Increased Prevalence of Neuropsychiatric Disorders during COVID-19 Pandemic in People Needing a Non-Deferrable Neurological Evaluation

Background: The novel coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak provoked a profound healthcare system reorganization. This study aimed to compare the reasons for requesting a non-deferrable neurological evaluation before the COVID-19 pandemic and during the lockdown. Methods: Retrospective observational study including non-deferrable neurological outpatients before the pandemic (pre-COVID-19 group, n = 223) and during the Italian second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (LOCKDOWN group, n = 318). Results: The number of patients sent for cerebrovascular disorders, headache, and vertigo significantly dropped between the pre-COVID-19 era and the lockdown period. While in the pre-COVID-19 group, the most frequent diagnosis was cerebrovascular disorder; neuropsychiatric disorders ranked first in the LOCKDOWN group. Moreover, the percentage of appropriate non-deferrable neurological evaluations significantly increased in the LOCKDOWN group compared with the pre-COVID-19 group. Discussion: Our study shows a significant increase of neuropsychiatric disorders in non-deferrable neurologic evaluations during the Italian second wave of the COVID-19. Overall, cases were more severe and required a more complex management during the lockdown compared with the pre-COVID era. These findings confirm that a careful approach to prevent the psychological consequences of the pandemic is needed, and long-term rearrangements of the healthcare system are desirable to guarantee appropriate management.

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Web Application for Statistical Tracking and Predicting the Evolution of Active Cases with the Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)

International Journal of Modeling and Optimization ◽

10.7763/ijmo.2021.v11.780 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 70-74

Author(s):

Iulia Clitan ◽

◽

Adela Puscasiu ◽

Vlad Muresan ◽

Mihaela Ligia Unguresan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Neural Network ◽

Mathematical Model ◽

Web Application ◽

Point Of View ◽

The Novel ◽

End User ◽

First Case ◽

Novel Coronavirus ◽

Second Wave ◽

Over Time

Since February 2020, when the first case of infection with SARS COV-2 virus appeared in Romania, the evolution of COVID-19 pandemic continues to have an ascending allure, reaching in September 2020 a second wave of infections as expected. In order to understand the evolution and spread of this disease over time and space, more and more research is focused on obtaining mathematical models that are able to predict the evolution of active cases based on different scenarios and taking into account the numerous inputs that influence the spread of this infection. This paper presents a web responsive application that allows the end user to analyze the evolution of the pandemic in Romania, graphically, and that incorporates, unlike other COVID-19 statistical applications, a prediction of active cases evolution. The prediction is based on a neural network mathematical model, described from the architectural point of view.

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The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the treatment of acute appendicitis in China

International Journal of Colorectal Disease ◽

10.1007/s00384-021-04031-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

ZhiXue Zheng ◽

Jing Tao Bi ◽

Ya Qi Liu ◽

Xuan Cai

Keyword(s):

Acute Appendicitis ◽

White Blood Cells ◽

Onset Time ◽

The Novel ◽

C Reactive Protein ◽

Reactive Protein ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

Hospital Visits ◽

Novel Coronavirus ◽

The Impact

Abstract Objective This research aims to analyze the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic on the hospital visits of patients with acute appendicitis. Methods The retrospective analysis was designed to look at the treatment of acute appendicitis in the Department of General Surgery in Beijing Jishuitan Hospital before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (2019–2020). Data was analyzed by the numbers of patients, sex, age, onset time, fever or not, laboratory examination, imaging test, and treatment. And we analyzed the differences between the “pre-COVID group” and “during-COVID group”. Results Compared with the year 2019, the number of acute appendicitis patients has diminished substantially during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020), but the number elevated with the control of the pandemic. Even if we did not find the differences of the treatment before and during the pandemic (P = 0.932), the onset time to emergency was significantly longer (P < 0.001), and more patients had showed fever (P < 0.001) during the COVID-19 pandemic. And the total number of white blood cells and C reactive protein level were significantly higher in 2020 than those in 2019 (P = 0.006, 0.003). And the same result was found in patients with appendiceal fecalith (P = 0.047). Conclusion During the pandemic of the new coronavirus pneumonia, the number of patients with acute appendix treatment dropped significantly, mainly because it took longer than before, and the condition was more severe. It can be seen that the new coronary pneumonia has a great impact on the patients’ medical treatment behavior, and the active prevention and treatment of the new coronavirus pneumonia is currently an important and urgent issue.

