scholarly journals Persistence of Infectivity in Elderly Individuals Diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 Infection 10 Days after Onset of Symptoms: A Cross-Sectional Study

Author(s):  
Yves Longtin ◽  
Leighanne Parkes ◽  
Hugues Charest ◽  
Stacy Rajarison ◽  
Gerasimos J. Zaharatos ◽  
...  

Abstract We performed viral culture of nasopharyngeal specimens in individuals aged 79 and older, infected with SARS-CoV-2, 10 days after symptom onset. A positive viral culture was seen in 10/22 participants (45%), including 4/12 (33%) individuals with improving symptoms. This small study suggests that infectivity may be prolonged among older individuals.

Author(s):  
Yves Longtin ◽  
Hugues Charest ◽  
Caroline Quach ◽  
Patrice Savard ◽  
Mariana Baz ◽  
...  

Abstract We performed viral culture of respiratory specimens in 118 severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)–infected healthcare workers (HCWs), ∼2 weeks after symptom onset. Only 1 HCW (0.8%) had a positive culture. No factors for prolonged viral shedding were identified. Infectivity is resolved in nearly all HCWs ∼2 weeks after symptom onset.


2021 ◽  
pp. 014556132110001
Author(s):  
Daniel J. Lee ◽  
Daniella Daliyot ◽  
Ri Wang ◽  
Joel Lockwood ◽  
Paul Das ◽  
...  

Objective: To directly compare the prevalence of chemosensory dysfunction (smell and taste) in geographically distinct regions with the same questionnaires. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed to evaluate the self-reported symptoms among adults (older than 18 years) who underwent COVID-19 testing at an ambulatory assessment center in Canada and at a hospital in Israel between March 16, 2020, and August 19, 2020. The primary outcome was the prevalence of self-reported chemosensory dysfunction (anosmia/hypomsia and dysgeusia/ageusia). Subgroup analysis was performed to evaluate the prevalence of chemosensory deficits among the outpatients. Results: We identified a total of 350 COVID-19–positive patients (138 Canadians and 212 Israelis). The overall prevalence of chemosensory dysfunction was 47.1%. There was a higher proportion of chemosensory deficits among Canadians compared to Israelis (66.7% vs 34.4%, P < .01). A subgroup analysis for outpatients (never hospitalized) still identified a higher prevalence of chemosensory dysfunction among Canadians compared to Israelis (68.2% vs 36.1%, P < 0.01). A majority of patients recovered their sense of smell after 4 weeks of symptom onset. Conclusion: Although the prevalence of chemosensory deficit in COVID-19 was found to be similar to previously published reports, the prevalence can vary significantly across different geographical regions. Therefore, it is important to obtain regionally specific data so that the symptom of anosmia/dysgeusia can be used as a guide for screening for the clinical diagnosis of COVID-19.


2010 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felipe Kenji Sudo ◽  
Gilberto Sousa Alves ◽  
Carlos Eduardo de Oliveira Alves ◽  
Maria Elisa Lanna ◽  
Letice Ericeira-Valente ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE: Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) is associated with cognitive deficits. This cross-sectional study examines differences among healthy elderly controls and patients with vascular mild cognitive impairment (VaMCI) and vascular dementia (VaD) in performances on CAMCOG subscales. METHOD: Elderly individuals (n=61) were divided into 3 groups, according to cognitive and neuroimaging status: 16 controls, 20 VaMCI and 25 VaD. VaMCI and VaD individuals scored over 4 points on the Hachinski Ischemic Scale. RESULTS: Significant differences in total CAMCOG scores were observed across the three groups (p<0.001). VaD subjects performed worse than those with VaMCI in most CAMCOG subscales (p<0.001). All subscales showed differences between controls and VaD (p<0.001). Performance on abstract thinking showed difference between VaMCI and controls (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: CAMCOG discriminated controls from VaMCI and VaD. Assessment of abstract thinking may be useful as a screening item for diagnosis of VaMCI.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. e055625
Author(s):  
T Muhammad ◽  
Trupti Meher ◽  
T V Sekher

ObjectiveThe study aims to explore the associations of elder abuse, crime victimhood and perceived safety with depression among older adults and examine the interactive effects of sex and place of residence in those associations.DesignA cross-sectional study was conducted using a large survey data.Setting and participantsThe study used data from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India wave 1 (2017–2018). The effective sample size was 31 464 older adults (aged 60 years or older).Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe outcome variable was major depression, calculated using Short Form Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Descriptive statistics along with bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to fulfil the objectives.Results5.22% of the older adults (n=1587) experienced abuse in the past 1 year. 1.33% of the older individuals (n=402) were victims of a violent crime, and 14.30% (n=1886) perceived an unsafe neighbourhood. Also, 8.67% of the older adults (n=2657) were suffering from depression. Older adults who were abused had 2.5 odds of suffering from depression (adjusted OR (AOR): 2.47, CI: 1.96 to 3.10) and victims of a violent crime were 84% more likely to be depressed (AOR: 1.84, CI: 1.15 to 2.95) compared with their counterparts. Besides, older individuals who perceived as living in unsafe neighbourhood were 61% more likely to be depressed (AOR: 1.61, CI: 1.34 to 1.93) compared with their counterparts. In the interaction analysis, older women who reported abuse had higher odds of suffering from depression (AOR: 3.27; CI: 2.34 to 4.57) compared with older men who were not abused. Similar result was found in older adults reporting abuse and residing in rural areas (AOR: 3.01, CI: 2.22 to 4.07) compared with those urban residents reporting no abuse.ConclusionsHealthcare providers should pay more attention to the mental health implications of elder abuse, crime victimhood and perceived safety to grasp the underlying dynamics of the symptomology of late-life depression.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Kyle Dalrymple ◽  
Erin K. Saito ◽  
Natalie Diaz ◽  
Julia Morrow ◽  
Beau Nakamoto ◽  
...  

