Key predictors of attending hospital with COVID19: An association study from the COVID Symptom Tracker App in 2,618,948 individuals

AbstractObjectivesWe aimed to identify key demographic risk factors for hospital attendance with COVID-19 infection.DesignCommunity surveySettingThe COVID Symptom Tracker mobile application co-developed by physicians and scientists at King’s College London, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston and Zoe Global Limited was launched in the UK and US on 24th and 29th March 2020 respectively. It captured self-reported information related to COVID-19 symptoms and testing.Participants2,618,948 users of the COVID Symptom Tracker App. UK (95.7%) and US (4.3%) population. Data cut-off for this analysis was 21st April 2020.Main outcome measuresVisit to hospital and for those who attended hospital, the need for respiratory support in three subgroups (i) self-reported COVID-19 infection with classical symptoms (SR-COVID-19), (ii) selfreported positive COVID-19 test results (T-COVID-19), and (iii) imputed/predicted COVID-19 infection based on symptomatology (I-COVID-19). Multivariate logistic regressions for each outcome and each subgroup were adjusted for age and gender, with sensitivity analyses adjusted for comorbidities. Classical symptoms were defined as high fever and persistent cough for several days.ResultsOlder age and all comorbidities tested were found to be associated with increased odds of requiring hospital care for COVID-19. Obesity (BMI >30) predicted hospital care in all models, with odds ratios (OR) varying from 1.20 [1.11; 1.31] to 1.40 [1.23; 1.60] across population groups. Pre-existing lung disease and diabetes were consistently found to be associated with hospital visit with a maximum OR of 1.79 [1.64,1.95] and 1.72 [1.27; 2.31]) respectively. Findings were similar when assessing the need for respiratory support, for which age and male gender played an additional role.ConclusionsBeing older, obese, diabetic or suffering from pre-existing lung, heart or renal disease placed participants at increased risk of visiting hospital with COVID-19. It is of utmost importance for governments and the scientific and medical communities to work together to find evidence-based means of protecting those deemed most vulnerable from COVID-19.Trial registrationThe App Ethics have been approved by KCL ethics Committee REMAS ID 18210, review reference LRS-19/20-18210

Download Full-text

Incidence and demographic risk factors for leptospirosis in dogs in the UK

Veterinary Record ◽

10.1002/vetr.512 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Collette Taylor ◽

Dan G. O'Neill ◽

Brian Catchpole ◽

Dave C. Brodbelt

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Demographic Risk ◽

The Uk ◽

Demographic Risk Factors

Download Full-text

Metastatic Bladder Cancer Presenting with Persistent Hematuria in Young Man with Cystic Fibrosis

Case Reports in Pulmonology ◽

10.1155/2013/831871 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-4

Author(s):

Premal Patel ◽

Harvey R. Rabin ◽

Michael M. Vickers ◽

Michael D. Parkins

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Cystic Fibrosis ◽

Bladder Cancer ◽

Renal Colic ◽

Atypical Symptoms ◽

Metastatic Bladder Cancer ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Demographic Risk ◽

Demographic Risk Factors ◽

Rule Out

We report a case of metastatic bladder cancer developing in a young man with cystic fibrosis (CF) that was initially diagnosed as ureterolithiasis and managed as renal colic. With the improved survival of patients with CF, an increasing burden of extrapulmonary disease manifestations is apparent. Renal colic is observed at an increased frequency in patients with CF relative to the general population and is a commonly recognized cause of hematuria. However, CF patients harboring a malignancy are recognized to be at increased risk of delayed identification owing to atypical symptoms and lack of demographic risk factors. This case illustrates how investigations to rule out malignancy are warranted in those CF patients not responding to therapies directed towards presumptive diagnoses.

