21 November

Parvathaneni K, Torres-Rodriguez K, Meng W, et al. SARS-CoV-2 Spike-Specific T-Cell Responses in Patients With B-Cell Depletion Who Received Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Treatments. JAMA Oncol November 18, 2021; https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/fullarticle/2786409?resultClick=1

Small study (n = 12), showing that immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines are induced in most patients who have been treated with CAR-T cell therapies targeting B cell lineage antigens.

 

Collier AR, Yu J, Mcmahan K, et al. COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Immunogenicity in Immunosuppressed Individuals. J Inf Dis November 18 2021, jiab569, https://academic.oup.com/jid/advance-article/doi/10.1093/infdis/jiab569/6430790

This study analyzed 69 participants who were receiving immunosuppressive therapy (IS) for solid organ transplant, bone marrow transplant, and/or chronic inflammatory disease. IS reduced neutralizing, binding, and non-neutralizing antibody functions in addition to CD4 and CD8 T cell IFN-γ responses following mRNA vaccination compared to immunocompetent individuals. Moreover, IS therapy reduced cross-reactivity against SARS-CoV-2 variants. According to the authors, these populations will “likely not be protected by the current two dose regimens of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines”.

 

Madelon N, Lauper K, Breville G, et al. Robust T cell responses in anti-CD20 treated patients following COVID-19 vaccination: a prospective cohort study, Clinical Infectious Diseases, November 16 2021;, ciab954, https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciab954

See title. In this small study from Switzerland, response rates of S-specific CD8+ T cells were higher in 26 ocrelizumab-treated (96%) and 11 rituximab-treated patients (82%) as compared to 22 controls (67%). S-specific T cells were polyfunctional but expressed more activation markers in patients than in controls. The authors conclude that this elicited T cell memory response “could reduce complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection in this vulnerable population”.

 

Chen RE, Gorman MJ, Zhu DY, et al. Reduced antibody activity against SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 Delta virus in serum of mRNA-vaccinated patients receiving Tumor Necrosis Factor-α inhibitors. Med November 17, 2021. https://www.cell.com/med/fulltext/S2666-6340(21)00378-0

In 77 patients with chronic inflammatory diseases treated with immunosuppressive drugs, longitudinal analysis showed the greatest reductions in neutralizing antibodies and Fc effector functions capacity in individuals treated with TNF-α inhibitors (TNFi), and this pattern appeared worse against Delta. Within five months of vaccination, serum neutralizing titers of all TNFi-treated patients tested fell below the presumed threshold correlate for protection. However, TNFi-treated patients receiving a third mRNA vaccine dose boosted their neutralizing antibody titers by more than 16-fold.

 

19 November

Shapiro LC, Thakkar A, Campbell ST, et al. Efficacy of booster doses in augmenting waning immune responses to COVID-19 vaccine in patients with cancer. Cancer Cell November 15, 2021. https://www.cell.com/cancer-cell/fulltext/S1535-6108(21)00606-1#relatedArticles

Anti-COVID-19 immunity dynamics were assessed in patients with cancer in a small cohort. Waning of immunity was detected 4-6 months post-vaccination with significant increases in anti-spike IgG titers after booster dosing, and 56% (18/32) of seronegative patients seroconverted post-booster vaccination. Prior anti-CD20/BTK inhibitor therapy was associated with reduced vaccine efficacy.

 

17 November

Andersen K, Bates BA, Rashidi ES, et al. Long-term use of immunosuppressive medicines and in-hospital COVID-19 outcomes: a retrospective cohort study using data from the National COVID Cohort Collaborative. The Lancet Rheumatology November 15, 2021. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanrhe/article/PIIS2665-9913(21)00325-8/fulltext

Good news for all who are treated with immunosuppressive drugs. In this propensity score matched cohort (including 12,841 immunosuppressed patients and 29,386 non-immunosuppressed patients), immunosuppression was associated with a reduced risk of invasive ventilation (HR 0.89, 95% CI: 0.83–0.96). With the exception of rituximab (HR 1.72, 1.10–2.69), there was no increased risk of mechanical ventilation or in-hospital death for the rheumatological, antineoplastic, or antimetabolite therapies examined.

 

Oskotsky T, Marić I, Tang A, et al. Mortality Risk Among Patients With COVID-19 Prescribed Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Antidepressants. JAMA Netw Open November 15, 2021; 4(11):e2133090. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2786136?resultClick=1

Interesting finding: In this multicenter cohort study analyzing electronic health records of 83,584 patients diagnosed with COVID-19, including 3,401 patients who were prescribed SSRIs, a reduced relative risk of mortality of 8% was found to be associated with the use of SSRIs—specifically fluoxetine (28%)—compared with patients who were not prescribed SSRIs.

 

16 November

Mansoor E, Alikhan MM, Perez JA, et al. Clinical characteristics, hospitalisation and mortality rates of COVID-19 among patients with coeliac disease in the USA: a multicentre network study. Gut. 2021 Nov 11:gutjnl-2021-325930. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/34764191. Full text: https://doi.org/10.1136/gutjnl-2021-325930

No elevated risk.

 

15 November

Schmidt AL, Tucker MD, Bakouny Z, et al. Association Between Androgen Deprivation Therapy and Mortality Among Patients With Prostate Cancer and COVID-19. JAMA Netw Open November 12, 2021; 4(11):e2134330. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2786026?resultClick=1

No association between androgen deprivation therapy and COVID-19 mortality: in this cohort study of 1106 patients, no statistically significant difference was found in the rates of all-cause 30-day mortality following COVID-19 infection among men with prostate cancer receiving androgen deprivation therapy (15%) vs those not receiving androgen deprivation therapy (14%).

 

12 November

Ooszing SF, van der Veldt AA, van Kessel CH, et al. mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccination in patients receiving chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or chemoimmunotherapy for solid tumours: a prospective, multicentre, non-inferiority trial. Lancet Oncology November 09, 2021. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(21)00574-X/fulltext

The VOICE trial was the first prospective COVID-19 vaccination trial in patients with solid tumours: the vast majority developed an adequate antibody response to vaccination with mRNA-1273 (MODERNA). However, 9 (7%) of 131 of the patients treated with immunotherapy, 37 (16%) of 229 of the patients treated with chemotherapy, and 16 (11%) of 143 of the patients treated with chemoimmunotherapy were classified as suboptimal responders or non-responders compared with one (<1%) of 240 of the participants without cancer.

 

Mahil SK, Bechman K, Raharja A, et al. Humoral and cellular immunogenicity to a second dose of COVID-19 vaccine BNT162b2 in people receiving methotrexate or targeted immunosuppression: a longitudinal cohort study. Lancet Rheumatology November 09, 2021. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanrhe/article/PIIS2665-9913(21)00333-7/fulltext

Functional humoral immunity (ie, neutralising antibody responses) at 14 days following a second dose of BNT162b2 was not impaired by methotrexate or targeted biologics. A proportion of patients on immunosuppression did not have detectable T-cell responses following the second dose.

 

11 November

Spanjaart AM, Ljungman P, de La Camara R, et al. Poor outcome of patients with COVID-19 after CAR T-cell therapy for B-cell malignancies: results of a multicenter study on behalf of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) Infectious Diseases Working Party and the European Hematology Association (EHA) Lymphoma Group. Leukemia November 8, 2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41375-021-01466-0

At the time of analysis, 25 of 56 patients had died (45%), the vast majority (23 of 25) due to COVID-19, resulting in a COVID-19 attributable mortality rate of 41%.

 

 

10 November

Felten R, Gallais F, Schleiss C, et al. Cellular and humoral immunity after the third dose of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in patients treated with rituximab. Lancet Rheumatology, November 08, 2021. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanrhe/article/PIIS2665-9913(21)00351-9/fulltext

The authors investigated the course of humoral and cellular immunity against SARS-CoV-2 in 10 patients treated with rituximab after two and three vaccine doses. Median time between last rituximab infusion and first dose of vaccine was 227 days. The 3 seronegative patients and those with B-cell depletion after two doses remained seronegative after the third dose.

 

9 November

Ferreira VH, Marinelli T, Ierullo M, et al. SARS-CoV-2 infection induces greater T-cell responses compared to vaccination in solid organ transplant recipients. J Inf Diseases 05 November 2021,, jiab542, https://academic.oup.com/jid/advance-article/doi/10.1093/infdis/jiab542/6406613

Solid organ transplant recipients generate robust T cell responses following natural infection that correlate with disease severity but generate comparatively lower T cell responses following mRNA vaccination.

 

 

8 November

Pinato DJ, Tabernero J, Bower M, et al. Prevalence and impact of COVID-19 sequelae on treatment and survival of patients with cancer who recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection: evidence from the OnCovid retrospective, multicentre registry study. Lancet Oncology November 3, 2021. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(21)00573-8/fulltext

In this registry, 1557 COVID-19 survivors underwent a formal clinical reassessment after a median of 22 months post cancer diagnosis and 44 days post COVID-19 diagnosis. Sequelae post-COVID-19 affected up to 15% of patients with cancer and adversely affected survival and oncological outcomes after recovery.

 

Sattui SE, Conway R, Putman MS, et al. Outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with primary systemic vasculitis or polymyalgia rheumatica from the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance physician registry: a retrospective cohort study. Lancet Rheumatology November 05, 2021. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanrhe/article/PIIS2665-9913(21)00316-7/fulltext

A total of 374 (31%) patients had polymyalgia rheumatica, 353 (29%) had ANCA-associated vasculitis, 183 (15%) had giant cell arteritis, 112 (9%) had Behçet’s syndrome, and 180 (15%) had other forms of vasculitis. Severe COVID-19 outcomes were associated with variable and largely unmodifiable risk factors, such as age, sex, and number of co-morbidities as well as treatments, including high-dose glucocorticoids.

 

6 November

Sherman AC, Desjardins M, Cheng CA, et al. SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccines in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients: Immunogenicity and Reactogenicity. Clinical Infectious Diseases November 2, 2021, ciab930, https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciab930

Small study, showing that not all of 20 HSCT recipients mount a humoral response (Simoa: 75.0% and Roche: 80.0%) one month after completing the mRNA vaccination series.

5 November

Embi PJ, Levy ME, Naleway AL, et al. Effectiveness of 2-Dose Vaccination with mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines Against COVID-19–Associated Hospitalizations Among Immunocompromised Adults — Nine States, January–September 2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. ePub: 2 November 2021. DOI: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7044e3.htm?s_cid=mm7044e3_w

In this multistate analysis of approximately 89,000 hospitalizations of adults with COVID-19–like illness during January 17–September 5, 2021, effectiveness of mRNA vaccination against COVID-19–associated hospitalization was lower (77%) among immunocompromised adults than among immunocompetent adults (90%). VE was lower among certain subgroups of immunocompromised adults, such as solid organ or stem cell transplant recipients, than among others.

 

3 November

Saad M, Kennedy KF, Imran H, et al. Association Between COVID-19 Diagnosis and In-Hospital Mortality in Patients Hospitalized With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction. JAMA October 29, 2021. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2785893?resultClick=1

Not so surprising: among patients with STEMI, a concomitant diagnosis of COVID-19 was associated with significantly higher rates of in-hospital mortality.

 

Gitajn IL, Werth PM, Sprague S, et al. Association of COVID-19 With Achieving Time-to-Surgery Benchmarks in Patients With Musculoskeletal Trauma. JAMA Health Forum October 29, 2021, 2(10):e213460. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama-health-forum/fullarticle/2785581?resultClick=1

This cohort study counters concerns that the unprecedented challenges associated with managing the COVID-19 pandemic would be associated with clinically significant delays in acute management of urgent surgical cases. In the US, there was no association between meeting time-to-surgery benchmarks in either open fracture or closed femur/hip fracture during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with before the pandemic.

 

Chen JJ, Lee TH, Tian YC, et al. Immunogenicity Rates After SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in People With End-stage Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Netw Open, October 28, 2021; 4(10):e2131749. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2785567?resultClick=1

This systematic review suggests that the immunogenicity rate among patients receiving dialysis was 41% after the first dose and 89% after the second dose. Diabetes might be a risk factor for non-response in the dialysis population. Patients receiving dialysis had a poorer antibody response rate than did individuals not receiving dialysis.

 

Chavez-MacGregor M, Lei X, Zhao H, et al. Evaluation of COVID-19 Mortality and Adverse Outcomes in US Patients With or Without Cancer. JAMA Oncol October 28, 2021. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/fullarticle/2785677?resultClick=1

With regard to COVID-19 severity, patients with cancer represent a heterogenous group. In this large cohort of patients with COVID-19, those with recent cancer treatment had significantly higher rates of adverse outcomes compared with patients without cancer. In the fully adjusted models, however, only patients with recent cancer treatment had a statistically significant increase in the 30-day risk of death, ICU stay, and hospitalization. Patients with no recent cancer treatment had similar or even lower risks.

 

Noe S, Ochana N, Wiese C, et al. Humoral response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in people living with HIV. Infection October 25, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-021-01721-7

In this cohort study from Munich, Germany, mRNA-containing vaccination schemes, being female, and having a higher CD4 cell count were all associated with a higher concentration of COVID antibodies in people living with HIV.

 

 

23 October

Izadi Z, Brenner EJm Mahil SK, et al. Association Between Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors and the Risk of Hospitalization or Death Among Patients With Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Disease and COVID-19. JAMA Netw Open October 18, 2021; 4(10):e2129639. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2785080?resultClick=1

In this cohort study of 6077 patients with IMIDs and COVID-19, TNF inhibitors in combination with azathioprine/6-mercaptopurine therapy, methotrexate monotherapy, azathioprine/6-mercaptopurine monotherapy, or Janus kinase inhibitor monotherapy were each associated with significantly higher odds of hospitalization or death compared with TNF inhibitor monotherapy.

