Changes in lifestyle-related behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: a questionnaire survey for examinees who underwent an annual health check-up.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on lifestyle behaviour and clinical data in a population who underwent an annual health check-up in Tokyo, Japan. METHODS: A self-report questionnaire was completed regarding changes in their physical activities, diet, alcohol intake, smoking and mental stress. For those recommended to undergo further examination or treatment, their intention to do so was also questioned. The clinical results of the check-ups across three different periods (before and during the pandemic and survey period) were statistically compared. RESULTS: During the survey period, 838 examinees responded. While physical activities decreased due to teleworking, changes in food intake and dietary patterns were varied. Furthermore, changes in mental stress were also diverse. As for the intention to undergo further clinical examination or treatment, 23.5% answered that they thought they would wait until the government lifted the state of emergency or the pandemic subsided. Compared with before the pandemic, diastolic blood pressure, liver function, kidney function and bone density tended to deteriorate. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic affected the lifestyle of the current study population. To prepare for future outbreaks, real-world information should be collected and shared so that effective measures for health promotion can be developed.

Evaluation of Safety After Intracordal Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor Injection.

OBJECTIVES: Although there are many reports of voice improvement with intracordal trafermin (a basic fibroblast growth factor) injections under local anesthesia, few papers have documented the safety of trafermin. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether trafermin is safer than control drugs (triamcinolone acetonide) early after intracordal injection under local anesthesia. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review from the medical records of patients who underwent intracordal injection with trafermin and triamcinolone acetonide under local anesthesia at our institution. Early postinjective complications were defined as changes in vital signs and chief complaints early after intracordal injection. RESULTS: A total of 699 and 297 patients underwent intracordal injection under local anesthesia with trafermin and triamcinolone acetonide, respectively. Of these, 227 and 130 patients had early postinjective complications with trafermin and triamcinolone acetonide, retrospectively. The most common complications occurring with trafermin was increased blood pressure in 39 cases (5.58%): 17 cases (2.43%) of blood pressure increase of ≥20 mm Hg. Other complications included pharyngeal discomfort in 37 (5.29%), lightheadedness in 33 (4.72%), and phlegm discharge in 29 (4.15%). Triamcinolone acetonide caused pharyngeal discomfort in 28 patients (9.43%), phlegm discharge in 17 patients (5.72%), lightheadedness in 12 patients (4.04%), sore throat in 11 patients (3.70%), increased blood pressure in 10 patients (3.37%): 7 cases (2.36%) of blood pressure increase of ≥20 mm Hg, and dizziness in seven patients (2.36%). Statistical analysis of the complications between trafermin and triamcinolone acetonide showed no significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of early postinjective complications from intracordal injection of trafermin is no significant difference in that of triamcinolone acetonide. The results suggest that the early postinjective complications are not due to the drug action of trafermin, but rather to complications from the intracordal injection procedures. Intracordal trafermin injection may be safe in the short term.

Cancer may accelerate locomotive syndrome and deteriorate quality of life: a single-centre cross-sectional study of locomotive syndrome in cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Thanks to recent advancement in cancer treatment, an increasing number of cancer patients are expected to live longer with cancer. The ambulatory ability is essential for cancer patients to spend their own independent lives, but locomotive syndrome (LS), a condition of reduced mobility due to impairment of locomotive organs, in cancer patients has been seldom examined. METHODS: This was a single-institutional cross-sectional study. Cancer patients receiving cancer therapy between April 2020 and March 2021 were asked to participate. LS was classified as stage 0-3, and compared with their performance status (PS). Physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) were calculated from the results of Short Form-8. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors for LS stage 3. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-six cancer patients were included. The rate of LS was 96.0%. That of LS stage 3 was 40.9% and as high as 29.7% even if limited to those with PS 0. The mean PCS and MCS were both inferior to the national averages. PCS decreased as the LS stage advanced. Old age and underweight were revealed as independent risk factors for LS stage 3. CONCLUSIONS: The ratio of LS in cancer patients was extremely high, and the LS stage correlated with physical QOL. Even those with PS 0 can have severe LS; thus, LS can be a sensitive detector of physical disability of cancer patients than PS. The improvement of LS can be a key to the preservation of their ADL and QOL.

Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels on Statins and Cardiovascular Event Risk in Stable Coronary Artery Disease　- An Observation From the REAL-CAD Study.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between very low on-treatment low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level and cardiovascular event risk is still unclear in patients receiving the same doses of statins.Methods and Results: From the REAL-CAD study comparing high-dose (4 mg/day) with low-dose (1 mg/day) pitavastatin therapy in patients with stable coronary artery disease, 11,105 patients with acceptable statin adherence were divided into 3 groups according to the on-treatment LDL-C level at 6 months (<70 mg/dL, 70-100 mg/dL, and ≥100 mg/dL). The primary outcome measure was a composite of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal ischemic stroke, or unstable angina requiring emergent admission. The adjusted risks of the LDL-C <70 mg/dL group relative to the LDL-C 70-100 mg/dL group (reference) was not significantly different for the primary outcome measure in both 1 mg/day and 4 mg/day strata (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.58-1.18, P=0.32, and HR 1.25, 95% CI 0.88-1.79, P=0.22). The adjusted risk of the LDL-C ≥100 mg/dL group relative to the reference group was not significant for the primary outcome measure in the 1 mg/day stratum (HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.60-1.11, P=0.21), whereas it was highly significant in the 4 mg/day stratum (HR 3.32, 95% CI 2.08-5.17, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A very low on-treatment LDL-C level (<70 mg/dL) was not associated with lower cardiovascular event risk compared with moderately low on-treatment LDL-C level (70-100 mg/dL) in patients receiving the same doses of statins.

A multi-centre study of the effects of direct observation of hand hygiene practices on alcohol-based handrub consumption.

Introduction: The World Health Organization recommends monitoring alcohol-based handrub (ABHR) consumption and direct observation of hand hygiene practices to ensure compliance. In Japan monitoring of ABHR consumption is widely performed. However, direct observation is not common, particularly in small facilities and non-acute-care facilities. Hence, the current study aimed to evaluate the longitudinal effects of direct observation of hand hygiene practices and monitoring of ABHR consumption with provision of feedback to healthcare personnel on ABHR consumption and hand hygiene compliance. Methods: We conducted a 4-year prospective intervention study. Monitoring of ABHR consumption and direct observation of hand hygiene practices with monthly feedback to healthcare personnel was implemented in 17 facilities. These consisted of 11 acute-care facilities of varying sizes and six non-acute-care facilities. A generalized linear mixed model analysis was performed to assess factors associated with ABHR consumption. Results: All facilities implemented ABHR consumption monitoring within one month of starting the study. However, the mean time required to implement direct observation of hand hygiene practices was 24.7 (±19.1) months. The ABHR consumption increased significantly (P<0.0001) in all medical facilities after implementing the direct observation. Multivariable regression analysis showed the hospital ward type, duration of ABHR consumption monitoring, and duration of direct observation of hand hygiene practices were independently associated with ABHR consumption. Conclusions: Direct observation of hand hygiene practices with feedback should be implemented more widely in combination with ABHR consumption monitoring to help increase hand hygiene compliance.

Potential risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection among people handling linens used by COVID-19 patients before and after washing.

The risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection when people handle linens is uncertain. We examined the presence of SARS-CoV-2 on linens, in the air, and on personal protective equipment (PPE) to assess potential infection risk among individuals who handle linens used by SARS-CoV-2-infected people. Patients in a hospital and an accommodation facility who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 participated in this study in 2020. Linen samples before washing or disinfection, rinse water after washing or disinfection, air in the workplace at the hospital and an accommodation facility, and the PPE worn by linen-handling people were tested for SARS-CoV-2 RNA and viable viruses. Among 700 samples from 13 SARS-CoV-2-infected participants and their surrounding environment, SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected from 14% (52/362) of the linens used by COVID-19 patients (cycle threshold [Ct] value: 33-40). SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected from 8% (2/26) of rinse water after washing or disinfection, from 15% (16/104) of air samples in the workspace, and from 10% (5/52) of gowns worn by linen-handling people, all with high Ct values (> 36). No SARS-CoV-2 was isolated from any samples. The potential risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection from handling linens used by SARS-CoV-2-infected people exists but appears to below.

Thrombotic Risk Stratification and Intensive Statin Therapy for Secondary Prevention of Coronary Artery Disease　- Insights From the REAL-CAD Study.