Download Full-text

Altered Cortical Brain Structure and Increased Risk for Disease Seen Decades After Perinatal Exposure to Maternal Smoking: A Study of 9000 Adults in the UK Biobank

Cerebral Cortex ◽

10.1093/cercor/bhz060 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (12) ◽

pp. 5217-5233 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Lauren E Salminen ◽

Rand R Wilcox ◽

Alyssa H Zhu ◽

Brandalyn C Riedel ◽

Christopher R K Ching ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Brain Structure ◽

Brain Mri ◽

Population Based ◽

Smoke Exposure ◽

Sensitivity Analyses ◽

Uk Biobank ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Increase Risk ◽

Sensory Cortices ◽

The Uk

Abstract Secondhand smoke exposure is a major public health risk that is especially harmful to the developing brain, but it is unclear if early exposure affects brain structure during middle age and older adulthood. Here we analyzed brain MRI data from the UK Biobank in a population-based sample of individuals (ages 44–80) who were exposed (n = 2510) or unexposed (n = 6079) to smoking around birth. We used robust statistical models, including quantile regressions, to test the effect of perinatal smoke exposure (PSE) on cortical surface area (SA), thickness, and subcortical volumes. We hypothesized that PSE would be associated with cortical disruption in primary sensory areas compared to unexposed (PSE−) adults. After adjusting for multiple comparisons, SA was significantly lower in the pericalcarine (PCAL), inferior parietal (IPL), and regions of the temporal and frontal cortex of PSE+ adults; these abnormalities were associated with increased risk for several diseases, including circulatory and endocrine conditions. Sensitivity analyses conducted in a hold-out group of healthy participants (exposed, n = 109, unexposed, n = 315) replicated the effect of PSE on SA in the PCAL and IPL. Collectively our results show a negative, long term effect of PSE on sensory cortices that may increase risk for disease later in life.

Download Full-text

Assessment of Anthropometric Measurements as Predictors of Car Seat Screening Failure

American Journal of Perinatology ◽

10.1055/s-0037-1603506 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 34 (13) ◽

pp. 1318-1325

Author(s):

Elena Donald ◽

Maura Heffernan ◽

Brian Corwell ◽

Natalie Davis

Keyword(s):

Preterm Infants ◽

Anthropometric Measurements ◽

Multiple Gestation ◽

Term Infants ◽

Car Seat ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Absolute Measurements ◽

Demographic Risk ◽

Demographic Risk Factors ◽

Record Review

Objective The objective of this study was to determine whether anthropometric measurements such as head circumference (HC), body mass index (BMI), and body surface area (BSA) can predict car seat tolerance screen (CSTS) failure. We hypothesized that subjects with larger HC and lower BMI/BSA would have increased risk of failure. Study Design We performed retrospective medical record review of infants born in 2013 who qualified for CSTS due to being born preterm (< 37 weeks) or low birth weight (LBW). We performed bivariate analyses of clinical and demographic risk factors including anthropometrics to identify predictors of CSTS failure. Results In this study, 19 of 366 subjects failed their CSTS (5.3%). There were no significant differences in HC, length, BSA, BMI, or ratio of HC to length, BMI, or BSA between those who passed versus failed. On subgroup analysis of preterm infants, the significant predictor of failure was multiple gestation (p = 0.024). In the term LBW cohort, requiring nasal canula (NC) (p = 0.03) and having limited or no prenatal care (PNC) (p = 0.0006) were both significant predictors of failure. Conclusion Neither absolute measurements nor the ratios of HC to body measurements predicted CSTS outcome. Multiple gestation was a significant predictor of failure in preterm infants, while NC requirement and poor PNC were predictors in LBW term infants.

Download Full-text

Analysis of clinico-demographic risk factors for postoperative pulmonary complications following gastrointestinal surgery

International Surgery Journal ◽

10.18203/2349-2902.isj20195950 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 93

Author(s):

Vijay Sinouvassan ◽

Hemalatha Dayalane ◽

Subalakshmi Balagurunathan ◽

Ashok Kumar Sahoo ◽

Vishnu Kanth ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Serum Albumin ◽

Gastrointestinal Surgery ◽

Pulmonary Complications ◽

Lung Pathology ◽

Postoperative Pulmonary Complications ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Education Status ◽