 

13 October

Melmed GY, Botwin GJ, Sobhani K, et al. Antibody Responses After SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccination in Adults With Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Ann Intern Med. 2021 Oct 12. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/34633830. Full text: https://doi.org/10.7326/M21-2483

First, 99% of 582 participants had detectable antibodies after 2 weeks regardless of medication regimen (anti-integrin therapy, anti–interleukin-12/23 therapy, immunomodulator monotherapy, anti–tumor necrosis factor monotherapy, Janus kinase inhibition, anti–tumor necrosis factor therapy combined with an immunomodulator, or systemic corticosteroids).

 

Wilde B, Korth J, Jahn M, et al. COVID-19 vaccination in patients receiving dialysis. Nat Rev Nephrol (2021). Full text: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41581-021-00499-z

“Given the enhanced infection risks associated with dialysis, current vaccines do not replace non-pharmacological measures to prevent infection.”

 

30 September

Kumar N, AbdulRahman A, AlAwadhi AI, et al. Is glucose-6-phosphatase dehydrogenase deficiency associated with severe outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients? Sci Rep September 28, 2021, 11, 19213. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-98712-3

No.

 

Lacedonia D, Scioscia G, Santomasi C, et al. Impact of smoking, COPD and comorbidities on the mortality of COVID-19 patients. Sci Rep September 28, 2021, 11, 19251. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-98749-4

Cohort study from Italy, finding that COPD patients and former smokers were those with the highest all-cause mortality, which seemed to be mainly related to the presence of comorbidities and not to COPD and smoking itself.

 

13 September

Moor MB, Suter-Riniker F, Horn MP, et al. Humoral and cellular responses to mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 in patients with a history of CD20 B-cell-depleting therapy (RituxiVac): an investigator-initiated, single-centre, open-label study. Lancet Rheumatology September 7, 2021. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanrhe/article/PIIS2665-9913(21)00251-4/fulltext

Further evidence of blunted humoral and cell-mediated immune responses elicited by SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines in patients with a history of CD20 B-cell-depleting treatment. Only 9/66 (14%) patients were double positive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG and cell-mediated responses, compared with 21/28 (75%) healthy controls. Lymphocyte subpopulation counts were associated with vaccine response in this highly vulnerable population.

 

9 September

Ghione P, Gu JJ, Attwood K, et al. Impaired humoral responses to COVID-19 vaccination in patients with lymphoma receiving B-cell–directed therapies. Blood, September 2, 2021. https://ashpublications.org/blood/article/138/9/811/476275/Impaired-humoral-responses-to-COVID-19-vaccination?searchresult=1

In this cohort of patients with B-cell lymphoma who were actively receiving B-cell-depleting agents or were within 9 months of completing B-cell-directed therapy, only 6/52 developed antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, regardless of the type of vaccine used.

 

30 August

Levy I, Wieder-Finesod A, Litchevsky V, et al. Immunogenicity and safety of the BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 vaccine in people living with HIV-1. Clin Microbiol Infection August 23, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmi.2021.07.031

A cohort study of 143 PLWH indicating that the Pfizer/BNT vaccine appears immunogenic and safe in those patients who are on ART with unsuppressed CD4 count and suppressed viral load.

 

24 August

Foote MB, White JR, Lee J, et al. Association of Antineoplastic Therapy With Decreased SARS-CoV-2 Infection Rates in Patients With Cancer. JAMA Oncol August 20, 2021; https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/fullarticle/2783284

Interesting finding. After identifying potential ACE2-lowering anti-neoplastic compounds, including mTOR/PI3K inhibitors (like everolimus) and anti-metabolites (like gemcitabine), these were “validated” in a large retrospective cohort: patients who received potential ACE2-lowering anti-neoplastics were nearly half as likely to have positive results for SARS-CoV-2 compared with patients treated with other active anti-neoplastic therapies.

 

13 August

Klineova S, Harel A, Straus Farber R, et al. Outcomes of COVID-19 infection in multiple sclerosis and related conditions: one-year pandemic experience of the multicenter New York COVID-19 Neuroimmunology Consortium (NYCNIC). Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2021, published 18 July. Full text: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2021.103153

Anti-CD20 therapies blunt the humoral responses to COVID-19 in patients with multiple sclerosis. Of 474 patients, only 39.5% of patients treated with anti-CD20 therapies were positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

 

10 August

Jassat W, Cohen C, Tempia S, et al. Risk factors for COVID-19-related in-hospital mortality in a high HIV and tuberculosis prevalence setting in South Africa: a cohort study. Lancet HIV 2021, published 4 August. Full text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-3018(21)00151-X

In South Africa, between March 5, 2020, and March 27, 2021, increasing age was the strongest predictor of COVID-19 in-hospital mortality. Other factors associated were HIV infection (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.34), past tuberculosis (OR 1.26), current tuberculosis (OR 1.42) and both past and current tuberculosis (OR 1.48) compared with never tuberculosis (as well as other common COVID-19 risk factors, such as male sex, non-White race, hypertension, diabetes, chronic cardiac disease, chronic renal disease, and malignancy in the past 5 years). See also the comment by Madhi SA, Nel J. Epidemiology of severe COVID-19 from South Africa. Lancet HIV 2021, published 4 August. Full text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-3018(21)00183-1

 

Bitan DT, Kridin K, Cohen AD, Weinstein O. COVID-19 hospitalisation, mortality, vaccination, and postvaccination trends among people with schizophrenia in Israel: a longitudinal cohort study. Lancet Psychiatry 2021, published 5 August. Full text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(21)00256-X

A longitudinal cohort study with a year-long estimation of differences in hospitalization and mortality among 25,539 patients with schizophrenia and 25,539 controls. People with schizophrenia showed a higher risk for COVID-19 hospitalization (hazard ratio [HR] 4.81) and mortality (HR 2.52) and showed a sharper decline in survival as time progressed. Diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and ischemic heart disease were significant predictors of vaccination rates among patients with schizophrenia but not among controls. See also the comment by De Picker LJ. Closing COVID-19 mortality, vaccination, and evidence gaps for those with severe mental illness. Lancet Psychiatry 2021, published 5 August. Full text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(21)00291-1

 

 

7 August

Corey L, Beyrer C, Cohen MS, Michael NL, Bedford T, Rolland M. SARS-CoV-2 Variants in Patients with Immunosuppression. N Engl J Med. 2021 Aug 5;385(6):562-566. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/34347959. Full text: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMsb2104756

Is viral evolution in immunocompromised patients an important factor in the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern? Read this nice summary of our current knowledge.

 

27 July

Recalde M, Pistillo A, Fernandez-Bertolin S, et al. Body mass index and risk of COVID-19 diagnosis, hospitalisation, and death: a cohort study of 2 524 926 Catalans. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2021 Jul 23:dgab546. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/34297116. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgab546

In this study from Spain, a body mass index (BMI) of 31kg/m² was associated with a higher risk for diagnosis (hazard ratio, 1.22) and hospitalization (1.88) compared to people with a BMI of 22kg/m². There was also a more pronounced increasing risk of death for BMIs ≥ 40kg/m². The increase in risk for COVID-19 outcomes was particularly pronounced among younger patients.

 

26 July

Clift AK, Saatci D, Coupland CAC, et al. Sickle Cell Disorders and Severe COVID-19 Outcomes: A Cohort Study. Ann Intern Med 2021, published 20 July. Full text: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M21-1375

In this cohort, sickle cell disease was associated with a 4-fold increased risk for COVID-19–related hospitalization and a 2.6-fold increased risk for COVID-19–related death.

 

Bernstein AN, Talwar R, Handorf E, et al. Assessment of Prostate Cancer Treatment Among Black and White Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Oncol. 2021 Jul 22. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/34292311. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoncol.2021.2755

During the initial phase of the pandemic only 1% of Black men underwent prostatectomy for untreated nonmetastatic prostate cancer, while 26% of White patients did. Before the pandemic, there was no difference in the rate of prostatectomy between the 2 races. Read also the comment by Vince R Jr. The Intersection of Societal Inequalities and Health Care: Lessons Learned From the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Oncol. 2021 Jul 22. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/34292296. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoncol.2021.2750

 

25 July

Olsen SJ, Winn AK, Budd AP, et al. Changes in Influenza and Other Respiratory Virus Activity During the COVID-19 Pandemic – United States, 2020-2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2021 Jul 23;70(29):1013-1019. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/34292924. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7029a1

Common human coronaviruses, parainfluenza viruses, and respiratory adenoviruses, etc. on the rise again. “Clinicians should be aware of increased circulation, sometimes off-season, of some respiratory viruses and consider multipathogen testing.”

 

23 July

Hillis SD, Unwin HJT, Chen Y, et al. Global minimum estimates of children affected by COVID-19-associated orphanhood and deaths of caregivers: a modelling study. Lancet 2021, published 20 July. Full text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01253-8

From March 1, 2020, to April 30, 2021, more than one million children lost at least one parent or custodial grandparent.

See also the comment by Kentor RA, Thompson AL. Answering the call to support youth orphaned by COVID-19. Lancet 2021, published 20 July. Full text: Lancet 2021, published 20 July. Full text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01253-8

 

20 July

Causey K, Fullman N, Sorensen RJD, et al. Estimating global and regional disruptions to routine childhood vaccine coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020: a modelling study. Lancet 2021, published 14 July. Full text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01337-4

In 2020, tens of millions of children missed DTP3, the third-dose of the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, and MCV1, the first-dose of a measles-containing vaccine.

See also the comment by Abbas K, Mogasale V. Disruptions to childhood immunisation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lancet 2021, published 14 July. Full text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01418-5

 

18 July

Causey K, Fullman N, Sorensen RJ, et al. Estimating global and regional disruptions to routine childhood vaccine coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020: a modelling study. Lancet July 14, 2021. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01337-4/fulltext

Routine immunization services faced stark challenges in 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic causing the most widespread and largest global disruption in recent history. Although the latest coverage trajectories point towards recovery in some regions, a combination of lagging catch-up immunization services, continued SARS-CoV-2 transmission, and persistent gaps in vaccine coverage before the pandemic still left millions of children under-vaccinated or unvaccinated against preventable diseases at the end of 2020, and these gaps are likely to extend throughout 2021.

 

16 July

Anand S, Monte-Rath M, Han J, et al. Estimated SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in US Patients Receiving Dialysis 1 Year After the Beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Netw Open July 12, 2021 2021;4(7):e2116572. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2781907?resultClick=1

In this cross-sectional study of patients receiving dialysis in the US, less than 1 in 4 patients had evidence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies 1 year after the first case of SARS-CoV-2 infection was detected in the US. Results standardized to the US population indicate similar prevalence of antibodies.

 

15 July

John BV, Deng Y, Scheinberg A, et al. Association of BNT162b2 mRNA and mRNA-1273 Vaccines With COVID-19 Infection and Hospitalization Among Patients With Cirrhosis. JAMA Intern Med July 13, 2021. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2782121?resultClick=1

This large cohort study of > 20,000 US veterans with cirrhosis found that mRNA vaccine administration was associated with a delayed but modest reduction in COVID-19 infection but an excellent reduction in COVID-19–related hospitalization or death.

 

6 July

Lupo-Stanghellini MT, Xue E, Mastaglio S, et al. COVID-19 in recipients of allogeneic stem cell transplantation: favorable outcome. Bone Marrow Transplant Jul 1, 2021. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41409-021-01278-x

This small study suggests that being a recipient of HSCT should not be considered a priori a determinant of dismal prognosis on diagnosis of COVID-19.

 

3 July

Pieh C, Plener PL, Probst T, et al. Assessment of Mental Health of High School Students During Social Distancing and Remote Schooling During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Austria. JAMA Netw Open June 28, 2021; 4(6):e2114866. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2781462?resultClick=1

This cross-sectional study suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with impaired mental health. The mental well-being and life satisfaction in adolescents in Austria were significantly lower in 2021 compared with 2018. However, owing to the online nature of the study, a self-selection bias toward higher participation of adolescents with a higher mental health burden may be possible.

 

30 June

Wilmers CC, Nisi AC, Ranc N, et al. COVID-19 suppression of human mobility releases mountain lions from a landscape of fear. Current Biology June 23, 2021DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2021.06.050

One day, when humans will all be gone from earth, nature will quickly come out of its holes. Mountain lions first (according to this study where GPS collars were placed on six animals). Results: The drastic change in human behavior due to the Covid-19 pandemic had cascading effects on mountain lion habitat selection. Under normal circumstances, mountain lions strongly avoid urban areas. When human mobility declined by more than 50% during the Covid-19 associated lockdown, mountain lions relaxed their fear of the urban edge during the lockdown.

 

Wan WY, Thoon KC, Loo LH, et al. Trends in Respiratory Virus Infections During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Singapore, 2020. JAMA Netw Open June 28, 2021. 4(6):e2115973. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2781461?resultClick=1

A decrease in influenza was already seen following relatively modest control measures, including mask-wearing recommendations among only ill or symptomatic individuals. Influenza remained nearly absent for the remainder of 2020. International travel restrictions likely contributed to this. For enterovirus/rhinovirus and adenovirus, reductions were only seen after lockdown, and these viruses rebounded earlier than others. Continued mandatory mask wearing did not appear to prevent this.