BACKGROUND: It is unknown whether beneficial effects of higher-dose statins on cardiovascular events are different according to the thrombotic risk in patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS).Methods and Results: The Randomized Evaluation of Aggressive or Moderate Lipid-Lowering Therapy with Pitavastatin in Coronary Artery Disease (REAL-CAD) study is a randomized trial comparing 4 mg and 1 mg pitavastatin in patients with CCS. This study categorized 12,413 patients into 3 strata according to the CREDO-Kyoto thrombotic risk score: low-risk (N=9,434; 4 mg: N=4,742, and 1 mg: N=4,692), intermediate-risk (N=2,415; 4 mg: N=1,188, and 1 mg: N=1,227); and high-risk (N=564; 4 mg: N=269, and 1 mg: N=295). The primary endpoint was a composite of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal ischemic stroke, or unstable angina. Cumulative 4-year incidence of the primary endpoint was significantly higher in the high-risk stratum than in the intermediate- and low-risk strata (11.0%, 6.3%, and 4.5%, P<0.0001). In the low-risk stratum, the cumulative 4-year incidence of the primary endpoint was significantly lower in the 4 mg than in the 1 mg group (4.0% and 4.9%, P=0.02), whereas in the intermediate- and high-risk strata, it was numerically lower in the 4 mg than in the 1 mg group. There was no significant treatment-by-subgroup interaction for the primary endpoint (P-interaction=0.77). CONCLUSIONS: High-dose pitavastatin therapy compared with low-dose pitavastatin therapy was associated with a trend toward lowering the risk for cardiovascular events irrespective of the thrombotic risk in patients with CCS.

Immunological responses following the third dose of the BNT162b2 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine among Japanese healthcare workers.

INTRODUCTION: A limited number of studies have shown a decline in antibody titers in healthcare workers beyond six months after the second dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine, and has been insufficiently investigated yet in the respective Asian ethnic groups. METHODS: We conducted a longitudinal observational study on 187 healthcare workers and other personnel and healthy adults at least eight months after vaccination at the International University of Health and Welfare. RESULTS: The baseline (before the third dose of BNT162b2) anti-receptor binding domain (RBD) IgG level was 569[377-943] AU/mL 245[240-250] days after the second dose. The mean antibody titer of participants aged 20-29 years was 4.6 times higher than that of participants aged 70-79 years. After booster vaccination, serum anti-RBD antibody levels were elevated in all participants with a median titer of 23,250[14,612-33,401] AU/mL 21[19-23] days after the third dose. The median post-booster antibody titers in the 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70-79 years age groups were 30.6, 33.0, 33.8, 27.4, 50.1, and 90.3 times, respectively, higher than the pre-booster ones. Antibody levels were 15% lower in daily drinkers compared to nondrinkers, suggesting that daily alcohol consumption can prevent antibody levels from increasing after vaccination. Our results show decreased antibody titers after two doses of the vaccine, especially in the elderly; however, the third dose of the vaccine resulted in a significant increase in antibody titers in all age groups. CONCLUSIONS: We provided information on antibody responses following primary and booster doses of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in Japan.

Favipiravir, camostat, and ciclesonide combination therapy in patients with moderate COVID-19 pneumonia with/without oxygen therapy: An open-label, single-center phase 3 randomized clinical trial.

Background: The effectiveness of combination therapy for COVID-19 pneumonia remains unclear. We evaluated favipiravir, camostat, and ciclesonide combination therapy in patients with moderate COVID-19 pneumonia. Methods: In this open-label phase 3 study, hospitalized adults who were positive for SARS-CoV-2 and had COVID-19 pneumonia were enrolled prior to official vaccination drive in Japan. Participants were randomly assigned to favipiravir monotherapy or favipiravir + camostat + ciclesonide combination therapy. The primary outcome was the length of hospitalization due to COVID-19 infection after study treatment. The hospitalization period was calculated from the time of admission to the time of patient discharge using the clinical management guide of COVID-19 for front-line healthcare workers developed by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (Version 3). Cases were registered between November 11, 2020, and May 31, 2021. Japan Registry of Clinical Trials registration: jRCTs031200196. Findings: Of 121 enrolled patients, 56 received monotherapy and 61 received combination therapy. Baseline characteristics were balanced between the groups. The median time of hospitalization was 10 days for the combination and 11 days for the monotherapy group. The median time to discharge was statistically significantly lower in the combination therapy vs monotherapy group (HR, 1·67 (95% CI 1·03-2·7; P = 0·035). The hospital discharge rate was statistically significantly higher in the combination therapy vs monotherapy group in patients with less severe COVID-19 infections and those who were ≤60 years. There were no significant differences in clinical findings between the groups at 4, 8, 11, 15, and 29 days. Adverse events were comparable between the groups. There were two deaths, with one in each group. Interpretation: Combination oral favipiravir, camostat and, ciclesonide therapy could decrease the length of hospitalization stays without safety concerns in patients with moderate COVID-19 pneumonia. However, lack of hard clinical primary outcome is one of the major limitations of the study. Funding: This research was supported by Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) under Grant Number 20fk0108261h0001.