Demographic Risk ◽

Demographic Risk Factors

Background: Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPC) are one of the commonest complications following gastrointestinal surgery. They lead to increased mortality, increased length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and higher cost of treatment. Identifying the risk factors of PPC helps in predicting its occurrence and to develop preventive measures. The objectives of the present study were to study the clinical and demographic risk factors for PPC following gastrointestinal surgery.Methods: The study was designed as an observational descriptive analytic study. All the patients ≥18 years of age undergoing gastrointestinal surgery were included. The patients with preoperative lung pathology requiring ICU care or ventilatory support and patients with lung metastasis were excluded. The demographic and clinical parameters at admission were recorded. The details of pulmonary complications like the time of occurrence after surgery and the mode of treatment for pulmonary complications were noted. The risk association was assessed for statistical significance.Results: A total of 100 patients were underwent various gastrointestinal surgeries during the study period. The incidence of PPC was 34% in our study. Age, education status, smoking, and presence of comorbidities were found to be positively associated with an increased incidence of PPCs. The serum albumin of less than 3.5gm and the haemoglobin of less than 8 gm were also associated with an increased incidence of PPC. Pleural effusion was the commonest PPC seen in 15 (44.1%) patients followed by pneumonia in 9 (26.5%).Conclusions: Age, smoking, education status, serum albumin, haemoglobin, emergency surgery, elective postoperative ventilation, nasogastric intubation and blood loss in the intraoperative period were found to associated with increased risk of PPCs.

Download Full-text

Veterinary drug therapies used for undesirable behaviours in UK dogs under primary veterinary care

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0261139 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. e0261139

Author(s):

Annabel J. Craven ◽

Camilla Pegram ◽

Rowena M. A. Packer ◽

Susan Jarvis ◽

Paul D. McGreevy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drug Therapy ◽

Veterinary Drug ◽

Electronic Patient Records ◽

Regression Modelling ◽

Study Population ◽

Demographic Risk ◽

The Uk ◽

Demographic Risk Factors ◽

Low Prevalence ◽

Multivariable Modelling

Undesirable behaviours (UBs) in dogs are common and important issues with serious potential welfare consequences for both the dogs and their owners. This study aimed to investigate the usage of drug therapy for UBs in dogs and assess demographic risk factors for drug-prescribed UBs within the dog population under primary-care veterinary care in the UK in 2013. Dogs receiving drug therapy for UB were identified through the retrospective analysis of anonymised electronic patient records in VetCompass™. Risk factor analysis used multivariable logistic regression modelling. The study population comprised 103,597 dogs under veterinary care in the UK during 2013. There were 413 drug-prescribed UBs recorded among 404 dogs. The prevalence of dogs with at least one UB event treated with a drug in 2013 was 0.4%. Multivariable modelling identified 3 breeds with increased odds of drug-prescribed UB compared with crossbred dogs: Toy Poodle (OR 2.75), Tibetan Terrier (OR 2.68) and Shih-tzu (OR 1.95). Increasing age was associated with increased odds of drug-prescribed UB, with dogs ≥ 12 years showing 3.1 times the odds compared with dogs < 3 years. Neutered males (OR 1.82) and entire males (OR 1.50) had increased odds compared with entire females. The relatively low prevalence of dogs with at least one UB event that was treated with a drug in 2013 could suggest that opportunities for useful psychopharmaceutical intervention in UBs may be being missed in first opinion veterinary practice. While bodyweight was not a significant factor, the 3 individual breeds at higher odds of an UB treated with a behaviour modifying drug all have a relatively low average bodyweight. The current results also support previous research of a male predisposition to UBs and it is possible that this higher risk resulted in the increased likelihood of being prescribed a behaviour modifying drug, regardless of neuter status.

Download Full-text

Epidemiology of silicosis: reports from the SWORD scheme in the UK from 1996 to 2017

Occupational and Environmental Medicine ◽

10.1136/oemed-2018-105337 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 76 (1) ◽

pp. 17-21 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Christopher Michael Barber ◽

David Fishwick ◽

Melanie Carder ◽

Martie van Tongeren

Keyword(s):

