The Critical Issues for Patients and Caregivers in Neuro-Oncology During Covid-19 Pandemic: What We Have Learnt by an Observational Study. (preprint)

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic inferred on neuro-oncological patients (PTS) and the caregivers regarding tumor care and emotional functioning. This study aimed to understand how COVID-19 affects their psychological state and relations between PTS and health personnel in neuro-oncology. Methods: A cross-sectional study on neuro-oncological PTS and their caregivers. Results: A total of 162 PTS and 66 caregivers completed the questionnaire. The 37.5% of PTS perceived greater risk of contracting the COVID-19 compared to the general population. On the 0-10 scale, PTS tumor-related anxiety score was 5.8 and COVID-related 4.6. The caregivers reported 7.7 and 5.5 respectively. The QoL was described at least as good in 75% of both PTS and caregivers; the caregivers’ care burden increased in 22.7% during the pandemic, with no correlation with QoL. Future perception often changed both in PTS and in the caregivers. Cancer treatment schedule was changed in 18.5%, including for PTS decision. However, the 93.5% of PTS was satisfied with the overall care. Conclusion: A considerable proportion of PTS and caregivers still perceived the tumor disease as more burdensome than the pandemic, and perceived their future as more uncertain. Such data rinforce the need to build a proficient alliance between PTS and health personnel.

Syncope at SARS-CoV-2 onset due to impaired baroreflex response (preprint)

We describe clinical and laboratory findings in 35 consecutive patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction on nasopharyngeal swab that presented one or multiple syncopal events at disease onset. Neurological examination and electrocardiographic findings were normal. Chest computed tomography showed findings consistent with interstitial pneumonia. Arterial blood gas analysis showed low pO2, pCO2, and P/F ratio indicating hypocapnic hypoxemia, while patients did not show the expected compensatory heart rate increase. Such mechanism could have led to syncope. We speculate that SARS-CoV-2 could have caused angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) receptor internalization in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), thus altering the baroreflex response and inhibiting the compensatory tachycardia during acute hypocapnic hypoxemia.

Gastrointestinal symptoms as Covid-19 onset in hospitalized Italian patients (preprint)

Objective To assess the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms and their correlation with need of non-invasive ventilatory support, intensive care unit admission and death in hospitalized SARS-CoV-2 patients. Design Since February 21th 2020, all individuals referred to our emergency department for suspected SARS-CoV-2 underwent a standardized assessment of body temperature and pulse oximetry, hematological screening, chest X-ray and/or computed tomography (CT), and SARS-CoV-2 assay on nasopharyngeal swab. Medical history and GI symptoms including nausea, vomit, diarrhea, and abdominal pain were recorded. Results GI symptoms were the main presentation in 42 (10.2%) of 411 patients, with a mean onset 4.9 +/-... days before admission. In 5 (1.2%) patients GI symptoms have not been associated with respiratory symptoms or fever. We found an inverse trend for ICU admission and death as compared with patients without GI symptoms. Conclusions GI symptoms can be an early and not negligible feature of Covid-19, and might be correlated with a more benign disease course.

SARS-COV-2 comorbidity network and outcome in hospitalized patients in Crema, Italy (preprint)

No systematic data on hospitalized SARS-COV-2 patients from Western countries are available. We report onset, course, correlations with comorbidities, and diagnostic accuracy of nasopharyngeal swab in 539 individuals suspected to carry SARS-COV-2 admitted to the hospital of Crema, Italy. All individuals underwent clinical and laboratory exams, SARS-COV-2 reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction on nasopharyngeal swab, and chest X-ray and/or computed tomography (CT). Data on onset, course, comorbidities, number of drugs including angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin-II-receptor antagonists (sartans), follow-up swab, pharmacological treatments, non-invasive respiratory support, ICU admission, and deaths were recorded. Among 411 SARS-COV-2 patients (66.6% males) median age was 70.5 years (range 1-99). Chest CT was performed in 317 (77.2%) and showed interstitial pneumonia in 304 (96%). Fatality rate was 17.5% (74% males), with 6.6% in 60-69 years old, 21.1% in 70-79 years old, 38.8% in 80-89 years old, and 83.3% above 90 years. No death occurred below 60 years. Non-invasive respiratory support rate was 27.2% and ICU admission 6.8%. Older age, cough and dyspnea at onset, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, renal insufficiency, >7 drugs intake and positive X-ray, low lymphocyte count, high C-reactive protein, aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase values, and low PO2 partial pressure with high lactate at arterial blood gas analysis at admission were significantly associated with death. Use of ACE inhibitors or sartans was not associated with outcomes. Comorbidity network analysis revealed homogenous distribution of deceased and 60-80 aged SARS-COV-2 patients across diseases. Among 128 swab negative patients at admission (63.3% males) median age was 67.7 years (range 1-98). Chest CT was performed in 87 (68%) and showed interstitial pneumonia in 76 (87.3%). Follow-up swab turned positive in 13 of 32 patients. Using chest CT at admission as gold standard on the entire study population of 539 patients, nasopharyngeal swab had 80% sensitivity. SARS-CoV-2 caused high mortality among patients older than 60 years and correlated with pre-existing multiorgan impairment. ACE inhibitors and sartans did not influence patients' outcome.