scholarly journals Inhaled corticosteroids may have a protective effect against coronavirus infection

2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-117
Author(s):  
Alicia Armentia ◽  
Sara Fernández Cortés ◽  
Angela Moro Simón ◽  
Blanca Martín-Armentia ◽  
Sara Martín-Armentia ◽  
...  

Background: Spain has been severely affected by the COVID-19 epidemic, with 195,944 persons infected and 20,453 deaths at the time of writing. Older people with respiratory or cardiac conditions are most at risk. Objective: The aim was to compare respiratory symptoms in nursing home residents and patients with uncontrolled asthma, who are considered vulnerable to COVID-19. Methods: We studied 134 nursing home residents and 139 patients with uncontrolled asthma, groups vulnerable to COVID-19. Demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, outcomes, key laboratory results, and radiological images were collected from medical records. COVID-19 infection was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Thirteen (9.3%) patients with uncontrolled asthma, all receiving inhaled corticosteroids were infected by COVID-19. Eighty (60%) nursing home residents were infected; only 28, all of whom had received inhaled corticosteroids, had a good prognosis. Conclusions: Early treatment with inhaled corticosteroids may be helpful in COVID-19 infection. Persons with an allergy might have some protective mechanisms against coronavirus.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeanine J.S. Rutten ◽  
Anouk M. van Loon ◽  
Janine van Kooten ◽  
Laura W. van Buul ◽  
Karlijn J. Joling ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectivesTo describe symptomatology, mortality and risk factors for mortality in a large group of Dutch nursing home (NH) residents with clinically-suspected COVID-19 who were tested with a Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test.DesignProspective cohort study.Setting and participantsResidents of Dutch NHs with clinically-suspected COVID-19 and who received RT-PCR test.MethodsWe collected data of NH residents with clinically-suspected COVID-19, via electronic health records between March 18th and May 13th, 2020. Registration was performed on diagnostic status (confirmed (COVID-19+)/ruled out (COVID-19-)) and symptomatology (typical and atypical symptoms). Information on mortality and risk factors for mortality were extracted from usual care data.ResultsIn our sample of residents with clinically-suspected COVID-19 (N=4007), COVID-19 was confirmed in 1538 residents (38%). Although, symptomatology overlapped between residents with COVID-19+ and COVID-19-, those with COVID-19+ were three times more likely to die within 30 days (hazard ratio (HR), 3·1; 95% CI, 2·7 to 3·6). Within this group, mortality was higher for men than for women (HR, 1·8; 95%, 1·5-2·2) and we observed a higher mortality for residents with dementia, reduced kidney function, and Parkinson’s Disease, even when corrected for age, gender, and comorbidities.Conclusions and implicationsAbout 40% of the residents with clinically-suspected COVID-19 actually had COVID-19, based on the RT-PCR test. Despite an overlap in symptomatology, mortality rate was three times higher for residents with COVID-19+. This emphasizes the importance of using low-threshold testing in NH residents which is an essential prerequisite to using limited personal protective equipment and isolation measures efficiently.


Author(s):  
Jean Bousquet ◽  
Hubert Blain ◽  
Edouard Tuaillon ◽  
Lucie Gamon ◽  
Amandine Pisoni ◽  
...  

Methods: Twenty-two French nursing homes were included. COVID-19 had been diagnosed with real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for SARS-CoV-2. Blood S-protein IgG and nucleocapsid (N) IgG protein (N-protein IgG) were measured 21-24 days after the first jab (1,004 residents) and 6 weeks after the second (820 residents). Results: Among the 735 residents without prior COVID-19, 41.7% remained seronegative for S-protein IgG after the first jab vs 2.1% of the 270 residents with a previous positive RT-PCR (p<0.001). After the second jab, only 3% of the 586 residents without prior COVID-19 remained seronegative. However, 26.5% of them had low S-protein IgG levels (50-1050 UA/mL) vs 6.4% of the 222 residents with prior COVID-19. Residents with old infection (first wave), or seropositive for N-protein IgG at the time of vaccination, had the highest S-protein IgG levels. Residents with a prior COVID-19 infection had higher S-protein IgG levels after one dose than those without two jabs. Interpretation: A single vaccine jab is sufficient to reach immunity in residents with prior COVID-19. Most residents without prior COVID-19 are seropositive for S-protein IgG after the second jab, but around 30% have low levels of S-protein IgG. Whether residents with no or low post-vaccine immunity are at higher risk of symptomatic COVID-19 requires further analysis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (10) ◽  
pp. 6-10
Author(s):  
M. F. Gubkina ◽  
I. Yu. Petrakova ◽  
N. V. Yukhimenko ◽  
S. S. Sterlikova ◽  
Yu. Yu. Khokhlova ◽  
...  