Age Groups ◽

Clear Trend ◽

Work Related ◽

Wide Range ◽

Important Health ◽

Occupational Respiratory Disease ◽

Age Of Diagnosis ◽

Demographic Risk ◽

The Uk ◽

Demographic Risk Factors

ObjectiveTo document the demographic risk factors of workers reported to have silicosis in the UK.MethodsAll cases of silicosis reported to the Surveillance of Work-related and Occupational Respiratory Disease (SWORD) scheme between January 1996 and December 2017 were classified into one of eight industry categories, and one of five age groups. In addition, to investigate whether there had been any temporal change, mean age and range at diagnosis was plotted for each year. From 2006, data were also available relating to the date of onset of symptoms, allowing a comparison between workers with and without respiratory symptoms.ResultsFor the period between 1996 and 2017, there were 216 cases of silicosis reported. The mean (range) age of those reported was 61 years (23–89), with the majority (98%) being male. Across all industries, 65% of cases were diagnosed in individuals of working age (<65 for men and <60 for women). Silicosis was reported in young workers across all industry groups, with around one in six of all silicosis cases affecting workers under the age of 46 years. There was no clear trend in age of diagnosis with time. Between 2006 and 2017, 81% of 108 workers with silicosis were reported to be symptomatic.ConclusionsSilicosis remains an important health problem in the UK affecting workers of all ages across a wide range of industries traditionally associated with silica exposure.

Download Full-text

Preventing Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Kidney Transplant Recipients: Where Should We Begin?

Nephron ◽

10.1159/000515165 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-5

Author(s):

Leonardo V. Riella ◽

Jamil R. Azzi ◽

Paolo Cravedi

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

General Population ◽

Kidney Transplant ◽

Opportunistic Infections ◽

Population Data ◽

Transplant Recipients ◽

Kidney Transplant Recipients ◽

Viral Spread ◽

Increased Risk ◽

The Uk

Context: Chronic immunosuppression is associated with an increased risk of opportunistic infections. Although kidney transplant recipients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have higher mortality than the general population, data on their risk of infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are unknown. Subject of Review: A recent single-center screening study from the UK (Transplantation. 2021 Jan 1;105(1):151–7) showed that 89 (10.4%) of 855 consecutive kidney transplant recipients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Risk factors for infection included a nonwhite background, diabetes, and a history of allograft rejection. Risk factors for mortality in individuals who developed COVID-19 were older age and receiving steroids. Second Opinion: This study shows that the rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection in kidney transplant recipients is similar to the one observed in the general population in the same area (13%), indicating that transplant recipients are not at increased risk of COVID-19. However, the investigators raise the interesting point that since transplant individuals were advised to shelter earlier than the general population, they may be in fact more susceptible. This statement is hard to substantiate, but the identification of specific risk factors for infection and poor outcomes is crucial to tailor strategies to prevent spread of the infection. This is particularly important, considering that kidney transplant recipients may be at increased risk of prolonged viral spread and in-host viral mutations, making them not just a particularly fragile population for COVID-19 but also a potentially major source of further contagions.

Download Full-text

Emotional and Behavioral Problems in Early Adolescents and Association with Socio-demographic Risk Factors

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.01.1941 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 41 (S1) ◽

pp. S128-S128

Author(s):

L. Dostovic Hamidovic

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Behavioral Problems ◽

Parental Education ◽

Early Adolescents ◽

Emotional And Behavioral Problems ◽

Behavioural Problems ◽

Emotional And Behavioural Problems ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Demographic Risk ◽

Demographic Risk Factors

AimThe aim is to analyse the frequency emotional and behavioural problems early adolescents and association with socio-demographic risk factors.Subject and methodsWe analysed a group of 240 early adolescents (11–15 years) from the area of Tuzla Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the general population. For the assessment of children's emotional and behavioural problems, the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire – SDQ is used. Data were processed by descriptive statistics. For the assessment association between socio-demographic risk factors and emotional and behavioural problems in early adolescents we used Pearson correlation test.ResultsThe result show that the frequency of emotional and behavioural problems are present in 3% of cases, The results of correlation sociodemographic risk factors and emotional and behavioral problems, showed that unemployed mothers have a significant increased risk of developing behavioral disorders in early adolescents (P < 0.05). Low family economic status leads to a significantly higher frequency of emotional symptoms in early adolescents, poor attitude towards society and significantly higher overall difficulties (P < 0.05). Higher levels of parental education was significantly associated with a higher frequency of behavioral problems and illness in the family leads to a much more emotional problems (P < 0.05).ConclusionThe obtained results of this study indicate that early adolescents showed low levels of emotional and behavioral problems. There is a significant correlation between socio-demographic risk factors and emotional and behavioral problems early adolescents.Disclosure of interestThe author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.

Download Full-text