Coronary artery calcium score may be a novel predictor of COVID-19 prognosis: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Although several studies have reported an association between atherosclerosis-related diseases and COVID-19, the relationship between COVID-19 severity and atherosclerosis progression remains unclear. The aim of this study is to determine the coronary artery calcium score (CACS) prognostic value in patients with COVID-19 using indices such as deterioration in oxygenation and CT images of the chest. METHODS: This was a single-centre retrospective study of 53 consecutive patients with COVID-19 in Narita who were admitted to our hospital between March 2020 and August 2020. CACS was calculated based on non-gated CT scans of the chest performed on admission day. The patients were divided into the following two groups based on CACS: group 1 (CACS ≥180, n=11) and group 2 (CACS <180, n=42). Following univariate analysis of the main variables, multivariate analysis of variables that may be associated with COVID-19 progression was performed. RESULTS: Multivariable logistic regression analysis of age, sex, smoking history, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, number of days from symptom onset to hospitalisation and CACS of ≥180 was performed. It revealed that unlike CACS of <180, CACS of ≥180 is associated with exacerbation of oxygenation or CT images of the chest during hospitalisation (OR: 12.879, 95% CI: 1.399 to 380.401). Furthermore, this model of eight variables showed good calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow p=0.119). CONCLUSION: CACS may be a prognosis marker of COVID-19 severity. Although coronary artery calcification is not typically assessed in pneumonia cases, it may provide a valuable clinical indicator for predicting severe COVID-19 outcomes.

Relation of renal function to mid-term prognosis of stable angina patients with high- or low-dose pitavastatin treatment: REAL-CAD substudy.

BACKGROUND: It has not yet been established whether higher-dose statins have beneficial effects on cardiovascular events in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) and renal dysfunction. METHODS: The REAL-CAD study is a prospective, multicenter, open-label trial. As a substudy, we categorized patients by an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) as follows: eGFR ≥60 (n = 7,768); eGFR ≥45 and <60 (n = 3,176); and eGFR <45 mL/Min/1.73 m2 (n = 1,164), who were randomized to pitavastatin 4mg or 1mg therapy. The primary endpoint was a composite of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal ischemic stroke, or unstable angina, and was assessed by the log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: The baseline characteristics and medications were largely well-balanced between two groups. The magnitude of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction at 6 months in high- and low-dose pitavastatin groups was comparable among all eGFR categories. During a median follow-up of 3.9 years, high- compared with low-dose pitavastatin significantly reduced cardiovascular events in patients with eGFR ≥60 (hazard ratio (HR) 0.73; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.58-0.91; P = .006), and reduced but not significant for patients with eGFR ≥45 and <60 (HR 0.85; 95% CI, 0.63-1.14; P = .27) or eGFR <45 mL/Min/1.73 m2 (HR 0.90; 95% CI 0.62-1.33; P = .61). An interaction test of treatment by eGFR category was not significant (P value for interaction = .30). CONCLUSION: Higher-dose pitavastatin therapy reduced LDL levels and cardiovascular events in stable CAD patients irrespective of eGFR level, although the effect on events appeared to be numerically lower in patients with lower eGFR.

Environmental Sampling for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 During a COVID-19 Outbreak on the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship.

During a COVID-19 outbreak on the Diamond Princess cruise ship we sampled environmental surfaces after passengers and crew vacated cabins. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in 58 of 601 samples (10%) from case cabins 1-17 days after cabins were vacated but not from noncase cabins. There was no difference in detection proportion between cabins of symptomatic (15%, 28/189; cycle quantification [Cq], 29.79-38.86) and asymptomatic cases (21%, 28/131; Cq, 26.21-38.99). No SARS-CoV-2 virus was isolated from any of the samples. Transmission risk of SARS-CoV-2 from symptomatic and asymptomatic patients may be similar and surfaces could be involved in transmission.

Maximal sterile barrier precautions independently contribute to decreased central line-associated bloodstream infection in very low birth weight infants: A prospective multicenter observational study.

