scholarly journals Occupational risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and reinfection during the second pandemic surge: a cohort study.

Author(s):  
Antonio Leidi ◽  
Amandine Berner ◽  
Dumont Roxane ◽  
Richard Dubos ◽  
Flora Koegler ◽  
...  

Objectives: This cohort study including essential workers, assessed the risk and incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection during the second surge of COVID-19 according to baseline serostatus and occupational sector. Methods: Essential workers were selected from a seroprevalence survey cohort in Geneva, Switzerland and were linked to a state centralized registry compiling SARS-CoV-2 infections. Primary outcome was the number of virologically-confirmed infections from serological assessment (between May and September 2020) to January 25, 2021, according to baseline antibody status and stratified by three pre-defined occupational groups (occupations requiring sustained physical proximity, involving brief regular contact or others). Secondary outcomes included the incidence of infection. Results: 10457 essential workers were included (occupations requiring sustained physical proximity accounted for 3057 individuals, those involving regular brief contact, 3645, and 3755 workers were classified under ″Other essential occupations″). After a follow-up period of over 27 weeks, 5 (0.6%) seropositive and 830 (8.5%) seronegative individuals had a positive SARS-CoV-2 test, with an incidence rate of 0.2 (95% CI 0.1 to 0.6) and 3.2 (95% CI 2.9 to 3.4) cases per person-week, respectively. Incidences were similar across occupational groups. Seropositive essential workers had a 93% reduction in the hazard (HR of 0.07, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.17) of having a positive test during follow-up with no significant between-occupational group difference. Conclusions: A ten-fold reduction in the hazard of being virologically tested positive was observed among anti-SARS-CoV-2 seropositive essential workers regardless of their sector of occupation, confirming the seroprotective effect of a previous SARS-CoV2 exposure at least six months after infection. Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, Reinfection, Essential workers, Occupation

2021 ◽  
pp. oemed-2021-107924
Author(s):  
Antonio Leidi ◽  
Amandine Berner ◽  
Roxane Dumont ◽  
Richard Dubos ◽  
Flora Koegler ◽  
...  

ObjectivesThis cohort study including essential workers, assessed the risk and incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection during the second surge of COVID-19 according to baseline serostatus and occupational sector.MethodsEssential workers were selected from a seroprevalence survey cohort in Geneva, Switzerland and were linked to a state centralised registry compiling SARS-CoV-2 infections. Primary outcome was the incidence of virologically confirmed infections from serological assessment (between May and September 2020) to 25 January 2021, according to baseline antibody status and stratified by three predefined occupational groups (occupations requiring sustained physical proximity, involving brief regular contact or others).Results10 457 essential workers were included (occupations requiring sustained physical proximity accounted for 3057 individuals, those involving regular brief contact, 3645 and 3755 workers were classified under ‘Other essential occupations’). After a follow-up period of over 27 weeks, 5 (0.6%) seropositive and 830 (8.5%) seronegative individuals had a positive SARS-CoV-2 test, with an incidence rate of 0.2 (95% CI 0.1 to 0.6) and 3.2 (95% CI 2.9 to 3.4) cases per person-week, respectively. Incidences were similar across occupational groups. Seropositive essential workers had a 93% reduction in the hazard (HR of 0.07, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.17) of having a positive test during the follow-up with no significant between-occupational group difference.ConclusionsA 10-fold reduction in the hazard of being virologically tested positive was observed among anti-SARS-CoV-2 seropositive essential workers regardless of their sector of occupation, confirming the seroprotective effect of a previous SARS-CoV2 exposure at least 6 months after infection.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. e043259
Author(s):  
Qiuyue Ma ◽  
Fude Yang ◽  
Botao Ma ◽  
Wenzhan Jing ◽  
Jue Liu ◽  
...  