 

24 June

Lepak AJ, Taylor LN, Stone CA, et al. Association of Changes in Seasonal Respiratory Virus Activity and Ambulatory Antibiotic Prescriptions With the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Intern Med June 21, 2021. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2781312

This study from Wisconsin, US demonstrated a marked decrease in respiratory virus detection, with a concomitant 79% decline in ambulatory antibiotic prescribing rates for respiratory tract infections, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Duffy E, Thomas M, Hills T, Ritchie S. The impacts of New Zealand’s COVID-19 epidemic response on community antibiotic use and hospitalisation for pneumonia, peritonsillar abscess and rheumatic fever. Lancet Regional Health July 01, 2021. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanwpc/article/PIIS2666-6065(21)00071-7/fulltext

Same findings from New Zealand. Antibiotic dispensing rates fell by 36%, suggesting that countries with high rates of antibiotic use could significantly reduce their use without an increase in morbidity.

 

22 June

Braunstein SL, Slutsker JS, Lazar R, et al. Epidemiology of reported HIV and other sexually transmitted infections during the COVID-19 pandemic, New York City. J Inf Dis Jun 16, 2021, jiab319, https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiab319.

During NYC lockdown, the volume of positive HIV/STI tests, and diagnoses of HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis declined substantially, reaching a nadir in April before rebounding.

 

20 June

Hunter RF, Garcia L, de Sa TH et al. Effect of COVID-19 response policies on walking behavior in US cities. Nat Commun 12 June 15, 2021, 3652. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-23937-9

Analyzing mobility data from mobile devices and area-level data to study the walking patterns of 1.62 million anonymous users in 10 metropolitan areas in the US, this study reveals dramatic declines in walking, particularly utilitarian walking, while recreational walking has recovered and even surpassed pre-pandemic levels.

 

16 June

Herishanu Y, Avivi I, Aharon A, et al. Efficacy of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood June 10, 2021. 137 (23): 3165–3173. https://ashpublications.org/blood/article/137/23/3165/475742/Efficacy-of-the-BNT162b2-mRNA-COVID-19-vaccine-in

Antibody response to mRNA vaccines in 167 patients with CLL was markedly impaired and affected by disease activity and treatment. In patients treated with either Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitors or venetoclax ± anti-CD20 antibody, responses are relatively low.

 

15 June

Landes SD, Turk MA, Damiani MR, et al. Risk Factors Associated With COVID-19 Outcomes Among People With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Receiving Residential Services. JAMA Netw Open June 8, 2021; 4(6):e2112862. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2780779

In this cohort study of 543 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities receiving residential services in New York City, age, larger residential settings, Down syndrome, and chronic kidney disease were associated with COVID-19 diagnosis. Heart disease was associated with COVID-19 mortality.

 

Zhang AW, Morjaria S, Kaltsas A, et al. The Effect of Neutropenia and Filgrastim (G-CSF) in Cancer Patients With COVID-19 Infection. Clin Inf Dis June 10, 2021, ciab534, https://academic.oup.com/cid/advance-article/doi/10.1093/cid/ciab534/6296025

G-CSF administration may lead to worsening clinical and respiratory status. In this observational cohort of 379 actively treated cancer patients with COVID-19, outpatient receipt of G-CSF led to an increased number of hospitalizations (HR: 3.54, 95% CI: 1.25-10.0).

 

14 June

Yard E, Radhakrishnan L, Ballesteros MF, et al. Emergency Department Visits for Suspected Suicide Attempts Among Persons Aged 12–25 Years Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, January 2019–May 2021. MMWR 11 June 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7024e1.htm?s_cid=mm7024e1_w

During February 21–March 20, 2021, suspected suicide attempt ED visits were 50.6% higher among girls aged 12–17 years than during the same period in 2019; among boys aged 12–17 years, suspected suicide attempt ED visits increased 3.7%.

 

Nivette AE, Zahnow R, Aguilar R et al. A global analysis of the impact of COVID-19 stay-at-home restrictions on crime. Nat Hum Behav June 2, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-021-01139-z

Crime largely decreased around the globe during COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, but with substantial variation across cities and types of crime. Property-based crimes decreased substantially, but homicide was relatively unchanged. Meta-regression results showed that more stringent restrictions over movement in public space were predictive of larger declines in crime.

 

7 June

Ljungman, P., de la Camara, R., Mikulska, M. et al. COVID-19 and stem cell transplantation; results from an EBMT and GETH multicenter prospective survey. Leukemia June 2, (2021). https://www.nature.com/articles/s41375-021-01302-5

Among 382 COVID-19 patients having undergone allogeneic (n = 236) or autologous (n = 146) hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), overall survival at 6 weeks was 77.9% and 72.1% in allogeneic and autologous recipients, respectively. In total, 83.5% developed lower respiratory tract disease and 22.5% were admitted to an ICU.

 

Sout MJ, van de Ven CJ, Parekh VI, et al. Use of Electronic Medical Records to Estimate Changes in Pregnancy and Birth Rates During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Netw Open June 3, 2021;4(6):e2111621. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2780572?resultClick=1

In this cohort study from Michigan, a 14% reduction in pregnancy episode initiation was observed, probably due to a decrease in conceptions that followed the March 15 mandated COVID-19 pandemic societal shutdown. Prospective modeling of pregnancies currently suggests that a birth volume surge can be anticipated in summer 2021.

 

4 June

Solomon MD, Nguyen-Huynh M, Leong TK. Changes in Patterns of Hospital Visits for Acute Myocardial Infarction or Ischemic Stroke During COVID-19 Surges. JAMA June 2, 2021. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2780794?resultClick=1

In contrast to the initial COVID-19 surge during March / April 2020, no significant declines in AMI hospitalization or stroke alerts were observed during the largest and most recent surge from October 2020 to January 2021 in Kaiser Permanente, Northern California.

3 June

Ziemba R, Campbell KN, Yang T, et al. Excess Death Estimates in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease — United States, February–August 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. ePub: 1 June 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7022e2.htm?s_cid=mm7022e2_w

Based on the national trend in ESRD deaths during the first 7 months of the COVID-19 pandemic (February 1–August 31, 2020) in the US, an estimated 8.7–12.9 excess deaths per 1000 patients or 6953–10,316 excess deaths in a population of 798,611 US ESRD patients occurred.

 

2 June

Marion O, Del Bello A, Abravanel F, et al. Safety and Immunogenicity of Anti–SARS-CoV-2 Messenger RNA Vaccines in Recipients of Solid Organ Transplants. Ann Int Med May 25, 2021. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M21-1341

This large study shows a weak immunogenicity of mRNA vaccines in transplant recipients. In 367 patients the prevalence of anti–SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was 33.8% one month after the second dose. Recipients of liver transplant showed a better humoral response than recipients of other organs. According to the authors, an increased antigen dose or a third vaccine dose can be proposed to improve the vaccination response in this specific population. Of note, the French Health Authorities have recently recommended offering a third dose to immunosuppressed patients.

 

1 June

Massarweh A, Eliakim-Raz N, Stemmer A, et al. Evaluation of Seropositivity Following BNT162b2 Messenger RNA Vaccination for SARS-CoV-2 in Patients Undergoing Treatment for Cancer. JAMA Oncol May 28, 2021. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/fullarticle/2780584?resultClick=1

In this cohort study of 102 patients with cancer from Israel who were receiving active treatment and 78 healthy controls, 92 patients with cancer (90%) and 100% of the controls were seropositive after the BNT162b2 vaccine (BioNTech/Pfizer). The median IgG titer in the patients with cancer was significantly lower than that in the controls. In a multivariate analysis, the only variable that was significantly associated with lower IgG titers was treatment with chemotherapy plus immunotherapy.

 

Yazaki S, Yoshida T, Kolima Y, et al. Difference in SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Status Between Patients With Cancer and Health Care Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan. JAMA Oncol 28, 2021. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/fullarticle/2780583?resultClick=1

In this cross-sectional study including 500 patients with cancer and 1190 HCWs, the seroprevalence was similar, but the levels of IgG antibodies against nucleocapsid and spike protein were significantly lower in patients than in HCWs. Interestingly, N-IgG and S-IgG levels were significantly higher in patients who received immune checkpoint inhibitors than in those who did not.

 

30 May

Bodilsen J, Nielsen PB, Søgaard M. Hospital admission and mortality rates for non-covid diseases in Denmark during covid-19 pandemic: nationwide population based cohort study. BMJ 25 May 2021, 373. https://www.bmj.com/content/373/bmj.n1135

Hospital admissions for all major non-COVID-19 disease groups were 30% and 22% lower during the two national lockdowns compared to previous years. Additionally, mortality rates were higher overall and for patients admitted to hospital with conditions such as respiratory diseases, cancer, pneumonia, and sepsis.

 

29 May

Brueggemann AB, Jansen van Rensburg MJ, Shaw D, et al. Changes in the incidence of invasive disease due to Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Neisseria meningitidis during the COVID-19 pandemic in 26 countries and territories in the Invasive Respiratory Infection Surveillance Initiative: a prospective analysis of surveillance data. Lancet Digital Health, June 1, 2021. Volume 3, ISSUE 6, e360-e370 https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landig/article/PIIS2589-7500(21)00077-7/fulltext

In this large study including 27 laboratories from 26 countries and territories, all laboratories experienced a significant and sustained reduction in invasive diseases due to S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, and N. meningitis in early 2020. By contrast, no significant changes in the incidence of invasive S. agalactiae infections were observed. The incidence of reported S. pneumoniae infections decreased by 68% at 4 weeks and 82% at 8 weeks following the week in which significant changes in population movements were recorded.

 

25 May

Harrington P, de Lavallade H, Doores KJ, et al. Single dose of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 induces high frequency of neutralising antibody and polyfunctional T-cell responses in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms. Leukemia May 22, 2021. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41375-021-01300-7

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), in particular myelofibrosis (MF), are associated with a pro-inflammatory state and dysregulation of the function of pivotal natural killer cells, regulatory T cells and effector T cells. In this unselected cohort of 21 MPN patients, responses to the first injection of BNT162b2 were good: neutralizing antibodies were detected in 86% of patients and a memory T cell response was seen in 80%.

 

23 May

Anand S, Montez-Rath ME, Han J, et al. Serial SARS-CoV-2 Receptor-Binding Domain Antibody Responses in Patients Receiving Dialysis. Ann Int Med May 18. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M21-0256

In this large cohort of patients receiving maintenance dialysis who were seropositive for total SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in July 2020, most demonstrated an RBD IgG response that persisted for at least 6 months after infection.

 

20 May

Mayanskiy N, Luchkina P, Fedorova N et al. Seroconversion and dynamics of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody response related to a hospital COVID-19 outbreak among pediatric oncology patients. Leukemia May 18, 2021. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41375-021-01288-0

An outbreak at the hemato-oncology department of a Russian children’s clinical hospital at the end of April 2020. In total, 18 patients with neoplasms (16 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia) receiving multidrug chemotherapy were infected. The majority had a mild course and produced antibodies of different isotypes against the RBD and N target antigens.

 

15 May

Carr J, Wright AK, Leelarathna L, et al. Impact of COVID-19 on diagnoses, monitoring, and mortality in people with type 2 diabetes in the UK. Lancet Diab Endocrin May 11, 2021. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(21)00116-9/fulltext

In April 2020, the rate reduction of new diagnoses of type 2 diabetes in primary care practices in England was 0.70 when compared with 10-year historical trends. Older individuals (65 years and older), men, and people from deprived areas had the greatest reductions in diagnosis rates.

 

13 May

Bertuzzi AF, Ciccarelli M, Marrari A, et al. Impact of active cancer on COVID-19 survival: a matched-analysis on 557 consecutive patients at an Academic Hospital in Lombardy, Italy. Br J Cancer May 11, 2021). https://www.nature.com/articles/s41416-021-01396-9

Propensity score matching showed a 1.9 × risk of death in active cancer patients compared to non-oncologic patients (p = 0.013), adjusted for ICU-related bias.

 

6 May

Salto-Alejandre S, Jiménez-Jorge S, Sabé N, Ramos-Martínez A, Linares L, Valerio M, et al. Risk factors for unfavorable outcome and impact of early post-transplant infection in solid organ recipients with COVID-19: A prospective multicenter cohort study. PLoS ONE 16(4): e0250796. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0250796

In this prospective observational cohort study of 210 consecutive solid organ transplant recipients hospitalized with COVID-19 in 12 Spanish centers, four baseline features were identified as independent predictors of intensive care need or death: advanced age, high respiratory rate, lymphopenia, and elevated level of lactate dehydrogenase. A shorter interval between transplantation and COVID-19 diagnosis had a negative impact on clinical prognosis.

 

Riou C, Du Bruyn E, Stek C, et al. Relationship of SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4 response to COVID-19 severity and impact of HIV-1 and Tuberculosis co-infection. J Clin Inv May 4, 2021. https://www.jci.org/articles/view/149125

This study shows that HIV-1 and TB co-infection may skew the SARS-CoV-2 T cell response. HIV-1 mediated CD4 T cell depletion is associated with suboptimal T cell and humoral immune responses to SARS-CoV-2; an active TB is associated with a decrease in the polyfunctional capacity of SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4 T cells.

 

5 May

De la Puerta R, Montoro J, Aznar C, et al. Common seasonal respiratory virus infections in allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients during the SARS-COV-2 pandemic. Bone Marrow Transplant May 4, 2021. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41409-021-01319-5

Through a prospective common seasonal respiratory virus (CSRV) survey program conducted from 2016, a significant drop in CSRV activity during the SARS-COV-2 pandemic was observed in allo-HSCT recipients, supporting the idea that prevention measures for the general population are highly effective in reducing CSRV prevalence and its complications in immunocompromised patients.