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Cerebrovascular complications of novel coronavirus infection in young and middle-aged people

Medical alphabet ◽

10.33667/2078-5631-2021-14-21-25 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 21-25

Author(s):

F. Z. Olimova ◽

Ye. G. Klocheva ◽

S. V. Lobzin ◽

V. V. Goldobin ◽

M. S. Partavi

Keyword(s):

Blood Coagulation ◽

Genetic Factors ◽

Cerebrovascular Disorders ◽

Coagulation System ◽

The Novel ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Aged People ◽

Cerebrovascular Complications ◽

Coronavirus Infection ◽

Novel Coronavirus

The novel coronavirus (SARS‑CoV‑2) infection manifested by a pandemic and has a wide range of complications, including the nervous system’s complications. Despite the fact that older people with comorbidities are more at risk of developing complications from the sequelae of previous COVID‑19 disease, a signiﬁcant link between the novel coronavirus infection and cerebrovascular disorders in young and middle‑aged people is increasingly mentioned in the literature. The development of cerebrovascular complications in these people not only depends on the damaging effect of the novel coronavirus infection on the macroorganism, but also on a number of other factors, in particular, on the genetic factors of the blood coagulation system. Further study of the possible inﬂuence the novel coronavirus infection on the development of cerebrovascular complications, taking into account the genetic factors of the blood coagulation system in young and middle‑aged people will provide early prevention and timely correction of cerebrovascular disorders.

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Hypercoagulation and Antithrombotic Treatment in Coronavirus 2019: A New Challenge

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1055/s-0040-1710317 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 120 (06) ◽

pp. 949-956 ◽

Cited By ~ 58

Author(s):

Francesco Violi ◽

Daniele Pastori ◽

Roberto Cangemi ◽

Pasquale Pignatelli ◽

Lorenzo Loffredo

Keyword(s):

Multiorgan Failure ◽

Laboratory Data ◽

Clinical Severity ◽

The Novel ◽

Antithrombotic Treatment ◽

Clotting System ◽

Thrombotic Risk ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

Coronary Ischemia ◽

Novel Coronavirus

AbstractThe novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) is clinically characterized by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is responsible for a high number of patients needing mechanical ventilation or intensive care units treatment and for the elevated mortality risk. A link between COVID-19 and multiorgan failure may be dependent on the fact that most COVID-19 patients are complicated by pneumonia, which is known to be associated with early changes of clotting and platelet activation and artery dysfunction; these changes may implicate in thrombotic-related events such as myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. Recent data showed that myocardial injury compatible with coronary ischemia may be detectable in SARS-CoV-2 patients and laboratory data exploring clotting system suggest the presence of a hypercoagulation state. Thus, we performed a systematic review of COVID-19 literature reporting measures of clotting activation to assess if changes are detectable in this setting and their relationship with clinical severity. Furthermore, we discussed the biologic plausibility of the thrombotic risk in SARS-CoV-2 and the potential use of an antithrombotic treatment.

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Telehealth transformation: COVID-19 and the rise of virtual care

Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association ◽

10.1093/jamia/ocaa067 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 27 (6) ◽

pp. 957-962 ◽

Cited By ~ 141

Author(s):

Jedrek Wosik ◽

Marat Fudim ◽

Blake Cameron ◽

Ziad F Gellad ◽

Alex Cho ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Healthcare System ◽