ObjectivesTo determine the association of long-term use of antipsychotics with the risk of dyslipidaemia.DesignA hospital-based cohort study.SettingElectronic health record data of adult mental health inpatients in all 19 specialised psychiatric hospitals in Beijing from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2018 was obtained.ParticipantsParticipants were inpatients aged 18 years or older with at least two admissions, excluding those with diagnosed dyslipidaemia and fatty liver at the first admission. We included 22 329 adult inpatients with no dyslipidaemia and fatty liver at baseline. The exposure was antipsychotics use, defined as antipsychotics prescription in the treatment procedures of medical record preceding dyslipidaemia diagnosis during the follow-up period. 15 930 (71.34%) had antipsychotics use, and 6399 (28.66%) never had antipsychotics use. We used the length of follow-up as proxy for the duration of antipsychotics exposure.Primary outcome measuresThe primary outcome was newly recorded dyslipidaemia defined by International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision codes.Results4069 inpatients had newly recorded dyslipidaemia during 73 418.07 person-years, the incidence rate was 5.54 per 100 person-years. The incidence rate was 7.22 per 100 person-years in the exposed group and 3.43 per 100 person-years in the unexposed group. Results of multivariate analysis showed that antipsychotics use was associated with higher risk of dyslipidaemia (adjusted HR, aHR 2.41, 95% CI 2.24 to 2.59, p<0.001), regardless of the duration of antipsychotics use. Inpatients aged 18–29 years had higher risk of dyslipidaemia (aHR 3.38, 95% CI 2.77 to 4.12, p=0.004) than those in other age groups. Inpatients without hypertension had substantially higher risk of dyslipidaemia after antipsychotic exposure.ConclusionsBoth short-term and long-term antipsychotics use was associated with higher risk of dyslipidaemia among Chinese inpatients with mental illness. Dyslipidaemia was especially prominent in young patients and those without hypertension.


2018 ◽  
Vol 103 (4) ◽  
pp. 494-498 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yichen Bai ◽  
Huanjie Nie ◽  
Shiyu Wei ◽  
Xiaohe Lu ◽  
Xiaoyun Ke ◽  
...  

BackgroundTo evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravitreal conbercept (IVC) injection in the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).MethodsPatients with ROP who underwent IVC injection in Zhujiang Hospital from June 2015 to July 2016 were studied retrospectively. The primary outcome was defined as the regression of plus disease. The secondary outcomes were defined as the presence of recurrence, number of injections and the final regression of disease.ResultsA total of 48 eyes of 24 patients with ROP were included. Among them, 9 eyes of 5 patients had zone I ROP, 35 eyes of 18 patients had zone II ROP and 4 eyes of 2 patients had aggressive posterior ROP. The mean gestational age was 28.5±1.6 weeks, the mean birth weight was 1209.6±228.6 g, the mean postmenstrual age of first injection was 34.2±1.9 weeks and the mean follow-up period was 31.0±4.7 weeks. Forty of 48 eyes (83.3%) received IVC only once, and the regression of plus disease occurred at an average of 3.5±1.5 weeks after the first injection of conbercept. For eight recurrent eyes (16.7%), four eyes received a second IVC and the remaining four eyes received laser photocoagulation, and the regression of plus disease occurred in 3 weeks. No lens opacity, vitreous haemorrhage, entophthalmia or retinal detachment was observed during follow-up.ConclusionIVC injection is an effective treatment for ROP.


Author(s):  
Giuseppe Riva ◽  
Luca Bernardelli ◽  
Gianluca Castelnuovo ◽  
Daniele Di Lernia ◽  
Cosimo Tuena ◽  
...  

The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of a novel self-administered at-home daily virtual reality (VR)-based intervention (COVID Feel Good) for reducing the psychological burden experienced during the COVID-19 lockdown in Italy. A total of 40 individuals who had experienced at least two months of strict social distancing measures followed COVID Feel Good between June and July 2020 for one week. Primary outcome measures were depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms, perceived stress levels, and hopelessness. Secondary outcomes were the experienced social connectedness and the level of fear experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Linear mixed-effects models were fitted to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. Additionally, we also performed a clinical change analysis on primary outcome measures. As concerning primary outcome measures, participants exhibited improvements from baseline to post-intervention for depression levels, stress levels, general distress, and perceived stress (all p < 0.05) but not for the perceived hopelessness (p = 0.110). Results for the secondary outcomes indicated an increase in social connectedness from T0 to T1 (p = 0.033) but not a significant reduction in the perceived fear of coronavirus (p = 0.412). Among these study variables, these significant improvements were maintained from post-intervention to the 2-week follow-up (p > 0.05). Results indicated that the intervention was associated with good clinical outcomes, low-to-no risks for the treatment, and no adverse effects or risks. Globally, evidence suggests a beneficial effect of the proposed protocol and its current availability in 12 different languages makes COVID Feel Good a free choice for helping individuals worldwide to cope with the psychological distress associated with the COVID-19 crisis, although large scale trials are needed to evaluate its efficacy.