 

Fernández-de-las-Peñas C, Torres Macho J, Velasco-Arribas M, et al. Similar Prevalence of Long-Term Post-COVID Symptoms in Patients with Asthma: A Case-Control Study. J Infection May 2, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinf.2021.04.034

In this study from Madrid, from 800 randomized COVID-19 patients hospitalized during the first wave of the pandemic, 61 patients with asthma and 122 age- and sex-matched patients without asthma were recruited. From the total sample, only 34 (18.6%) were completely free of any post-COVID symptom 7 months after hospital discharge. Individuals with pre-existing asthma showed similar numbers of post-COVID symptoms than those without asthma.

 

 

3 May

Van Kemoen ZL, Strijbis EM, Al MM, et al. SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Adult Patients With Multiple Sclerosis in the Amsterdam MS Cohort. JAMA Neurol April 30, 2021. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/2779734?resultClick=1

A lower SARS-CoV-2 antibody response was found in patients with MS who were depleted of B cells.

 

2 May

Spinelli MA, Lynch KL, Yun C, et al. SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence, and IgG concentration and pseudovirus neutralising antibody titres after infection, compared by HIV status: a matched case-control observational study. Lancet HIV April 29, 2021. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhiv/article/PIIS2352-3018(21)00072-2/fulltext

Among 31 people with HIV (PWH) and 70 people without HIV who had evidence of past infection, the odds of severe COVID-19 were 5.52 times higher among PWH. Adjusting for time since PCR-confirmed infection, SARS-CoV-2 IgG concentrations and pseudovirus neutralising antibody titers were lower in PWH.

 

30 April

Saadoun D, Vieira M, Vautier M, et al. SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases: the Euro-COVIMID multicentre cross-sectional study. Lancet Rheumatology April 28, 2021. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanrhe/article/PIIS2665-9913(21)00112-0/fulltext

Among 122 patients with a clinical diagnosis of diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, factors associated with symptomatic COVID-19 were higher numbers of recent disease flares (Odds ratio 1.27), whereas use of biological therapy was associated with a reduced risk (OR 0.51).

 

27 April

Bastard P, Orlova E, Sozaeva L, et al. Preexisting autoantibodies to type I IFNs underlie critical COVID-19 pneumonia in patients with APS-1. J Exp Med April 23m, 2021, 218 (7): e20210554. https://rupress.org/jem/article/218/7/e20210554/212019/Preexisting-autoantibodies-to-type-I-IFNs-underlie?searchresult=1

Patients with biallelic loss-of-function variants of the autoimmune regulator suffer from autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type-1 (APS-1). They produce a broad range of autoantibodies, including circulating auto-Abs neutralizing most type I interferons. In this small cohort of 22 APS-1 patients with COVID-19 from seven countries, aged between 8 and 48 years, 19 (86%) were hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia, including 15 (68%) admitted to an ICU, 11 (50%) who required mechanical ventilation, and four (18%) who died.

 

25 April

Agrawal M, Zhang X, Brenner EJ, et al. The impact of vedolizumab on COVID-19 outcomes among adult IBD patients in the SECURE-IBD registry. Journal of Crohn’s and Colitis April 22, 2021, jjab071, https://academic.oup.com/ecco-jcc/advance-article/doi/10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjab071/6245085?searchresult=1

Of 3647 adult patients on any IBD medication in the registry, 457 (12.5%) patients were on vedolizumab (VDZ), a gut-selective anti-integrin. COVID-19 outcomes among IBD patients on VDZ were comparable to those on all other therapies.

 

15 April

Pirkis J, John A, Shin S, et al. Suicide trends in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic: an interrupted time-series analysis of preliminary data from 21 countries. Lancet Psychiatry April 13, 2021. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(21)00091-2/fulltext

Was there an early effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicide rates around the world? Probably not. In high-income and upper-middle-income countries, suicide numbers have remained largely unchanged or declined in the early months of the pandemic compared with the expected levels based on the pre-pandemic period.

 

13 April

Haffner MR, Le HV, Saiz Jr AM, et al. Postoperative In-Hospital Morbidity and Mortality of Patients With COVID-19 Infection Compared With Patients Without COVID-19 Infection. JAMA Netw Open April 12, 2021;4(4):e215697. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2778455?resultClick=1

A total of 5470 surgical patients with positive COVID-19 test results were matched with 5470 surgical patients with negative COVID-19 test results during the same study period. COVID-19 infection was an independent risk factor for increased perioperative mortality but not complications. Specifically, the overall mortality rate was more than double in the cohort with COVID-19 (14.8% vs 7.1%).

 

4 April

Waissengrin B, Agbarya A, Safadi E, et al. Short-term safety of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in patients with cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Lancet Oncology April 01, 2021. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(21)00155-8/fulltext

Do mRNA vaccines provoke or enhance immune-related side-effects in cancer patients who are being treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors? Probably not. In 134 patients treated with these drugs, the side-effect profile was similar compared to healthy controls (apart from muscle pain).

 

Aveyard O, Gao M, Lindson N, et al. Association between pre-existing respiratory disease and its treatment, and severe COVID-19: a population cohort study. Lancet Resp Medicine April 01, 2021. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(21)00095-3/fulltext

The next large population cohort study showing that the risk of severe COVID-19 in people with asthma is relatively small (hazard ratio 1.18). People with COPD and interstitial lung disease appear to have a modestly increased risk of severe disease (1.54 and 1.66, respectively).

 

1 April

Khunti K, Knighton P, Zaccardi F, et al. Prescription of glucose-lowering therapies and risk of COVID-19 mortality in people with type 2 diabetes: a nationwide observational study in England. Lancet Diab Endocrin March 30, 2021. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(21)00050-4/fulltext

A nationwide observational cohort study in England, showing some evidence of (weak) associations between prescription of some glucose-lowering drugs and COVID-19-related mortality. As findings were likely to be due to confounding by indication, the authors summarize that there is no clear indication to change prescribing of glucose-lowering drugs in people with type 2 diabetes.

 

22 March

Adlhoch C, Mook P, Lamb F, et al. Very little influenza in the WHO European Region during the 2020/21 season, weeks 40 2020 to 8 2021. Eurosurveillance 18 March 2021, Volume 26, Issue 11. https://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.11.2100221

Almost no flu this year. This 2020/21 influenza season is exceptional since the creation of the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) network in 1952. Positivity was 0.1% (33/25,606) this season compared to an average positivity of 38% (14,966/39,407) between week 40 year X and week 8 the following year. Yes, this was statistically significant.

 

21 March

Salter A, Fox RJ, Newsome SD, et al. Outcomes and Risk Factors Associated With SARS-CoV-2 Infection in a North American Registry of Patients With Multiple Sclerosis. JAMA Neurol March 19, 2021; Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2021.0688

Huge cross-sectional study of 1626 North American patients with MS and COVID-19. Increased disability was independently associated with worse clinical severity, as well as older age, Black race, cardiovascular co-morbidities, and recent treatment with corticosteroids.

18 March

Desai A, Gainor JF, Hegde A. et al. COVID-19 vaccine guidance for patients with cancer participating in oncology clinical trials. Nat Rev Clin Oncol March 15, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41571-021-00487-z

Continued quality oncological care requires that patients with cancer, including those involved in trials, be prioritized for COVID-19 vaccination, which should not affect trial eligibility. This important perspective provides operational COVID-19 vaccine guidance for patients participating in oncology clinical trials.

 

15 March

Paper of the Day

Elliott A, Saul M, Zeng J, et al. Pan-cancer analysis of RNA expression of ANGIOTENSIN-I-CONVERTING ENZYME 2 reveals high variability and possible impact on COVID-19 clinical outcomes. Sci Rep 11, 5639 (2021). https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-84731-7

What are the biologic underpinnings of increased COVID-19 morbidity in cancer patients? This study showed significant differences in ACE2 and protease expression in normal and malignant tissues with a subgroup expressing very high levels of ACE2 RNA (in particular in NSCLC and gastrointestinal cancer). These findings, together with the increased presence of inflammatory cells in tumors displaying high ACE2 levels might explain why cancer patients are more severely affected by COVID-19.

 

Arnold J, Winthrop K, Emery P, et al. COVID-19 vaccination and antirheumatic therapy. Rheumatology 12 March 2021, keab223, https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/keab223

Some evidence indicates immunosuppressive therapy inhibits humoral response to the influenza, pneumococcal and hepatitis B vaccines. The degree to which this will translate to impaired COVID-19 vaccine responses is unclear. This article outlines the existing data on the effect of anti-rheumatic therapy on vaccine responses in patients with inflammatory arthritis and formulates a possible pragmatic management strategy for COVID-19 vaccination.

 

Li L, Neuroth LM, Valachovic E, et al. Association Between Changes in Social Distancing Policies in Ohio and Traffic Volume and Injuries, January Through July 2020. JAMA March 9, 2021;325(10):1003-100. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2777228

Better stay home, it’s better for everybody. Compared to 2019, the period between the stay-at-home order and retail reopening (March 23 through May 11, 2020) in Ohio saw 55% fewer motor vehicle crash involvements, 47% fewer injuries, 34% fewer severe/fatal injuries, and 44% lower traffic volume.

 

9 March

Ardestani A, Azizi Z. Targeting glucose metabolism for treatment of COVID-19. Sig Transduct Target Ther March 6, 2021, 6, 112. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-021-00532-4

Some thoughts on how dysregulated glucose metabolism in people with diabetes may explain the increased susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 and why uncontrolled diabetes can lead to excessive adaptive immune reactions in patients with critical COVID-19 symptoms.

 

8 March

Attauabi M, Seidelin J, Burisch J; Danish COVID-IBD Study Group. Association between 5-aminosalicylates in patients with IBD and risk of severe COVID-19: an artefactual result of research methodology? Gut. 2021 Mar 3:gutjnl-2021-324397. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/33658323. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1136/gutjnl-2021-324397

Discussion whether mesalamine/sulfasalazine is associated with an increased risk of severe COVID-19 in people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). And how to adjust for any potential effect modifiers and confounders in order to determine the granular effect of IBD-related medications. No definitive answer yet.

Ungaro RC, Brenner EJ, Gearry RB, et al. Effect of IBD medications on COVID-19 outcomes: results from an international registry. Gut. 2020 Oct 20:gutjnl-2020-322539. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/33082265. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1136/gutjnl-2020-322539

 

6 March

Bloom CI, Drake TM, Docherty AB, et al. Risk of adverse outcomes in patients with underlying respiratory conditions admitted to hospital with COVID-19: a national, multicentre prospective cohort study using the ISARIC WHO Clinical Characterisation Protocol UK. Lancet Resp Med March 04, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(21)00013-8

Analyzing 75,463 patients from the UK, Chloe Bloom and colleagues show that patients with chronic pulmonary disease had a high level of mortality, with a prevalence of 40% for in-hospital death. Of patients with asthma, only those with severe asthma had increased mortality compared to those without an underlying respiratory condition. Patients with asthma (aged ≥ 50 years) had a lower mortality risk if they had used inhaled corticosteroids within 2 weeks of admission.

 

3 March

Jee J, Stonestrom AJ, Devlin S, et al. Oncologic immunomodulatory agents in patients with cancer and COVID-19. Sci Rep March 1, 2021, 11, 4814 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-84137-5. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-84137-5

A large single-center, retrospective analysis of 820 cancer patients with COVID-19 treated with various immunomodulatory agents within 90 days prior to SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis, mainly anti-CD20 therapies (rituximab, ofatumumab, or obinutuzumab) and immunotherapy (PD-1, PDL-1, or CTLA-4 blockade). Of note, whereas cytotoxic chemotherapy itself was not a risk for worse outcomes, pre-COVID-19 neutropenia was associated with worse COVID-19. In assessing whether certain oncologic medications are associated with worse COVID-19 outcomes, considering cancer type, degree of effect (i.e. neutropenia or other bone marrow suppression) and other patient-specific factors is crucial.

 

27 February

Kwan JY, Lin LT, Bell R, et al. Elevation in viral entry genes and innate immunity compromise underlying increased infectivity and severity of COVID-19 in cancer patients. Sci Rep 11, 4533 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-83366-y

What is the potential biological rationale behind the enhanced risk of COVID-19 among cancer patients? Jennifer Yin Yee Kwan from Toronto and colleagues suggest an increased expression of SARS-CoV-2 viral entry genes in the cancer state, particularly in respiratory, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary tract tissues. Elevation of ACE2, TMPRSS2, and CTSL in cancer vs. normal tissue was observed in many of the tissues examined. Moreover, it appeared that some entry genes have transient elevation with radiotherapy or chemotherapies.

 

23 February

Quartuccio L, Treppo E, Binutti M, Del Frate G, De Vita S. Timing of Rituximab and immunoglobulin level influence the risk of death for COVID-19 in ANCA-associated vasculitis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2021 Feb 20:keab175. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/33609106 . Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/keab175

SARS-CoV-2 infections in two patients with polyangiitis who had been treated with rituximab. One died, one was asymptomatic. As timing of rituximab and IgG levels were quite different between the two cases, the authors speculate that this conditioned the final outcome greatly.