Delivery System ◽

Outpatient Care ◽

Healthcare Delivery ◽

The Novel ◽

Healthcare Organizations ◽

Healthcare Delivery System ◽

Virtual Care ◽

Novel Coronavirus ◽

The U.S

Abstract The novel coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has altered our economy, society, and healthcare system. While this crisis has presented the U.S. healthcare delivery system with unprecedented challenges, the pandemic has catalyzed rapid adoption of telehealth, or the entire spectrum of activities used to deliver care at a distance. Using examples reported by U.S. healthcare organizations, including ours, we describe the role that telehealth has played in transforming healthcare delivery during the 3 phases of the U.S. COVID-19 pandemic: (1) stay-at-home outpatient care, (2) initial COVID-19 hospital surge, and (3) postpandemic recovery. Within each of these 3 phases, we examine how people, process, and technology work together to support a successful telehealth transformation. Whether healthcare enterprises are ready or not, the new reality is that virtual care has arrived.

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Exploring the role and mechanism of COVID-19 apps in fighting the current pandemic

Indian Journal of Medical Sciences ◽

10.25259/ijms_209_2020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 0 ◽

pp. 1-6

Author(s):

Karthikeyan P. Iyengar ◽

Rachit Jain ◽

David Ananth Samy ◽

Vijay Kumar Jain ◽

Raju Vaishya ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Data Privacy ◽

Viral Transmission ◽

Contact Tracing ◽

The Novel ◽

Test Track ◽

The World ◽

Novel Coronavirus ◽

And Control ◽

Second Wave ◽

Transmission Test

As COVID-19 pandemic spread worldwide, policies have been developed to contain the disease and prevent viral transmission. One of the key strategies has been the principle of “‘test, track, and trace” to minimize spread of the virus. Numerous COVID-19 contact tracing applications have been rolled around the world to monitor and control the spread of the disease. We explore the characteristics of various COVID-19 applications and especially the Aarogya Setu COVID-19 app from India in its role in fighting the current pandemic. We assessed the current literature available to us using conventional search engines, including but not limited to PubMed, Google Scholar, and Research Gate in May 2020 till the time of submission of this article. The search criteria used MeSH keywords such as “COVID-19,” “pandemics,” “contact tracing,” and “mobile applications.” A variable uptake of different COVID-19 applications has been noted with increasing enrolment around the world. Security concerns about data privacy remain. The various COVID-19 applications will complement manual contact tracing system to assess and prevent viral transmission. Test, track, trace, and support policy will play a key role in avoidance of a “second wave” of the novel coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 outbreak.

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SARS-CoV-2 Infection as a Cause of Acute Pancreatitis in a Child—A Case Report

Pediatric Reports ◽

10.3390/pediatric13040065 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 552-557

Author(s):

Natalia Kopiczko ◽

Kamila Kwiatek-Średzińska ◽

Mirosława Uścinowicz ◽

Monika Kowalczuk-Krystoń ◽

Dariusz Marek Lebensztejn

Keyword(s):

Acute Pancreatitis ◽

Abdominal Pain ◽

Case Report ◽

The Novel ◽

Gastrointestinal Manifestations ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

Growing Body ◽

Novel Coronavirus ◽

Mild Acute Pancreatitis ◽

First Time

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was detected for the first time in China in December 2019. Soon after it was declared a pandemic. Main symptoms include fever, dyspnea, cough, muscle pain, headache, anosmia and ageusia, however a growing body of evidence shows that other organs can be affected. Gastrointestinal manifestations have been observed in a considerable number of patients and include abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting. The involvement of liver as well as pancreas has been also described, however there are only a few cases of acute pancreatitis reported in patients with COVID-19. Therefore, we present a case of 6-year-old child with mild acute pancreatitis and COVID-19 pneumonia.

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COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Public Distress, Economy and Education of Bago Division in Myanmar

Technium Social Sciences Journal ◽

10.47577/tssj.v15i1.2240 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 ◽

pp. 549-588

Author(s):

Phyoe Marnn ◽

Hsu Htoo ◽

Phyo Moh Moh Zin ◽

Thu Zar Win ◽

Nizeyimana Jean Claude ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Poor People ◽