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. e026714 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip R Harvey ◽  
Tom Thomas ◽  
Joht Singh Chandan ◽  
Neeraj Bhala ◽  
Krishnarajah Nirantharakumar ◽  
...  

ObjectivesTo measure the rates of lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) and mortality following feeding gastrostomy (FG) placement in patients with learning disability (LD). Following this to compare these rates between those having LRTI prior to FG placement and those with no recent LRTI.DesignRetrospective cohort study.Setting and participantsThe study population included patients with LD undergoing FG placement in the ‘The Health Improvement Network’ database. Patients with LRTI in the year prior (LYP) to their FG placement were compared with patients without a history of LRTI in the year prior (non-LYP) to FG placement. FG placement and LD were identified using Read codes previously developed by an expert panel.Main outcome measuresIncidence rate ratio (IRR) of developing LRTI and mortality following FG, comparing patients with LRTI in the year prior to FG placement to patients without a history of LRTI.Results214 patients with LD had a FG inserted including 743.4 person years follow-up. 53.7% were males and the median age was 27.6 (IQR 19.6 to 38.6) years. 27.1% were in the LYP patients. 18.7% had a LRTI in the year following FG, with an estimated incidence rate of 254 per 1000-person years. Over the study period the incidence rate of LRTI in LYP patients was 369 per 1000-person years, in non-LYP patients this was 91 per 1000-person years (adjusted IRR 4.21 (95% CI 2.68 to 6.63) p<0.001). 27.1% of patients died during study follow-up. Incidence rate of death was 80 and 45 per 1000-person year for LYP and non-LYP patients, respectively (adjusted IRR 1.80 (1.00 to 3.23) p=0.05).ConclusionIn LD patients, no clinically meaningful reduction in LRTI incidence was observed following FG placement. Mortality and LRTI were higher in patients with at least one LRTI in the year preceding FG placement, compared with those without a preceding LRTI.


Medicina ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (8) ◽  
pp. 392
Author(s):  
Dalia Miltinienė ◽  
Giedrė Deresevičienė ◽  
Birutė Nakčerienė ◽  
Valerija Edita Davidavičienė ◽  
Edvardas Danila ◽  
...  

Background and objective: With an increase in survival rates among rheumatic patients, comorbidities and infections, in particular, have gained more importance, especially after the introduction of biologicals to the treatment algorithms. Tuberculosis (TB) infection has always been given a special attention in patients with rheumatic diseases (RD). Although Lithuanian population has one of the highest TB incidence rates among European countries, the incidence of TB in the rheumatic patients’ population is still unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence rate of TB in an inflammatory RD retrospective cohort and to compare that rate with a rate in a general population. Material and Methods: Patients with the first-time diagnosis of inflammatory RD during the period between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2017 were identified from the Lithuanian Compulsory Health Insurance Information System database SVEIDRA. All cases were cross-checked with Health Information center at the Institute of Hygiene, for the vital status of these patients and date of death if the fact of death was documented, and with Tuberculosis Register operated by Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos, for the confirmation of TB cases. Sex and age standardized incidence ratios (SIR) were calculated by dividing the observed numbers of TB among rheumatic patients by the expected number of cases, calculated using national rates from Lithuanian Department of Statistics Official Statistics website. Results: Overall, 8779 patients with newly diagnosed RD were identified during the 2013–2017 period, these included 458 patients who used biological disease modifying drugs (bDMARDs). The mean duration of the follow-up period was 2.71 years. The cohort consisted mainly of women (70%) and a half of the cohort were rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients (53%). Mean age of patients at the time of RD diagnosis was 56 years (range = 18–97 years). There were 9 TB cases identified during 23,800 person years of follow-up: 2 cases among them were treated with bDMARDs. The mean calculated annual TB incidence in RD cohort was 37.81 per 100,000 person years, which is consistent with the incidence rate predicted by national estimates, with a resultant SIR of 0.90 (0.41–1.70). The unadjusted hazard ratio for bDMARD use versus no bDMARD use was 4.54 (0.94; 21.87) in a total cohort and very similar in rheumatoid arthritis cohort; in both cohorts, it was not a statistically significant risk. Conclusions: Here, we present the first nationwide cohort study to assess the incidence of TB in a broad spectrum of inflammatory RD. Although limited by short follow-up period, this study shows that TB incidence in RD cohort does not exceed TB incidence in the general Lithuanian population.