 

22 February

Brix TH, Hegedüs L, Hallas J, et al. Risk and course of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients treated for hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology February 19, 2021. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(21)00028-0/fulltext

This large case-control study from Denmark indicates that patients treated for hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism do not have an increased risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 infection. The results also suggest that treatment for thyroid dysfunction, when controlling for relevant confounding, does not influence the prognosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

 

Mitchel KM, Dimitrov D, Silhol R, et al. The potential effect of COVID-19-related disruptions on HIV incidence and HIV-related mortality among men who have sex with men in the USA: a modelling study. Lancet HIV February 19, 2021. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhiv/article/PIIS2352-3018(21)00022-9/fulltext

What is the impact of COVID-19 on the HIV pandemic? This deterministic, compartmental HIV transmission model for MSM in Baltimore, US, used available data on COVID-19-related disruptions to HIV services to predict effects of reductions in sexual partners, condom use, HIV testing, viral suppression, PrEP and ART use. Results: it depends. A 25% reduction in sexual partnerships is estimated to offset the effect of the combined service disruptions on new HIV infections.

 

11 February

Williams R. Coronavirus Brain Breach. Biomedical Picture of the Day, posted 8 January. Link: http://www.bpod.mrc.ac.uk/archive/2021/2/8

This image shows the virus responsible for COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 (red), in the act of infecting and killing human brain cells, with dead cells shown in green. The cells aren’t those of a patient’s brain of course, which would be impossible… | Continue reading at http://www.bpod.mrc.ac.uk/archive/2021/2/8.

 

7 February

Haarhaus M, Santos C, Haase M, et al. Risks prediction of COVID-19 incidence and mortality in a large multi-national haemodialysis cohort: Implications for management of the pandemic in outpatient haemodialysis settings. Clin Kidney J 2021, published 5 February. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1093/ckj/sfab037

Outcomes in 38.256 hemodialysis (HD) patients from a multi-national dialysis cohort between March 3^rd and July 3^rd 2020. During the observational period, 1259 patients (3,3%) acquired COVID-19. Of these, 62% were hospitalized or died. Mortality was 22% among COVID-19 patients.

 

Sultanian P, Lundgren P, Strömsöe A, et al. Cardiac arrest in COVID-19: characteristics and outcomes of in- and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. A report from the Swedish Registry for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. Eur Heart J. 2021 Feb 5:ehaa1067. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/33543259. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaa1067

Pedram Sultanian and colleagues studied out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) of all patients reported to the Swedish Registry for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation from 1 January to 20 July 2020. During the pandemic phase, COVID-19 was involved in at least 10% of all OHCAs and 16% of IHCAs, and, among COVID-19 cases, 30-day mortality was increased 3,4-fold in OHCA and 2,3-fold in IHCA.

 

14 January

Möhn N, Konen FF, Pul R, et al. Experience in Multiple Sclerosis Patients with COVID-19 and Disease-Modifying Therapies: A Review of 873 Published Cases. J Clin Med. 2020 Dec 16;9(12):4067. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/33339436. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9124067

Patients without disease modifying therapies (DMTs), with previous cardiovascular diseases, or with a severe degree of disability may be at a higher risk of severe COVID-19. In this review of 873 published cases, immunosuppressive therapy itself did not appear to be a substantial risk factor. The authors argue that it might be reasonable to assume that these therapies could be protective, either directly by mitigating the cytokine storm, or indirectly by reducing the disease activity of MS.

 

12 January

Accili D. Can COVID-19 cause diabetes? Nat Metab 2021 published 11 January. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-020-00339-7

Whether a separate entity of post-COVID-19 diabetes possibly associated with lasting β-cell damage also exists is not yet clear.

 

11 January

Marjot T, Moon AM, Cook JA, et al. Outcomes following SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with chronic liver disease: An international registry study. J Hepatol. 2020 Oct 6:S0168-8278(20)33667-9. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/33035628. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhep.2020.09.024

No comment needed. The key messages presented at the beginning of the paper:

• Patients with cirrhosis experience high rates of hepatic decompensation and death following SARS-CoV-2 infection.
• Mortality increased in stepwise fashion according to Child-Pugh class.
• Other risk factors for death included advancing age and alcohol-related liver disease.
• Mortality risk was higher in patients with advanced cirrhosis than propensity-score-matched controls without liver disease.
• The majority of deaths in patients with cirrhosis were from COVID-19-related lung disease.

 

2 January

Fernandez-Ruiz R, Paredes J, Niewold TB. COVID-19 in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Lessons learned from the inflammatory disease. Transl Res. 2020 Dec 19:S1931-5244(20)30302-9. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/33352298. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trsl.2020.12.007

The authors review the literature to date on COVID-19 in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and provide an in-depth review of current research in the area, including immune pathway activation, epidemiology, clinical features, outcomes, and the psychosocial impact of the pandemic in patients with SLE.

 

1 January

Hoffmann C, Casado JL, Härter G, et al. Immune deficiency is a risk factor for severe COVID-19 in people living with HIV. HIV Med. 2020 Dec 27. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/33368966. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1111/hiv.13037

In people living with HIV (PLWH), immune deficiency is a possible risk factor for severe COVID‐19, even in the setting of HIV virologic suppression. There is no evidence for a protective effect of PIs or tenofovir alafenamide. This is the result of a multi-center cohort study which evaluated risk factors for morbidity and mortality of COVID‐19 in PLWH infected with SARS‐CoV‐2 in three countries. Patients with severe COVID‐19 had a lower current CD4 T cell count and a lower CD4 T cell nadir, compared with patients with mild‐to‐moderate COVID‐19. In a multivariate analysis, the only factor associated with risk for severe COVID‐19 was a current CD4+ T cell count of < 350/µl (adjusted odds ratio 2.85, 95% confidence interval 1.26‐6.44, p = 0.01). The only factor associated with mortality was a low CD4 T cell nadir.

 

30 December

Shields AM, Burns SO, Savic S, Richter AG; UK PIN COVID-19 consortium. COVID-19 in patients with primary and secondary immunodeficiency: the United Kingdom experience. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2020 Dec 15:S0091-6749(20)32406-4. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/33338534. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2020.12.620

In comparison to the general population, adult patients with primary immunodeficiency (PID) and symptomatic secondary immunodeficiency (SID) display greater morbidity and mortality from COVID-19. This is the result of a study that enrolled 100 patients by 1 July 2020, 60 with PID, 7 with other inborn errors of immunity including autoinflammatory diseases and C1 inhibitor deficiency and 33 with SID.

 

27 December

Guillet H, Gallet R, Pham V, et al. Clinical spectrum of ischaemic arterial diseases associated with COVID-19: a series of four illustrative cases. Eur Heart J 2020, published 25 December. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjcr/ytaa488

Henri Guillet et al. from Hôpital Henri Mondor, Paris, describe four different cases of COVID-19 infection with ischemic arterial events: a myocardial infarction with high thrombus load, ischemic stroke on spontaneous thrombosis of the aortic valve, floating thrombus with mesenteric, splenic and renal infarction, and acute limb ischemia.

 

Allen B, El Shahawy O, Rogers ES, et al. Association of substance use disorders and drug overdose with adverse COVID-19 outcomes in New York City: January–October 2020, Journal of Public Health. J Pub Health 2020, published 26 December. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdaa241

What do you know about the relationships between substance use disorders (SUDs), overdose and COVID-19 severity and mortality? Patients with histories of SUD and drug overdose could face disproportionate risk of critical COVID-19 illness, is the answer by Bennett Allen et al. However, the authors concede that they cannot assure whether the outcomes were due to COVID-19 or unrelated because they adjusted for few comorbidities. In particular, due to missing data, body mass index was not assessed.

 

26 December

McGurnaghan SJ, Weir A, Bishop J, et al. Risks of and risk factors for COVID-19 disease in people with diabetes: a cohort study of the total population of Scotland. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2020, published 23 December. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(20)30405-8

Of the total Scottish population on March 1, 2020 (n = 5.463.300), the population with diabetes was 319.349 (5,8%), 1082 (0,3%) of whom developed fatal or critical care unit treated COVID-19 by July 31, 2020. In the population without diabetes, 4081 (0,1%) of 5.143.951 people developed fatal or critical care unit-treated COVID-19. As of July 31, the overall odds ratio (OR) for diabetes, adjusted for age and sex, was 1,395 compared with the risk in those without diabetes. The OR was 2,4 in type 1 diabetes and 1,4 in type 2 diabetes. Among people with diabetes, adjusted for age, sex, and diabetes duration and type, those who developed fatal or critical care unit-treated COVID-19 were more likely to be male, live in residential care or a more deprived area, have a COVID-19 risk condition, retinopathy, reduced renal function, or worse glycemic control, have had a diabetic ketoacidosis or hypoglycemia hospitalization in the past 5 years, be on more anti-diabetic and other medication (all p < 0.0001), and have been a smoker (p = 0.0011).

See also the comment by Stehouwer CDA. Observational research on severe COVID-19 in diabetes. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2020, published 23 December. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(20)30432-0

 

Tisminetzky M, Delude C, Hebert T, et al. Multiple Chronic Conditions, and COVID-19: A literature review. J Gerontol 2020, published 24 December. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glaa320

Nothing new in this short review about the most frequent SARS-CoV-2 comorbidities: hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, chronic pulmonary disease, and chronic kidney disease. And: men had a higher risk of dying than women. But if you want a concise literature overview, here you go.

 

21 December

Goodman KE, Magder LS, Baghdadi JD, et al. Impact of Sex and Metabolic Comorbidities on COVID-19 Mortality Risk Across Age Groups: 66,646 Inpatients Across 613 U.S. Hospitals. Clin Infect Dis 2020, December 19. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciaa1787

Among 66.646 (6,5%) admissions with a COVID-19 diagnosis across 613 US hospitals, 12.388 (18,6%) died in-hospital. In multivariable analysis, male sex was independently associated with 30% higher mortality risk (aRR, 1.30, 95% CI: 1.26 – 1.34). Of note, diabetes without chronic complications was not a risk factor at any age (aRR 1.01, 95% CI: 0.96 – 1.06), and hypertension without chronic complications was only a risk factor in younger people (20-39 year-olds) (aRR, 1.68, 95% CI: 1.17 – 2.40). Diabetes with chronic complications, hypertension with chronic complications, and obesity were risk factors in most age groups, with highest relative risks among 20-39 year-olds (respective aRRs 1.79, 2.33, 1.92; p ≤ 0.002).

 

Hyrich KL, Machado PM. Rheumatic disease and COVID-19: epidemiology and outcomes. Nat Rev Rheumatol December 18, 2020. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41584-020-00562-2

According to this brief review, many questions about COVID-19 in patients with rheumatic diseases remain unanswered. These patients, when analyzed as a combined group, might have a slightly increased risk of death, although the role of disease activity and treatment was not taken into account in most studies. Chronic use of glucocorticoids at moderate or high doses is associated with hospitalization for severe COVID-19. Treatment with cytokine inhibitors could reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, although the mechanisms of this protective effect are not clear.

20 December

ERA-EDTA Council, ERACODA Working Group. Chronic kidney disease is a key risk factor for severe COVID-19: a call to action by the ERA-EDTA. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation December 19 2020. Full-text: https://academic.oup.com/ndt/advance-article/doi/10.1093/ndt/gfaa314/6041849

The OpenSAFELY project analysed factors associated with COVID-19 deaths in 17 million patients. The picture that arose differs significantly from initial reports. For example, hypertension is not an independent risk factor for COVID-19 death, but renal disease very much is. Dialysis (aHR 3.69), organ transplantation (aHR 3.53) and CKD (aHR 2.52 for patients with eGFR < 30 mL/min/1.73 m²) represent three of the four co-morbidities associated with the highest mortality risk from COVID-19. The risk associated with CKD Stages 4 and 5 is higher than the risk associated with diabetes mellitus (aHR range 1.31–1.95, depending upon glycemic control) or chronic heart disease (aHR 1.17). This article defines essential action points, among which is advocating the inclusion of CKD patients in clinical trials, testing the efficacy of drugs and vaccines to prevent severe COVID-19.

 

19 December

Morales DR, Conover MM, You SC, et al. Renin–angiotensin system blockers and susceptibility to COVID-19: an international, open science, cohort analysis. Lancet Digital Health December 17, 2020. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2589-7500(20)30289-2

In this multicenter cohort study following more than 1,3 million patients with hypertension from the USA and Spain, no clear association of increased risk of COVID-19 diagnosis, hospital admission, or subsequent complications was seen with the outpatient use of ACEI or ARB. These findings support recent recommendations that patients should not halt their ACEI or ARB therapy despite previously posited mechanisms of increased COVID-19 risk. Furthermore, the marginal difference between ACEIs and ARBs does not warrant class switching to reduce COVID-19 susceptibility.

 

Vijenthira A, Gong IY, Fox TA. Outcomes of patients with hematologic malignancies and COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 3377 patients. Blood December 17, 2020, 136 (25): 2881–2892. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1182/blood.2020008824

Systemic review and meta-analysis of 34 adult and 5 pediatric studies (3377 patients) from Asia, Europe, and North America (14 of 34 adult studies included only hospitalized patients). Adult patients with hematologic malignancy and COVID-19 found a 34% risk of death, whereas pediatric patients had a 4% risk of death. Patients on systemic anticancer therapy had a similar risk of death to patients on no treatment.

 

18 December

Agrawal M, Brenner EJ, Zhang X, et al. Characteristics and Outcomes of IBD Patients with COVID-19 on Tofacitinib Therapy in the SECURE-IBD Registry. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases 16 December 2020. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1093/ibd/izaa303

Tofacitinib is a Janus kinase inhibitor (JAKi) approved for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) and other immune-mediated diseases. As many JAKis, it is also evaluated in COVID-19 trials. Manasi Agrawal and colleagues here describe characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 in 37 patients with IBD treated with tofacitinib compared with other medications in the SECURE-IBD registry. Overall, they found no difference in COVID-19 outcomes between the two groups. Good to see: though tofacitinib at the higher dose has been associated with venous thromboembolism, none of the tofacitinib-treated patients in this cohort experienced thrombotic complications.

