reduced Mortality of COVID-19 Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (preprint)

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a strong risk factor for complications of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The effect of T2DM medications on COVID-19 outcomes remains unclear. In a retrospective analysis of a cohort of 131 patients with T2DM hospitalized for COVID-19 in Wuhan, we have previously found that metformin use prior to hospitalization is associated with reduced mortality. Here we continue to investigate the effects of inpatient use of T2DM medications, including metformin, acarbose, insulin, and sulfonylureas, on the mortality of COVID-19 patients with T2DM during hospitalization. We found that patients using metformin and acarbose, alone or both together, after admission were significantly more likely to survive than those who did not use either metformin or acarbose. Thus, our analyses suggest that inpatient use of metformin and acarbose together or alone during hospitalization should be studied in randomized trials.

Intravenous immunoglobulin treatment for patients with severe COVID-19: a retrospective multi-center study (preprint)

Background: Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is commonly used to treat severe COVID-19, although the clinical outcomes remain unclear. This study evaluated the effectiveness of IVIG treatment for severe COVID-19.Methods: This retrospective multi-center study evaluated 28-day mortality and time for SARS-CoV-2 RNA clearance in severe COVID-19 patients with or without IVIG treatment. Propensity score matching was used to control confounding factors. Logistic regression and competing risk analyses were performed.Results: The study included 850 patients (421 patients received IVIG). No significant differences in 28-day mortality or time for SARS-CoV-2 RNA clearance were observed (p=0.357 and p=0.123, respectively). High-dose of IVIG treatment (>10 g/day) (n=27) was associated with decreased 28-day mortality (OR: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.14–0.77; p=0.011). The IVIG group had prolonged median hospitalization, less shock, and higher incidences of acute respiratory distress syndrome, myocardial injury. Furthermore, IVIG-treated patients were more likely to require non-invasive mechanical ventilation and less likely to require invasive mechanical ventilation.Conclusions: IVIG treatment for severe COVID-19 patients was not associated with significant improvements in 28-day mortality or time for SARS-CoV-2 RNA clearance. However, some improvements in 28-day survival were observed for high-dose IVIG treatment (>10 g/day).