2020 ◽  
Vol 105 (4) ◽  
pp. e947-e954
Author(s):  
Alexander Kutz ◽  
Fahim Ebrahimi ◽  
Clara O Sailer ◽  
Ulrich Wagner ◽  
Philipp Schuetz ◽  
...  

Abstract Context Hyponatremia is the most prevalent electrolyte disturbance in hospitalized patients. Previous studies have shown a seasonal variation of profound hyponatremia with higher prevalence during warmer months. Objective This study aimed at analyzing the seasonal prevalence and sex- and age-specific differences of hyponatremia in medical inpatients. Design Nationwide cohort study from January 2009 and December 2015 using prospective administrative data. Setting Medical inpatients. Patients Diagnosis of hypoosmolar hyponatremia. Main outcome measures The primary outcome was the monthly alteration in hyponatremia prevalence. Secondary outcomes were the association of outdoor temperature with hyponatremia prevalence and differences among sex and age groups. Results Of 2 426 722 medical inpatients, 84 210 were diagnosed with hypoosmolar hyponatremia, of whom 61% (n = 51 262) were female. The highest overall prevalence of hyponatremia was observed in July (4.5%, n = 8976); the lowest in December (2.7%, n = 6530). The overall prevalence of hyponatremia in women compared with men was higher by 58% (odds ratio [OR], 1.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.56-1.60). The sex-specific difference was most pronounced in the warmest month of July (mean temperature 20.1°C (OR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.68-1.84). We observed the strongest association between seasonality and hyponatremia in elderly (&gt;80 years) female inpatients admitted during the month of July (OR, 2.40; 95% CI, 2.20-2.62]). Conclusion The prevalence of diagnosed hypoosmolar hyponatremia in medical inpatients increases during summer months with higher outdoor temperature. Elderly female inpatients were most susceptible to the seasonal rise in hyponatremia prevalence.


2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (7) ◽  
pp. 454-461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marijke Keus van de Poll ◽  
Lotta Nybergh ◽  
Caroline Lornudd ◽  
Jan Hagberg ◽  
Lennart Bodin ◽  
...  

ObjectivesCommon mental disorders (CMDs) are among the main causes of sickness absence and can lead to suffering and high costs for individuals, employers and the society. The occupational health service (OHS) can offer work-directed interventions to support employers and employees. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect on sickness absence and health of a work-directed intervention given by the OHS to employees with CMDs or stress-related symptoms.MethodsRandomisation was conducted at the OHS consultant level and each consultant was allocated into either giving a brief problem-solving intervention (PSI) or care as usual (CAU). The study group consisted of 100 employees with stress symptoms or CMDs. PSI was highly structured and used a participatory approach, involving both the employee and the employee’s manager. CAU was also work-directed but not based on the same theoretical concepts as PSI. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, at 6 and at 12 months. Primary outcome was registered sickness absence during the 1-year follow-up period. Among the secondary outcomes were self-registered sickness absence, return to work (RTW) and mental health.ResultsA statistical interaction for group × time was found on the primary outcome (p=0.033) and PSI had almost 15 days less sickness absence during follow-up compared with CAU. Concerning the secondary outcomes, PSI showed an earlier partial RTW and the mental health improved in both groups without significant group differences.ConclusionPSI was effective in reducing sickness absence which was the primary outcome in this study.