17 December

Huskamo HA, Busch AB, Uscher-Pines, et al. Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder Among Commercially Insured Patients in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA December 15. 2020; 324(23):2440-2442. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.21512

During the first 3 months of the pandemic, among patients already receiving OUD medication, there was no decrease in medication fills or clinician visits.

 

Liondan CE, Mankad K, Ram D. Neuroimaging manifestations in children with SARS-CoV-2 infection: a multinational, multicentre collaborative study. Lancet Child Adol December 15, 2020. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(20)30362-X

An international call for cases of children with encephalopathy related to SARS-CoV-2 infection and abnormal neuroimaging findings was made. In total, 38 cases from 8 different countries reviewed by a central neuroradiology panel. The most common imaging patterns were post-infectious immune-mediated acute disseminated encephalomyelitis-like changes of the brain (16 patients), myelitis (eight patients), and neural enhancement (13 patients).

15 December

Keddi S, Pakpoor J, Mousele C, et al. Epidemiological and cohort study finds no association between COVID-19 and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Brain 2020, published 14 December. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awaa433

Some reports of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) have emerged during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Here, Michael Lunn, Stephen Keddie and colleagues from University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust studied the epidemiology of GBS cases reported to the UK National Immunoglobulin Database from 2016 to 2019 and compared it to cases reported during the COVID-19 pandemic. The result: GBS incidence has fallen during the pandemic, which may be the influence of lockdown measures reducing transmission of GBS inducing pathogens such as Campylobacter jejuni and respiratory viruses.

 

14 December

Lee SC, Son KJ, Han CH, et al. Impact of comorbid asthma on severity of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Sci Rep 10, 21805 (2020). Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-77791-8

Asthma may not be a risk factor for poor prognosis of COVID-19. In a nationwide retrospective cohort study, Seon Cheol Park, Sang Chul Lee and colleagues from South Korea selected 7272 adult COVID-19 patients, 686 of whom had a history of asthma. After adjusting for age, sex, and the Charlson comorbidity score, asthma was not a significant risk factor for respiratory failure or mortality among all COVID-19 patients (odds ratio [OR] = 0,99, p = 0,997 and OR = 1,06, p = 0,759). Only a history of acute exacerbation in the previous year before COVID-19 was a significant risk factors for death (OR = 2,63, P = 0,043).

 

Culha MG, Demir O, Sahin O, et al. Sexual attitudes of healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 outbreak. Int J Impot Res 2020. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-020-00381-9

Sporadic episodes of sexual dysfunction? Don’t worry, it’s COVID. The reassuring news has just been published by Mehmet Gökhan Çulha and colleagues in a short summary of an online survey among 185 healthcare professionals. Sexual desire, weekly sexual intercourse/masturbation number, foreplay time, sexual intercourse time – everything decreased. When factors affecting sexual dysfunction were analyzed as univariate and multivariate, sexual dysfunction was shown to be significantly more common in males and alcohol users. Time to put the bottle aside and get vaccinated.

 

Colombier S, Mahendiran T, Niclauss L, Kirsch M. Cardiac arrest and COVID-19: inflammation, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, and the destabilization of non-significant coronary artery disease—a case report. European Heart Journal 2020, published 12 December. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjcr/ytaa475

The authors describe the case of a 60-year-old COVID-19 patient whose inaugural presentation was a refractory cardiac arrest secondary to the destabilization of known, non-significant coronary artery disease. This case illustrates several potential mechanisms that are thought to drive the cardiac complications seen in COVID-19.

 

Diller GP, Gatzoulis MA, Broberg CS, et al. Coronavirus disease 2019 in adults with congenital heart disease: a position paper from the ESC working group of adult congenital heart disease, and the International Society for Adult Congenital Heart Disease. Eur Heart J 2020, published 12 December. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaa960

In this position paper, the authors discuss the impact of COVID-19 on ACHD patients, focusing on pathophysiology, risk stratification for work, self-isolation, hospitalization, impact on pregnancy, psychosocial health, and longer-term implications for the provision of ACHD care.

 

Palumbo MV, Rambur B, McKenna LP. Living at Home with Dementia Now More Complicated with COVID-19. Health Social Work 2020, published 13 December. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1093/hsw/hlaa029

Living at home with dementia is complicated, even more so during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. In this article Mary Val Palumbo, Betty Rambur and Lori P McKenna describe that unpredictability is heightened; that grief associated with dementia progression because of relationship changes, loss of emotional support, decreased financial support, increased dependency, and loss of future plans has intensified; and that fear of contracting the virus has exacerbated stress for single, largely homebound family caregivers.

 

13 December

Bhaskaran K, Rentsch CT, MacKenna B, et al. HIV infection and COVID-19 death: a population-based cohort analysis of UK primary care data and linked national death registrations within the OpenSAFELY platform. Lancet HIV 2020, published 11 December. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-3018(20)30305-2

Should people with HIV in the UK be at increased risk of COVID-19 mortality? This would be the suggestion of a retrospective cohort study by Ben Goldacre, Krishnan Bhaskaran and colleagues who analyzed the data of 17 282 905 adults, of whom 27 480 (0·16%) had HIV recorded. 14,882 COVID-19 deaths occurred during the study period, with 25 among people with HIV. People living with HIV had higher risk of COVID-19 death than those without HIV after adjusting for age and sex: hazard ratio (HR) 2·90 (95% CI 1·96–4·30; p<0·0001). In a comment, Laura Waters and Anton Pozniak urge for caution in interpretating the results of this study. (Waters LJ, Pozniak AL. COVID-19 death in people with HIV: interpret cautiously. Lancet HIV 2020, published 11 December. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-3018(20)30332-5.) They emphasize a low absolute mortality of less than 0·1% and recall that 23 (92%) of 25 people with HIV who died had comorbidities.

 

11 December

Fancourt D, Steptoe A, Feifei Bu. Trajectories of anxiety and depressive symptoms during enforced isolation due to COVID-19 in England: a longitudinal observational study. Lancet Psychiatry 2020, published 9 December. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30482-X

Several studies suggest that mental health deteriorated in many countries before and during lockdowns. The authors show that the highest levels of depression and anxiety occurred in the early stages of lockdown but declined fairly rapidly, possibly because individuals adapted to circumstances.

 

FAI2R / SFR / SNFMI / SOFREMIP / CRI / IMIDIATE consortium and contributors. Severity of COVID-19 and survival in patients with rheumatic and inflammatory diseases: data from the French RMD COVID-19 cohort of 694 patients. Ann Rheum Dis. 2020 Dec 2:annrheumdis-2020-218310. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/33268442. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2020-218310

Large French database, including patients with inflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (iRMD). Of 694 adults, 438 (63%) developed mild (not hospitalized), 169 (24%) moderate (hospitalized non-ICU) and 87 (13%) severe (ICU/deceased) disease. In multivariable imputed analyses, the variables associated with severe infection were age, male gender, hypertension and higher BMI. Use of corticosteroids (OR=1.97), mycophenolate mofetil (OR=6.6) and rituximab (OR=4.21) were also risk factors.

 

10 December

Trapani S, Masiero L, Puoti F, et al. Incidence and outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection on solid organ transplantation recipients: A nationwide population-based study. Am J Transplant. 2020 Dec 5. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/33278850. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1111/ajt.16428

Registry case data from Italy: the cumulative incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in solid organ transplantation recipients (SOTRs) is three times higher than that estimated for the Italian population, highlighting that SOTRs are more at risk of infection than non-SOTRs. The 30- and 60-day cumulative incidence of mortality of COVID+ SOTRs was twice as high when compared to non-SOTRs.

 

7 December

Gulersen M, Staszewski C, Grayver E, et al. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)-Related Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in a Pregnant Woman. Obstet Gynecol. 2020 Dec 3. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/33278275. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000004256

Case report of a woman at 28 weeks gestation, diagnosed with COVID-19 4 weeks prior, and admitted with chest pain. Evaluation indicated myocarditis and marked elevations of inflammatory markers consistent with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults. Treatment with intravenous immunoglobin and corticosteroids was associated with a favorable outcome.

 

Fernandez CE, Franz CK, Ko JH, et al. Imaging Review of Peripheral Nerve Injuries in Patients with COVID-19. Radiology. 2020 Dec 1:203116. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/33258748. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.2020203116

Peripheral nerve injury can occur in COVID-19 patients secondary to post-infectious inflammatory neuropathy, prone positioning-related stretch/compression injury, systemic neuropathy, or nerve entrapment from hematoma. MR neurography and high-resolution ultrasound are excellent diagnostic tools for peripheral nerve injury. For COVID-19 patients and survivors with neuromuscular complications, imaging of peripheral nerves can aid medical decision-making, rehabilitative care, and patient/family counseling.

 

24 November

Yu B, Li C, Sun Y, et al. Insulin treatment is associated with increased mortality in patients with COVID-19. Cell Metabolism November 23, 2020. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2020.11.014

Oops! In this retrospective study on 689 patients with COVID-19 and Type 2 diabetes from Wuhan, China, insulin treatment was associated with a significant increase in mortality (27.2% vs. 3.5%; adjusted HR, 5.38). Further analysis showed that insulin treatment was associated with enhanced systemic inflammation and aggravated injuries of vital organs. However, this was a retrospective observation which could not establish a causal effect relationship between insulin treatment and high mortality. Moreover, there were significant differences in several baseline characteristics and laboratory indices at admission (for examples, SpO2, NT-proBNP and albumin), which may contribute to the different severity and outcome observed in patients treated with insulin.

 

18 November

Shah GL, DeWolf S, Lee YJ, et al. Favorable outcomes of COVID-19 in recipients of hematopoietic cell transplantation. J Clin Invest. 2020 Nov 16:141777. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32897885. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI141777

Gunjan L. Shah from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and colleagues retrospectively investigated 77 patients with SARS-CoV-2 who were recipients of cellular therapy (Allo, 35; Auto, 37; CAR T, 5; median time from cellular therapy, 782 days). Overall survival at 30 days was 78%. Mortality was largely driven by patients with active malignancy, especially relapsed leukemia, in whom the goals of care were affected both by COVID-19 severity and the decision to forgo anti-cancer treatment during an active infection. Immune profiling revealed reductions and rapid recovery in lymphocyte populations across lymphocyte subsets. Many patients were able to recover from COVID-19 infection and mount an antibody response with similar overall survival to the general hospitalized population.

15 November

Luo X, Liao Q, Shen Y, et al. Vitamin D Deficiency Is Inversely Associated with COVID-19 Incidence and Disease Severity in Chinese People. The Journal of Nutrition 13 November 2020. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxaa332

Vitamin D might have beneficial potential due to its immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. But is a deficiency associated with disease severity? Perhaps. In this cross-sectional study, 335 COVID-19 patients admitted to the Wuhan Tongji Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. A vitamin D deficiency (< 30 nmol/L) was significantly associated with COVID-19 severity (OR 2.7). Prospective studies have to confirm these results.

 

14 November

Lim S, Bae JH, Kwon HS, et al. COVID-19 and diabetes mellitus: from pathophysiology to clinical management. Nat Rev Endocrinol (2020). Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41574-020-00435-4

Patients with diabetes mellitus are at increased risk of severe COVID-19. The authors discuss potential pathogenetic links between COVID-19 and diabetes mellitus; tight control of glucose levels; explain that insulin and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors can be used safely in patients with diabetes mellitus and COVID-19; and caution that metformin and sodium–glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors might need to be withdrawn in patients at high risk of severe disease.

 

10 November

Taquet M, Luciano S, Geddes JR, et al. Bidirectional associations between COVID-19 and psychiatric disorder: retrospective cohort studies of 62,354 COVID-19 cases in the USA. Lancet Psychiatry November 09, 2020. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30462-4

Survivors of COVID-19 appear to be at increased risk of psychiatric sequelae. Here, Maxime Taquet and colleagues used a global federated network that captures anonymized data from electronic health records in 54 health care organizations in the US, totaling 69.8 million patients and 62,354 patients diagnosed with COVID-19. In patients with no previous psychiatric history, a diagnosis of COVID-19 was associated with increased incidence of a first psychiatric diagnosis in the following 14 to 90 days compared with six other health events (i.e., hazard ratio [HR] 2.1 vs influenza). The HR was greatest for anxiety disorders, insomnia, and dementia. The incidence of a first diagnosis of dementia in the 14 to 90 days after COVID-19 diagnosis was 1.6% in people older than 65 years. A psychiatric diagnosis in the previous year was associated with a higher incidence of COVID-19 diagnosis (relative risk 1.65).

 

1 October

Li L, Li F, Fortunati F, et al. Association of a Prior Psychiatric Diagnosis With Mortality Among Hospitalized Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Infection. JAMA Netw Open September 30, 2020; 3(9):e2023282. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.23282

Among a total of 1685 patients who were hospitalized with COVID-19, 473 (28%) received psychiatric diagnoses prior to hospitalization. After controlling for demographic characteristics, other medical comorbidities, and hospital location, the risk of death remained significantly greater among patients with a psychiatric disorder (hazard ratio, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1-1.9; P = .003). Reasons are unclear. Psychiatric symptoms may arise as a marker of systemic pathophysiologic processes such as inflammation, that may, in turn, predispose to mortality. Similarly, psychiatric disorders may augment systemic inflammation and compromise the function of the immune system, while psychotropic medications may also be associated with mortality risk. Or is there confounding?