Psychological Consequences ◽

Daily Work ◽

Infected People ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

Economy And Education ◽

Second Wave ◽

Unemployment Problem

In Myanmar, two expatriates have started infected by COVID-19 pandemic on 23 March in 2020 and COVID-19 period was divided into the two periods by the data of patients, from starting July 29, no more infected people found till August 19. Myanmar citizen think that there will be no more new COVID-19 cases, they started running their daily work, not following precaution methods. Unfortunately, the number of patients increased more and more, starting from 20th August. The period between 23rd March and 19th August was regarded as COVID-19 first wave and the period starting from 10th August was COVID-19 second wave by Government. In Myanmar, numbers of developed city are fewer than rural townships. Infrastructures of townships are same and most people, living in rural townships are not rich and they didn’t have saving money in Banks and they are depending on their monthly salaries. During pandemic period, general workers faced with unemployment problem and difficulty in daily expenses. Some volunteers helped daily expenses to poor people in COVID-19 first wave. In second COVID-19 wave, volunteers cannot help many families. This paper focused on COVID-19 pandemic impact on Public psychological consequences, Economy, Educational dimension and the prospects after pandemic.

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Fear of COVID-19 and Trust in the Healthcare System Mediates the Association between Individual’s Risk Perception and Preventive COVID-19 Behaviours among Iranians

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph182212146 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (22) ◽

pp. 12146

Author(s):

Mehran Alijanzadeh ◽

Daniel Kwasi Ahorsu ◽

Zainab Alimoradi ◽

Narges Mahmoudi ◽

Mark D. Griffiths ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Perception ◽

Healthcare System ◽

Sampling Method ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cluster Sampling ◽

The Novel ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Novel Coronavirus

Problems caused by the novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and its mutations have brought challenges in pandemic control for all countries worldwide. The present study examines the mediating roles of fear of COVID-19 and trust in the healthcare system in the association between individual’s risk perception and performing preventive COVID-19 behaviours among Iranians. A cross-sectional study design was used to collect data from 3652 residents of Qazvin province in Iran from 3 February to 15 April 2021 using a multistage stratified cluster sampling method. Participants responded to an online questionnaire concerning their fear of COVID-19, risk perception, trust in the healthcare system, and preventive COVID-19 behaviours. Small to medium positive interrelationships were observed between the variables of the study. Fear of COVID-19, trust in the healthcare system or both (fear of COVID-19 and trust in the healthcare system) mediated the association between an individual’s risk perception and performing preventive COVID-19 behaviours. The study demonstrated there are at least four ways through which an individual’s risk perception can influence preventive COVID-19 behaviours. Therefore, clinicians, health communicators, and researchers may capitalize on these findings to enhance preventive COVID-19 behaviours to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 infection.

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Changes in Provision of Psychotherapy in the Early Weeks of the COVID-19 Lockdown in Austria

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17113815 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (11) ◽

pp. 3815 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Thomas Probst ◽

Peter Stippl ◽

Christoph Pieh

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Mental Health Care ◽

Online Survey ◽

Personal Contact ◽

The Novel ◽

Central Measure ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

Novel Coronavirus

Reducing personal contacts is a central measure against the spreading of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This troubles mental health, but also mental health care as treatments usually take place in personal contact and switching to remote treatments might be necessary in times of COVID-19. The present study investigated the question how the provision of psychotherapy changed in the early weeks of the COVID-19 lockdown in Austria and whether there were differences between the four therapeutic orientations eligible in Austria (psychodynamic, humanistic, systemic, behavioral). Psychotherapists (N = 1547) completed an online survey. They entered their number of patients treated on average per week (in personal contact, via telephone, via Internet) in the early weeks of the COVID-19 lockdown in Austria as well as (retrospectively) in the months before. The number of patients treated on average per week in personal contact decreased (on average 81%; p < 0.001), whereas the number of patients treated on average per week via telephone and via Internet increased (on average 979% and 1561%; both p < 0.001). Yet, the decrease of psychotherapies through personal contact was not compensated for by increases of remote psychotherapies (p < 0.001). No differences between the four therapeutic orientations emerged. Results imply an undersupply of psychotherapy in the COVID-19 lockdown and that further changes are necessary to cover the increased need for timely psychotherapy in times of COVID-19.

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