Risk Factors, Clinical Features, and Treatment Outcomes of Recurrent Mooren Ulcers in China

Mucormycosis (MCR) has been increasingly described in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) but the epidemiological factors, presentation, diagnostic certainty, and outcome of such patients are not well described. We review the published COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAMCR) cases (total 41) to identify risk factors, clinical features, and outcomes. CAMCR was typically seen in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) (94%) especially the ones with poorly controlled DM (67%) and severe or critical COVID-19 (95%). Its presentation was typical of MCR seen in diabetic patients (mostly rhino-orbital and rhino-orbital-cerebral presentation). In sharp contrast to reported COVID-associated aspergillosis (CAPA) cases, nearly all CAMCR infections were proven (93%). Treating physicians should have a high suspicion for CAMCR in patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and severe COVID-19 presenting with rhino-orbital or rhino-cerebral syndromes. CAMR is the convergence of two storms, one of DM and the other of COVID-19.

Download Full-text

Risk Factors, and Clinical and Etiological Characteristics of Ischemic Strokes in COVID-19-Infected Patients: A Systematic Review of Literature

Cerebrovascular Diseases ◽

10.1159/000514267 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-4

Author(s):

Simone Vidale

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Clinical Features ◽

Case Reports ◽

Clinical Severity ◽

Large Artery ◽

Causal Association ◽

Review Of Literature ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Long Time

Background and Purpose: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection is an ongoing pandemic and worldwide health emergency that has caused important changes in healthcare systems. Previous studies reported an increased risk of thromboembolic events, including stroke. This systematic review aims to describe the clinical features and etiological characteristics of ischemic stroke patients with COVID-19 infection. Method: A literature search was performed in principal databases for studies and case reports containing data concerning risk factors, clinical features, and etiological characteristics of patients infected with COVID-19 and suffering from stroke. Descriptive and analytical statistics were applied. Results: Overall, 14 articles were included for a total of 93 patients. Median age was 65 (IQR: 55–75) years with prevalence in males. Stroke occurred after a median of 6 days from COVID-19 infection diagnosis. Median National of Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was 19. Cryptogenic (Cry) strokes were more frequent (51.8%), followed by cardioembolic etiology, and they occurred a long time after COVID-19 diagnosis compared with large-artery atherosclerosis strokes (ptrend: 0.03). The clinical severity of stroke was significantly associated with the severity grade of COVID-19 infection (ptrend: 0.03). Conclusions: Ischemic strokes in COVID-19-infected patients were clinically severe, affecting younger patients mainly with Cry and cardioembolic etiologies. Further multicenter prospective registries are needed to better describe the causal association and the effect of COVID-19 infection on stroke.

Download Full-text

Risk Factors for Unfavorable Treatment Outcomes among the Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Associated Tuberculosis Population in Tashkent City, Uzbekistan: 2013–2017

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18094623 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (9) ◽

pp. 4623

Author(s):

Sherali Massavirov ◽

Kristina Akopyan ◽

Fazlkhan Abdugapparov ◽

Ana Ciobanu ◽

Arax Hovhanessyan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Treatment Outcomes ◽

Sputum Smear ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Tb Treatment ◽

Cell Counts ◽

Cd4 Cell Counts ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Positive Sputum Smear

Tuberculosis (TB) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection poses a growing clinical challenge. People living with HIV have a higher chance of developing TB, and once the disease has progressed, are at greater risk of having unfavorable TB treatment outcomes. Data on TB treatment outcomes among the HIV-associated TB population in Uzbekistan are limited. Thus, we conducted a cohort study among 808 adult patients with HIV-associated TB registered at the Tashkent TB referral hospital from 2013–2017 to document baseline characteristics and evaluate risk factors for unfavorable TB treatment outcomes. The data were collected from medical records and ambulatory cards. About 79.8% of the study population had favorable treatment outcomes. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage at the admission was 26.9%. Information on CD4-cell counts and viral loads were largely missing. Having extrapulmonary TB (aOR 2.21, 95% CI: 1.38–3.53, p = 0.001), positive sputum smear laboratory results on admission (aOR 1.62, 95% CI: 1.07–2.40), diabetes (aOR 5.16, 95% CI: 1.77–14.98), and hepatitis C (aOR 1.68, 95% CI: 1.14–2.46) were independent risk factors for developing unfavorable TB treatment outcomes. The study findings provide evidence for targeted clinical management in co-infected patients with risk factors. Strengthening the integration of TB/HIV services may improve availability of key data to improve co-infection management.

Download Full-text

Trends, Characteristics and Treatment Outcomes of Patients with Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Uzbekistan: 2013–2018

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18094663 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (9) ◽

pp. 4663

Author(s):

Khasan Safaev ◽

Nargiza Parpieva ◽

Irina Liverko ◽

Sharofiddin Yuldashev ◽

Kostyantyn Dumchev ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Treatment Outcomes ◽

Treatment Success ◽

National Level ◽

Drug Resistant ◽

Drug Resistant Tuberculosis ◽

Loss To Follow Up ◽

Resistant Tuberculosis ◽

Mdr Tb

Uzbekistan has a high burden of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB). Although conventional treatment for multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) has been available since 2013, there has been no systematic documentation about its use and effectiveness. We therefore documented at national level the trends, characteristics, and outcomes of patients with drug-resistant TB enrolled for treatment from 2013–2018 and assessed risk factors for unfavorable treatment outcomes (death, failure, loss to follow-up, treatment continuation, change to XDR-TB regimen) in patients treated in Tashkent city from 2016–2017. This was a cohort study using secondary aggregate and individual patient data. Between 2013 and 2018, MDR-TB numbers were stable between 2347 and 2653 per annum, while XDR-TB numbers increased from 33 to 433 per annum. At national level, treatment success (cured and treatment completed) for MDR-TB decreased annually from 63% to 57%, while treatment success for XDR-TB increased annually from 24% to 57%. On multivariable analysis, risk factors for unfavorable outcomes, death, and loss to follow-up in drug-resistant TB patients treated in Tashkent city included XDR-TB, male sex, increasing age, previous TB treatment, alcohol abuse, and associated comorbidities (cardiovascular and liver disease, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS). Reasons for these findings and programmatic implications are discussed.

Download Full-text