 

Toor J, Adams ER, Aliee M, et al. Predicted Impact of COVID-19 on Neglected Tropical Disease Programs and the Opportunity for Innovation. Clin Infect Dis. 2020 Sep 28:ciaa933. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32984870. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciaa933

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many key neglected tropical disease (NTD) activities have been postponed. However, disruption will vary amongst the diseases and there are ways to mitigate the impact and accelerate progress towards the ambitious WHO 2030 goals.

 

19 September

Agren D. Understanding Mexican health worker COVID-19 deaths. Lancet 2020, published 19 September. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31955-3

More health workers seem to have died in Mexico than anywhere else. Why? Limited specialized equipment of poor quality. Working conditions, workplace safety, job continuity (contracts) have all also been cited. Mexico also keeps “a very disaggregated register of the numbers on health worker deaths.”

 

 

15 September

Dandachi D, Geiger G, Montgomery MW, et al. Characteristics, Comorbidities, and Outcomes in a Multicenter Registry of Patients with HIV and Coronavirus Disease-19. Clin Inf Dis 2020 Sep 9. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciaa1339.

Among 286 HIV-infected patients who were included by US healthcare providers, mortality rates were 9.4% (27/286) overall, 16.5% (27/164) among those hospitalized, and 51.5% (24/47) among those admitted to an ICU. Older age, chronic lung disease, and hypertension were associated with severe outcomes. A lower CD4 count (< 200 cells/mm³) was associated with the primary and secondary endpoints. There was no association between the antiretroviral regimen or lack of viral suppression and predefined outcomes.

 

Fraser J, Mousley J, Testro A, Smibert OC, Koshy AN. Clinical Presentation, Treatment, and Mortality Rate in Liver Transplant Recipients With Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Systematic Review and Quantitative Analysis. Transplant Proc. 2020 Jul 30:S0041-1345(20)32634-8. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32891405. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.transproceed.2020.07.012

A systematic search was performed for articles published up to June 15, 2020, revealing 223 liver transplant recipients with COVID-19 in 15 studies. Immunosuppression was modified in 32.8% of recipients. The case fatality rate was 19.3%. Dyspnea on presentation, diabetes mellitus, and age 60 years or older were significantly associated with increased mortality (P ≤ 0.01) with a trend to a higher mortality rate observed in those with hypertension and those receiving corticosteroids at the time of COVID-19 diagnosis.

 

10 September

Rodgers GP, Gibbons GH. Obesity and Hypertension in the Time of COVID-19. JAMA 2020, published 9 September. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.16753

If you are interested in US prevalence and trends for obesity and controlled hypertension from 1999 through 2018, read this editorial about the following two papers:

Ogden CL, Fryar CD, Martin CB, et al. Trends in obesity prevalence by race and Hispanic origin—1999-2000 to 2017-2018. JAMA 2020, published 9 September. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.14590
Muntner P, Hardy ST, Fine LJ, et al. Trends in blood pressure control among US adults with hypertension, 1999-2000 to 2017-2018. JAMA 2020, published 9 September. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.14545

 

6 September

Meltzer DO, Best TJ, Zhang H, et al. Association of Vitamin D Status and Other Clinical Characteristics With COVID-19 Test Results. JAMA Netw Open September 3, 2020;3(9):e2019722. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.19722

Is treatment for vitamin D deficiency associated with reductions in the risk of COVID-19? Maybe. In this retrospective cohort study of 489 patients who had a vitamin D level measured in the year before COVID-19 testing, the relative risk of testing positive for COVID-19 was 1.77 times greater for patients with likely deficient vitamin D status compared with patients with likely sufficient vitamin D status. However, as with all retrospective studies, be aware of confounding: vitamin D deficiency may be a consequence associated with a range of chronic health conditions or behavioral or environmental factors that increase COVID-19 risk.

 

4 September

Mato AR, Roeker LE, Lamanna N, et al. Outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with CLL: a multicenter international experience. Blood September 3, 2020, 136 (10): 1134–1143. Full-text: https://ashpublications.org/blood/article/136/10/1134/461426/Outcomes-of-COVID-19-in-patients-with-CLL-a

Among 198 CLL patients diagnosed with symptomatic COVID-19 across 43 international centers, the overall case fatality rate was 33%, although 25% remain admitted. Watch-and-wait and treated subgroups had similar rates of admission, ICU admission, intubation and mortality. Of note, CLL-directed treatment with Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKis, have been proposed as a potential treatment for COVID-19) at COVID-19 diagnosis did not impact survival, though BTKis were held during the COVID-19 course for most patients.

 

3 September

Keller N, Chantrel F, Krummel T. Impact of first-wave COronaVIrus disease 2019 infection in patients on haemoDIALysis in Alsace: the observational COVIDIAL study. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, September 2, 2020. Volume 35, Issue 8, August 2020, Pages 1338–1411. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gfaa170

Prospective observational study conducted in eight HD facilities in Alsace, France. Among 1,346 HD patients, 123 tested positive for COVID-19. Case fatality rate was 24%. While patients presented severe forms of the disease, they often displayed atypical symptoms, with the CRP level being highly associated with risk of death.

 

31 August

Piñana JL, Xhaard A, Tridello G, et al. Seasonal human coronaviruses respiratory tract infection in recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. J Infect Dis. 2020 Aug 29:jiaa553. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32860509. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiaa553

In this retrospective multicenter study, which included 402 allo-HCT recipients (adults and children) with upper and/or lower respiratory tract disease (RTD) caused by seasonal HCoV diagnosed through multiplex PCR assays 2012-2019, a significant morbidity was found. HCoV infection frequently required hospitalization (18%), oxygen administration (13%) and ICU admission (3%). Three-month overall mortality after HCoV detection was 7% in the full cohort and 16% in those with lower RTD. Three conditions were identified with higher mortality in recipients with lower RTD: low absolute lymphocyte counts, corticosteroids and, not suprisingly, ICU admission.

 

30 August

Webb GJ, Marjot T, Cook JA, et al. Outcomes following SARS-CoV-2 infection in liver transplant recipients: an international registry study. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2020, published 28 August. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-1253(20)30271-5

No increased risk of death for patients with liver transplants. In this multicenter cohort study, Gwilym Webb et al. collected data on 151 adult liver transplant recipients from 18 countries and 627 patients who had not undergone liver transplantation. After adjusting for age, sex, creatinine concentration, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and ethnicity, liver transplantation did not significantly increase the risk of death in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, ICU admission (43 [28%] vs 52 [8%], p<0·0001) and invasive ventilation (30 [20%] vs 32 [5%], p < 0·0001) were more frequent in the liver transplant cohort.

 

28 August

Almario CV, Chey WD, Spiegel BMR. Increased Risk of COVID-19 Among Users of Proton Pump Inhibitors. Am J Gastroenterol. 2020 Aug 25. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32852340 . Full-text: https://doi.org/10.14309/ajg.0000000000000798

Do PPIs increase the odds for acquiring SARS-CoV-2 infection? Maybe. Using an online survey of 53,130 participants (3,386 with a positive test), Christopher V Almario and colleagues found that individuals using PPIs either once daily (aOR 2.15; 95% CI, 1.90-2.44) or twice daily (aOR 3.67; 95% CI, 2.93-4.60) had significantly increased odds for reporting a positive COVID-19 test when compared with those not taking PPIs. Individuals taking histamine-2 receptor antagonists were not at elevated risk. However, before you stop your PPI: please consider that like all observational studies, this study is very susceptible to confounding (for example, people suffering from other comorbidities may be more likely to take PPIs). Moreover, people participating in this survey were not representative of the general population. Let’s keep an eye out for more data.

 

21 August

Cheng X, Liu YM, Li H, et al. Metformin Use Is Associated with Increased Incidence of Acidosis but not Mortality in Individuals with COVID-19 and Pre-existing Type 2 Diabetes. Cell Metabol August 20, 2020. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2020.08.013

Retrospective cohort study of 1,213 hospitalized individuals with COVID-19 and pre-existing type 2 diabetes (T2D). Metformin use was significantly associated with a higher incidence of acidosis, particularly in cases with severe COVID-19, but not with 28-day COVID-19-related mortality. Furthermore, metformin use was significantly associated with reduced heart failure and inflammation. These findings provide some evidence in support of continuing metformin treatment in individuals with COVID-19 and pre-existing T2D, but acidosis and kidney function should be carefully monitored.

19 August

Ellul MA, Benjamin L, Singh B, et al. Neurological associations of COVID-19. Lancet Neurol 2020;19:767-83. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32622375. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(20)30221-0

Recognition of neurological disease associated with SARS-CoV-2 in patients whose respiratory infection is mild or asymptomatic may prove challenging, especially if primary COVID-19 illness occurred weeks earlier. Tom Solomon and colleagues navigate you through the neurological complications of COVID-19 in this ‘Rapid (15 pages) Review”.

 

Fifi JT, Mocco J. COVID-19 related stroke in young individuals. Lancet Neurol 2020;19:713-715. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(20)30272-6

SARS-CoV-2 infection may cause thrombotic vascular events. In patients presenting with large vessel stroke during the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 patients were significantly younger, with a mean age of 59 years, than patients who tested negative for SARS-CoV-2, who had a mean age of 74 years. Johanna Fifi and J Mocco recommend that, in otherwise healthy, young patients who present with stroke during the pandemic, the diagnosis of COVID-19 should be thoroughly investigated.

 

17 August

Lee J, Foote MB, Lumish M, et al. Chemotherapy and COVID-19 Outcomes in Patients With Cancer. J Clin Oncol 2020, August 14, 2020. Full-text: https://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/JCO.20.01307

Among a total of 309 patients with cancer and concurrent COVID-19 at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, cytotoxic chemotherapy administered within 35 days of a COVID-19 diagnosis was not significantly associated with a severe or critical COVID-19 event (HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.73 to 1.60). However, patients with active hematologic or lung malignancies, peri–COVID-19 lymphopenia, or baseline neutropenia had worse COVID-19 outcomes. Findings remained consistent in a multivariate model and in multiple sensitivity analyses.

 

Boettler T, Marjot T, Newsome N, et al. Impact of COVID-19 on the care of patients with liver disease: EASL-ESCMID position paper after 6 months of the pandemic. J Hepatol 2020, Aug 4. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhepr.2020.100169

High COVID-19 mortality rates have been reported in patients with pre-existing chronic liver disease and cirrhosis: this excellent review serves as an update on the previous position paper summarizing the evidence for liver disease involvement during COVID-19 and also provide some recommendations on how to return to routine care.

 

Solomon MD, McNulty EJ, Rana JS, et al. The Covid-19 Pandemic and the Incidence of Acute Myocardial Infarction. N Engl J Med 2020; 383:691-693, August 13, 2020. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMc2015630

Using data from Kaiser Permanente Northern California, a large health care delivery system with 255 clinics providing care for more than 4.4 million persons throughout Northern California, Mathew Solomon and colleagues show that the weekly rates of hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction decreased by up to 48% during the COVID-19 period. Decreases were similar among patients with NSTEMI (incidence rate ratio, 0.51) and those with STEMI (0.60). Of note, demographic characteristics, hemodynamic measures on admission, initial and peak troponin I values, and the burden of other examined co-existing conditions were similar in patients who presented during the COVID-19 period and in those who presented before the first case of COVID-19 occurred.

 

15 August

Solomon DA, Sherman AC, Kanjilal S. Influenza in the COVID-19 Era. Jama 2020, published 14 August. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.14661

In some years and in some countries, the annual influenza epidemic can result in tens of thousands in deaths. Now clinicians face a second respiratory virus associated with morbidity and mortality several-fold higher than that of influenza. In this short Insight article, Daniel Solomon and colleagues stress the importance of widespread implementation of seasonal influenza vaccination and preservation of non-pharmacologic interventions (such as mandatory face coverings in public, closure of schools and retail spaces, and restrictions on movement) until community immunity is achieved through an effective SARS-CoV-2 vaccine and/or natural infection.

 

14 August

Passamonti F, Cattaneo C, Arcaini L, et al. Clinical characteristics and risk factors associated with COVID-19 severity in patients with haematological malignancies in Italy: a retrospective, multicentre, cohort study. Lancet Haematol 2020, published 13 August. Full-text: DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-3026(20)30251-9

In this 74-author study from Italy, Francesco Passamonti and colleagues report a retrospective study which included patients with a diagnosis of a hematological malignancy between 25 February and 18 May, 2020, with laboratory-confirmed and symptomatic COVID-19. 198 (37%) of 536 patients died. Progressive disease status, diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia, indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma, aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma or plasma cell neoplasms were associated with worse overall survival. See also the comment by Samuel Rubinstein and Jeremy Warner: COVID-19 and haematological malignancy: navigating a narrow strait. Lancet Haematol 2020, published 13 August. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-3026(20)30252-0

 

Holman N, Knighton P, Kar P, et al. Risk factors for COVID-19-related mortality in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes in England: a population-based cohort study. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2020, published 13 August. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(20)30271-0

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Barron E, Bakhai C, Kar P, et al. Associations of type 1 and type 2 diabetes with COVID-19-related mortality in England: a whole-population study. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2020, published 13 August. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(20)30272-2

A double hit by Jonathan Valabhji and colleagues! In the first paper (Holman et al.), the authors did a population-based cohort study of people with diabetes in the UK. Between 16 February and 11 May 2020, 1,604 people with type 1 diabetes and 36,291 people with type 2 diabetes died from all causes. Of these deaths, 464 in people with type 1 diabetes and 10,525 in people with type 2 diabetes were defined as COVID-19 related, of which 289 (62.3%) and 5,833 (55.4%), respectively, occurred in people with a history of cardiovascular disease or with renal impairment (eGFR < 60 mL/min per 1.73 m²). Increased COVID-19-related mortality also corresponded with glycemic control and body mass index.