The objective: to analyze the course of the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in children with active respiratory tuberculosis. Subjects and methods. The article describes results of retrospective analysis of the course of the new coronavirus infection in 25 children (3-12 years old) with active respiratory tuberculosis during the outbreak of COVID-19 in an in-patient TB unit.Results. 24 (96%) persons got infected after the close exposure to the coronavirus infection, and 1 (4%) child didn't get infected. The diagnosis was verified by polymerase chain reaction (detection of RNK of SARS-CoV-2) in 33.3%, by enzyme immunoassay (detection of IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in 1 month after quarantine removal) in 100%. 58.3% of children with respiratory tuberculosis (14 people) infected with coronavirus infection had minimal respiratory symptoms, that did not differ from signs of other respiratory viral infections; clinical manifestations of the disease were completely absent in 41.7% (10) patients. Coronavirus pneumonia was diagnosed in 4 (16.7%) children who suffered from COVID-19, they had no clinical signs of lower respiratory tract disorders and no body temperature increase; 3 patients had no signs of respiratory viral infection; in all cases, the lung damage detected by computed tomography didn't exceed 10%. In 2 months after the removal of quarantine, no IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 were detected in 2 out of 10 examined children (20.0%), thus there was a chance for re-infection. No mutual aggravating effect of coronavirus infection and tuberculosis was revealed in their combination over the entire observation period (4 months).


2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (13) ◽  
pp. 1317-1323
Author(s):  
Wei Liu ◽  
Hongbin Cheng ◽  
Jing Wang ◽  
Lingli Ding ◽  
Zhaoxian Zhou ◽  
...  

Objective The perinatal consequences of neonates born to severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infected mothers are uncertain. This study aimed to compare the differences in clinical manifestation, laboratory results, and outcomes of neonates born to mothers with or without coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Study Design A total of 48 neonates were admitted to Tongji Hospital and HuangShi Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital from January 17 to March 4, 2020. The neonates were divided into three groups according to the mothers' conditions: neonates born to mothers with confirmed COVID-19, neonates born to mothers with clinically diagnosed COVID-19, and neonates born to mothers without COVID-19. The clinical data of mothers and infants in the three groups were collected, compared, and analyzed. Results The deliveries occurred in a negative pressure isolation room, and the neonates were separated from their mothers immediately after birth for further observation and treatment. None of the neonates showed any signs of fever, cough, dyspnea, or diarrhea. SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction of the throat swab and feces samples from the neonates in all three groups was negative. No differences were detected in the whole blood cell, lymphocytes, platelet, and liver and renal function among the three groups. All mothers and their infants showed satisfactory outcomes, including a 28-week preterm infant. Conclusion The clinical manifestations, radiological, and biochemical results did not show any difference between the three groups. No evidence of vertical transmission was found in this study whether the pregnant women developed coronavirus infection in the third (14 cases) or second trimester (1 case). Key points


1980 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald L. Schow ◽  
Michael A. Nerbonne

In the February 1980 issue of this journal, the report by Ronald L. Schow and Michael A. Nerbonne ("Hearing Levels Among Elderly Nursing Home Residents") contains an error. On page 128, the labels "Male" and "Female" in Table 2 should be reversed.


GeroPsych ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Véronique Cornu ◽  
Jean-Paul Steinmetz ◽  
Carine Federspiel

Abstract. A growing body of research demonstrates an association between gait disorders, falls, and attentional capacities in older adults. The present work empirically analyzes differences in gait parameters in frail institutionalized older adults as a function of selective attention. Gait analysis under single- and dual-task conditions as well as selective attention measures were collected from a total of 33 nursing-home residents. We found that differences in selective attention performances were related to the investigated gait parameters. Poorer selective attention performances were associated with higher stride-to-stride variabilities and a slowing of gait speed under dual-task conditions. The present findings suggest a contribution of selective attention to a safe gait. Implications for gait rehabilitation programs are discussed.


2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katinka Dijkstra ◽  
Michelle S. Bourgeois ◽  
Lou Burgio ◽  
Rebecca Allen-Burge

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