Background. Patients with progressive dementing disorders associated with cortical cholinergic dysfunction gradually develop cholinergic deficits many years before symptom onset and may begin to smoke cigarettes during midlife as a form of self-medication. The aim of this study was to compare self-reported past smoking rates between those with and without cholinergic dementias, to determine if those who developed cholinergic dementias were more likely to smoke during midlife than those who did not.Methods. Retrospective cross-sectional study of past smoking status among patients treated at an outpatient clinic during a three-year period.Results. A total of 440 patients were evaluated during the study period, including 224 with cholinergic dementias and 216 with noncholinergic dementias and controls. Past smoking rates were greater among those with cholinergic dementias compared to those without cholinergic dementias (43.92% versus 26.96%,P=0.012). Additionally, smokers with cholinergic dementias reported significantly greater mean pack-years of smoking (P=0.038).Conclusions. Greater midlife smoking rates and greater pack-years of smoking were associated with cholinergic dementias. These results suggest midlife smoking may be an early indicator for those developing brain cholinergic deficits related to progressive dementing disorders and support initiating treatment prior to symptom onset in cholinergic dementias.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanina Pagotto ◽  
Lorena Luna ◽  
Julieta Salto ◽  
Magdalena Wagner Manslau ◽  
Silvana Figar ◽  
...  

AbstractThe durability of the antibody response following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections has not been fully elucidated. We have performed a cross-sectional study in one of the largest slums of Buenos Aires, Barrio Padre Mugica in June 2020, detecting a seroprevalence of 53.4%. To evaluate the persistence of the humoral response against SARS-CoV-2 in this area, we designed a second study assessing only the people that were IgG positive in the first survey. The IgG levels against the full spike (S) protein in 175 individuals that were seropositive, at least 6 months before, were evaluated in a second survey. The positivity rate was 92.0%, 161 from 175 individuals remained IgG positive. We observed a contraction in the overall IgG levels measured by ELISA. The median IgG dropped 62% from June to December 2020. Most of the individuals tested (87%) reported to be asymptomatic or oligo-symptomatic. No difference was found between men and women, but people aged less than 50 showed a lower IgG level in each period compared to older individuals. Our data indicate sustained humoral immunity for at least 6 months in a specific socio-economical setting in a population that was mainly asymptomatic for COVID-19.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felippe Mendonca ◽  
Felipe Kenji Sudo ◽  
Gustavo Santiago-Bravo ◽  
Natalia Oliveira ◽  
Naima Assuncao ◽  
...  

Background: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a highly prevalent neurodevelopmental condition, which may be associated with life-enduring cognitive dysfunction. It has been hypothesized that age-related cognitive decline may overlap with preexisting deficits in older ADHD patients, leading to increased problems to manage everyday-life activities. This phenomenon may mimic neurodegenerative disorders, in particular Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). This cross-sectional study aims to assess cognitive and behavioral differences between older subjects with ADHD and MCI.Methods: A total of 107 older participants (41 controls; 40 MCI and 26 ADHD; mean age = 67.60 ± 7.50 years; mean schooling = 15.14 ± 2.77 years; 65.4% females) underwent clinical, cognitive, and behavioral assessments by a multidisciplinary team at the Memory Clinic, D'Or Institute for Research and Education, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Mean scores in neuropsychological tasks and behavioral scales were compared across groups.Results: Participants with ADHD showed poorer performances than controls in episodic memory and executive function with large effect-sizes. Performances were comparable between MCI and ADHD for all domains.Discussion: MCI and ADHD in older individuals are dissociated clinical entities with overlapping cognitive profiles. Clinicians ought to be aware of these converging phenotypes to avoid misdiagnosis.


2021 ◽  
pp. 003022282110543
Author(s):  
Sibel Şentürk ◽  
Alev Yıldırım Keskin ◽  
Şule Sarızayim

This study was carried out to determine the relationship between the fear of COVID-19 in the elderly aged 65 years and over and their levels of adaptation to the “new normal.” This descriptive cross-sectional study was completed with 623 elderly individuals. It was determined that the individuals who adapted well to the “new normal” had high levels of adaptation to old age, while their levels of fear of COVID-19 were slightly above average ( p < 0.01). Elderly individuals have tried to adapt to the “new normal” while also experiencing fear of COVID-19. In order to minimize the fear experienced by the elderly during COVID-19, adequate support and psychological support should be provided.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document