Author(s):  
Faiez Zannad ◽  
João Pedro Ferreira ◽  
Stuart J. Pocock ◽  
Cordula Zeller ◽  
Stefan D. Anker ◽  
...  

Background: In EMPEROR-Reduced, empagliflozin reduced cardiovascular death or HF hospitalization, total HF hospitalizations, and slowed the progressive decline in kidney function in patients with HF and a reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), with and without diabetes. We aim to study the effect of empagliflozin on cardiovascular and kidney outcomes across the spectrum of kidney function. Methods: In this pre-specified analysis, patients were categorized by the presence or absence of CKD at baseline (eGFR<60ml/min/1.73m 2 or UACR>300mg/g). The primary and key secondary outcomes were (1) a composite of cardiovascular death or HF hospitalization (primary outcome); (2) total HF hospitalizations, and (3) eGFR slope. The direct impact on kidney events was investigated by a prespecified composite kidney outcome (defined as a sustained profound decline in eGFR, chronic dialysis or transplant). The median follow-up was 16 months. Results: 3730 patients were randomized to empagliflozin or placebo, of whom 1978 (53%) had CKD. Empagliflozin reduced the primary outcome and total HF hospitalizations in patients with and without CKD: primary outcome HR=0.78 (95%CI=0.65-0.93) and HR=0.72 (95%CI=0.58-0.90), respectively; interaction P=0.63. Empagliflozin slowed the slope of eGFR decline by 1.11 (0.23-1.98) ml/min/1.73m 2 /year in patients with CKD and by 2.41 (1.49-3.32) ml/min/1.73m2/year in patients without CKD. The risk of the composite kidney outcome was reduced similarly in patients with and without CKD: HR=0.53 (95%CI=0.31-0.91) and HR=0.46 (95%CI=0.22-0.99), respectively. The effect of empagliflozin on the primary composite outcome and the key secondary outcomes was consistent across a broad range of baseline kidney function, measured by clinically relevant eGFR subgroups or by albuminuria, including patients with eGFR as low as 20 ml/min/1.73m 2 . Empagliflozin was well tolerated in CKD patients. Conclusions: In EMPEROR-reduced, empagliflozin had a beneficial effect on the key efficacy outcomes and slowed the rate of kidney function decline in patients with and without CKD and regardless of the severity of kidney impairment at baseline. Clinical Trial Registration: URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov Unique Identifier: NCT03057977


BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. e015101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hsien-Feng Lin ◽  
Kuan-Fu Liao ◽  
Ching-Mei Chang ◽  
Cheng-Li Lin ◽  
Shih-Wei Lai

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the association between splenectomy and empyema in Taiwan.MethodsA population-based cohort study was conducted using the hospitalisation dataset of the Taiwan National Health Insurance Program. A total of 13 193 subjects aged 20–84 years who were newly diagnosed with splenectomy from 2000 to 2010 were enrolled in the splenectomy group and 52 464 randomly selected subjects without splenectomy were enrolled in the non-splenectomy group. Both groups were matched by sex, age, comorbidities and the index year of undergoing splenectomy. The incidence of empyema at the end of 2011 was calculated. A multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate the HR with 95% CI of empyema associated with splenectomy and other comorbidities.ResultsThe overall incidence rate of empyema was 2.56-fold higher in the splenectomy group than in the non-splenectomy group (8.85 vs 3.46 per 1000 person-years). The Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a higher cumulative incidence of empyema in the splenectomy group than in the non-splenectomy group (6.99% vs 3.37% at the end of follow-up). After adjusting for confounding variables, the adjusted HR of empyema was 2.89 for the splenectomy group compared with that for the non-splenectomy group. Further analysis revealed that HR of empyema was 4.52 for subjects with splenectomy alone.ConclusionThe incidence rate ratio between the splenectomy and non-splenectomy groups reduced from 2.87 in the first 5 years of follow-up to 1.73 in the period following the 5 years. Future studies are required to confirm whether a longer follow-up period would further reduce this average ratio. For the splenectomy group, the overall HR of developing empyema was 2.89 after adjusting for age, sex and comorbidities, which was identified from previous literature. The risk of empyema following splenectomy remains high despite the absence of these comorbidities.


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