BACKGROUND: The use of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) in neonates differs among various institutions and countries because there are no random controlled trials or large observational studies regarding maximal sterile barrier (MSB) precautions in neonatal intensive care units. Our objective was to investigate the association of MSB implementation with central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) in very low birth weight infants. METHODS: This was a prospective multicenter observational study in Japan of infants with birth weight less than 1501 grams and in whom a PICC was placed for the first time between October 2014 and March 2017. Risk factors for CLABSI, both related and unrelated to MSB, were assessed by the mixed-effects Cox proportional hazards model, with the neonatal center variable as the random effect. RESULTS: In total, 33,713 catheter-days among 2383 infants were included. We observed 70 cases of CLABSI. MSB precautions were implemented in 13.9% of insertions and were associated with a lower CLABSI risk (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.20; 95% confidence interval, 0.05-0.84). CONCLUSIONS: We found that MSB implementation during PICC insertion in infants with birth weight less than 1501 grams independently contributed to a decrease in CLABSI risk.

High-Dose Versus Low-Dose Pitavastatin in Japanese Patients With Stable Coronary Artery Disease (REAL-CAD): A Randomized Superiority Trial.

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines call for high-intensity statin therapy in patients with cardiovascular disease on the basis of several previous "more versus less statins" trials. However, no clear evidence for more versus less statins has been established in an Asian population. METHODS: In this prospective, multicenter, randomized, open-label, blinded end point study, 13 054 Japanese patients with stable coronary artery disease who achieved low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) <120 mg/dL during a run-in period (pitavastatin 1 mg/d) were randomized in a 1-to-1 fashion to high-dose (pitavastatin 4 mg/d; n=6526) or low-dose (pitavastatin 1 mg/d; n=6528) statin therapy. The primary end point was a composite of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal ischemic stroke, or unstable angina requiring emergency hospitalization. The secondary composite end point was a composite of the primary end point and clinically indicated coronary revascularization excluding target-lesion revascularization at sites of prior percutaneous coronary intervention. RESULTS: The mean age of the study population was 68 years, and 83% were male. The mean LDL-C level before enrollment was 93 mg/dL with 91% of patients taking statins. The baseline LDL-C level after the run-in period on pitavastatin 1 mg/d was 87.7 and 88.1 mg/dL in the high-dose and low-dose groups, respectively. During the entire course of follow-up, LDL-C in the high-dose group was lower by 14.7 mg/dL than in the low-dose group (P<0.001). With a median follow-up of 3.9 years, high-dose as compared with low-dose pitavastatin significantly reduced the risk of the primary end point (266 patients [4.3%] and 334 patients [5.4%]; hazard ratio, 0.81; 95% confidence interval, 0.69-0.95; P=0.01) and the risk of the secondary composite end point (489 patients [7.9%] and 600 patients [9.7%]; hazard ratio, 0.83; 95% confidence interval, 0.73-0.93; P=0.002). High-dose pitavastatin also significantly reduced the risks of several other secondary end points such as all-cause death, myocardial infarction, and clinically indicated coronary revascularization. The results for the primary and the secondary composite end points were consistent across several prespecified subgroups, including the low (<95 mg/dL) baseline LDL-C subgroup. Serious adverse event rates were low in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: High-dose (4 mg/d) compared with low-dose (1 mg/d) pitavastatin therapy significantly reduced cardiovascular events in Japanese patients with stable coronary artery disease. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01042730.

Decreased duration of acute upper respiratory tract infections with daily intake of fermented milk: a multicenter, double-blinded, randomized comparative study in users of day care facilities for the elderly population.

BACKGROUND: There is insufficient evidence of preventive effect of probiotics on upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) in an elderly population. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled parallel group study. Elderly persons had participated who used day care at 4 facilities in Tokyo. We used fermented milks containing Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (LcS) and placebo drinks as test drinks. RESULTS: A total of 154 subjects was analyzed. The number of persons diagnosed with an acute URTIs was almost identical in both groups (LcS: 31, placebo: 32), whereas the number of acute URTIs events (LcS: 68, placebo: 51) and the symptom score (LcS: 425, placebo: 396) were both higher in the LcS group. Permutation tests performed using the total number of acute URTIs infection events/total days of observation and the total symptom score/total days of observation found no statistically significant difference respectively (P values of .89 and .64, respectively). Comparing the mean duration of infection per infection event found a shorter mean duration in the LcS group (LcS: 3.71 days, placebo: 5.40 days), and the difference was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that fermented milk containing LcS probably reduces the duration of acute URTIs.