In the second paper (Barron et al.), the authors did a whole-population study assessing risks of in-hospital death with COVID-19 between 1 March and 11 May 2020. Among the 23,698 in-hospital COVID-19-related deaths, a third occurred in people with diabetes: 7,434 (31.4%) in people with type 2 diabetes, 364 (1.5%) in those with type 1 diabetes, and 69 (0.3%) in people with other types of diabetes.

 

Tartof SY, Qian L, Hong V, et al. Obesity and Mortality Among Patients Diagnosed With COVID-19: Results From an Integrated Health Care Organization. Ann Intern Med. 2020 Aug 12. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32783686. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.7326/M20-3742

In this retrospective cohort study, Sara Tartof and colleagues determined the adjusted effect of body mass index (BMI), associated comorbidities, sociodemographic factors, and other factors on risk for death due to COVID-19. Compared with patients with a BMI of 18.5 to 24 kg/m², those with BMIs of 40 to 44 kg/m² and greater than 45 kg/m² had relative risks of 2.68 and 4.18, respectively. This risk was most striking among those aged 60 years or younger and men. The authors found no increased risk for death associated with Black or Latino race/ethnicity or other sociodemographic characteristics. See also the comment by David Kass: COVID-19 and Severe Obesity: A Big Problem? Ann Intern Med. 2020 Aug 12. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32783685. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.7326/M20-5677

 

13 August

Rivinius R, Kaya Z, Schramm R, et al. COVID-19 among heart transplant recipients in Germany: a multicenter survey. Clin Res Cardiol. 2020 Aug 11. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32783099. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00392-020-01722-w

A multicenter survey of all heart transplant centers in Germany evaluating the current status of COVID-19 among adult heart transplant recipients. Eight of 21 patients (38.1%) displayed a severe course needing invasive mechanical ventilation, seven of whom died.

 

Inciarte A, Gonzalez-Cordon A, Rojas J, et al. Clinical characteristics, risk factors, and incidence of symptomatic COVID-19 in adults living with HIV: a single-center, prospective observational study. AIDS. 2020 Aug 7. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32773471. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1097/QAD.0000000000002643

53 out of 5683 (0.9% confidence interval 0.7-1.2%) PLWH in Barcelona were diagnosed with COVID-19. Clinical presentation, severity rate, and mortality were not dependent on any HIV-related or antiretroviral-related factor. COVID-19 standardized incidence rate was lower in PLWH than in the general population.

 

11 August

Restivo DA, Centonze D, Alesina A, Marchese-Ragona R. Myasthenia Gravis Associated With SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Ann Intern Med 2020, published 10 August. Full-text: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/L20-0845

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease in which antibodies bind to acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) or to functionally related molecules in the post-synaptic membrane at the neuromuscular junction. Now Domenico Restivo and colleagues describe 3 patients without previous neurologic or autoimmune disorders who were diagnosed with myasthenia gravis within 5 to 7 days after fever onset related to COVID-19. The authors speculate that antibodies directed against SARS-CoV-2 proteins might cross-react with AChR subunits.

 

9 August

Williams RD II, Shah A, Tikkanen R, et al. Do Americans face greater mental health and economic consequences from covid-19? Comparing the US with other high-income countries. Commonwealth Fund 2020, published 6 August. Full-text: https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2020/aug/americans-mental-health-and-economic-consequences-COVID19

One-third of U.S. adults reported experiencing stress, anxiety, and great sadness that was difficult to cope with by themselves, a significantly higher proportion than in other countries. Over 30 percent of Americans faced negative economic impacts due to the pandemic, significantly more than in the comparison high-income countries. Can the US do more regarding mental health, an existing concern before COVID-19? See also the comment by Janice Hopkins Tanne: Mental health and economic problems are worse in US than in other rich nations. BMJ 2020, Aug 6;370:m3110. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32764109. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m3110

 

4 August

Velez JCQ, Caza T, Larsen CP. COVAN is the new HIVAN: the re-emergence of collapsing glomerulopathy with COVID-19. Nat Rev Nephrol2020, published 4 August. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41581-020-0332-3

Is COVAN the new HIVAN? Collapsing glomerulopathy was first characterized in the setting of HIV infection and termed HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN). In recent months, five case reports of collapsing glomerulopathy akin to those seen during the HIV epidemic have been published describing cases of collapsing glomerulopathy in association with SARS-CoV-2 infection. All of these cases were in patients of African ethnicity. Juan Carlos Velez and co-authors propose the term COVID-19-associated nephropathy (COVAN) to be used to describe this specific entity.

2 August

Rugge M, Zorzi M, Guzzinati S. SARS-CoV-2 infection in the Italian Veneto region: adverse outcomes in patients with cancer. Nat Cancer 2020, published 31 July. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43018-020-0104-9

Massimo Rugge, Manuel Zorzi and Stefano Guzzinati describe 9,275 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection (CV2+ve), 723 of whom (7.8%) had a cancer diagnosis. The proportion of patients hospitalized was higher among patients with cancer (56.6% versus 34.4% among other patients), and so was the proportion of deaths (14.7% versus 4.5%). The risk of adverse outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection was significantly higher for patients with cancer versus those without, particularly for males and older people. Breast cancer and hematological cancers were associated with a higher risk of both hospitalization and death. Lung cancer was associated with a fourfold risk of death due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The authors insist that the clinical importance of these results warrants further investigation.

 

31 July

Steardo L Jr, Steardo L, Verkhratsky A. Psychiatric face of COVID-19. Transl Psychiatry 2020;10,261. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-020-00949-5

Your weekend review – 8 pages and 176 references? Father and son Steardo and Alexei Verkhratsky from Catanzaro, Benevento and Manchester/Bilbao/Moscow, respectively, outline possible neuropsychiatric complications of COVID-19: depression, bipolar disorders, reactive psychosis, obsessive-compulsive disorder, epilepsy, post-traumatic stress disorder. The authors predict an increased incidence of mental pathologies as a result of wide-spread SARS-CoV-2 infection.

 

29 July

Nishiga M, Wang DW, Han Y et al. COVID-19 and cardiovascular disease: from basic mechanisms to clinical perspectives. Nat Rev Cardiol 2020, published 20 July. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41569-020-0413-9

Pre-existing cardiovascular disease is linked with higher morbidity and mortality in patients with COVID-19, whereas COVID-19 itself can induce myocardial injury, arrhythmia, acute coronary syndrome and venous thromboembolism. In this review, Masataka Nishiga, Joseph C. Wu and colleagues summarize the current understanding of the interaction between COVID-19 and the cardiovascular system.

 

28 July

Puntmann VO, Carerj ML, Wieters I, et al. Outcomes of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients Recently Recovered From Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). JAMA Cardiol 2020, published online July 27. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamacardio.2020.3557

Are COVID-19 patients at risk of heart problems after surviving an illness? In a prospective observational cohort study, Eike Nagel and colleagues from the University of Frankfurt, Germany, evaluated cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) images of 100 patients who were recovering from COVID-19 disease. A total of 78 patients (78%) had abnormal CMR findings, including raised myocardial native T1 (n = 73), raised myocardial native T2 (n = 60), myocardial late gadolinium enhancement (n = 32), and pericardial enhancement (n = 22). Endomyocardial biopsy in patients with severe findings revealed active lymphocytic inflammation. At the time of CMR, high-sensitivity troponin T was detectable (3 pg/mL or greater) in 71 patients recently recovered from COVID-19 (71%) and significantly elevated (13.9 pg/mL or greater) in 5 patients (5%). Of note, the median time interval between COVID-19 diagnosis and CMR was 71 (IQR: 64-92) days. The authors stress the need for ongoing investigation of the long-term cardiovascular consequences of COVID-19.

Read also the editorial by Clyde W. Yancy and Gregg C. Fonarow: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the Heart—Is Heart Failure the Next Chapter? JAMA Cardiol 2020, published online July 27. Full-text: https://doi.org/doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2020.3575

 

Lindner D, Fitzek A, Bräuninger H, et al. Association of Cardiac Infection With SARS-CoV-2 in Confirmed COVID-19 Autopsy Cases. JAMA Cardiol 2020, published online July 27. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamacardio.2020.3551

How much is COVID-19 associated with myocardial injury, possibly as the result of viral infection of the heart? Dirk Westermann and colleagues from the University Heart and Vascular Center in Hamburg, Germany, report on a series of 39 autopsies of patients with COVID-19 in whom pneumonia was the clinical cause of death in 35 of 39. SARS-CoV-2 was documented in 24 of 39 patients (61.5%) and viral load above 1000 copies per μg RNA in 16 of 39 patients (41.0%). A cytokine response panel consisting of 6 proinflammatory genes was increased in those 16 patients compared with 15 patients without any SARS-CoV-2 in the heart. In situ hybridization suggested that the most likely localization of SARS-CoV-2 was not in the cardiomyocytes but in interstitial cells or macrophages invading the myocardial tissue.

Read also the editorial by Clyde W. Yancy and Gregg C. Fonarow: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the Heart—Is Heart Failure the Next Chapter? JAMA Cardiol 2020, published online July 27. Full-text: https://doi.org/doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2020.3575

 

27 July

Karim QA, Karim SSA. COVID-19 affects HIV and tuberculosis care. Science 24 Jul 2020:Vol. 369, Issue 6502, pp. 366-368. Full-text: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/369/6502/366

Key resources that had been extensively built up over decades for the control of HIV and TB are now being redirected to control COVID-19 in various countries in Africa, particularly South Africa. Find out how HIV and TB prevention and treatment have been affected by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

 

Léger D, Beck F, Fressard L, Verger P, Peretti-Watel P, COCONEL Group. Poor sleep associated with overuse of media during the COVID-19 lockdown. Sleep 2020, published 25 July. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsaa125

This COCONEL survey was based on a permanent panel of 750,000 French individuals, authorized by the French National Agency for Data Protection (CNIL). Here, 1005 panelists answered the survey out of the 25,800 invitations mailed out in mid-April of 2020. Damien Leger and colleagues report that the prevalence of sleep problems during the lockdown was notably higher (73%) than that reported among the general population in France in 2017 (49%). Their comment: “Physicians usually recommend coping with sleep disorders by exercising, going outside, avoiding screen time, and having a regular schedule — all recommendations difficult to apply during lockdown.” A concise two-page read.

 

22 July

Yao Z, Chen J, Wang Q, et al. Three Patients with COVID-19 and Pulmonary Tuberculosis, Wuhan, China, January-February 2020. Emerg Infect Dis. 2020 Jul 15;26(11). PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32667282. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2611.201536

Tham SM, Lim WY, Lee CK, et al. Four Patients with COVID-19 and Tuberculosis, Singapore, April-May 2020. Emerg Infect Dis. 2020 Jul 15;26(11). PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32667283. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2611.202752

Two papers about three patients with COVID-19 and tuberculosis in Wuhan and four patients in Singapore. Clinicians treating at-risk populations should be aware of possible co-infection with M. tuberculosis and SARS-CoV-2 in patients with atypical radiographic features of COVID-19.

 

21 July

Mato AR, Roeker LE, Lamanna N, et al. Outcomes of COVID-19 in Patients with CLL: A Multicenter, International Experience. Blood. 2020 Jul 20:blood.2020006965. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32688395. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1182/blood.2020006965

CLL patients have impaired humoral and cellular immune function. The authors describe the first large, disease-specific series in a defined cohort of hematologic cancer patients from 43 international centers. Of 198 CLL patients diagnosed with symptomatic COVID-19, 39% were treatment-naïve (“watch and wait”) while 61% received at least one CLL therapy. At a median follow-up of 16 days, the overall case fatality rate was 33%, while another 25% were still in hospital. Discover differences between “Watch and wait” and treated cohorts with regard to ICU admission, intubation, and mortality. CLL patients are at high risk of death.

 

Bilaloglu S, Aphinyanaphongs Y, Jones S, et al. Thrombosis in Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19 in a New York City Health System. JAMA. Published online July 20, 2020. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.13372

The authors assessed the incidence of, and risk factors for, venous and arterial thrombotic events in patients with COVID-19 in 4 hospitals in New York City. Among 3334 consecutive patients, a thrombotic event occurred in 16.0%. 207 (6.2%) were venous (3.2% PE and 3.9% DVT) and 365 (11.1%) were arterial (1.6% ischemic stroke, 8.9% MI, and 1.0% systemic thromboembolism). All-cause mortality was 24.5% and was higher in those with thrombotic events (43.2% vs 21.0%). D-dimer level at presentation was independently associated with thrombotic events, consistent with early coagulopathy.

 

20 July

Tan M, He FJ, MacGregor GA. Obesity and covid-19: the role of the food industry. BMJ. 2020 Jun 10;369:m2237. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32522740. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m2237

Sorry for being 40 days late to present this article published in June. As obesity is recognized as an independent risk factor for severe illness and death with COVID-19, a reminder of the players involved in the obesity pandemic is always helpful. The authors have a concise message: “Food industries around the world must immediately stop promoting, and governments must force reformulation of, unhealthy foods and drinks.” As food industries won’t stop promoting, governments must regulate them.

 

Apicella M, Campopiano MC, Mantuano M, et al. COVID-19 in people with diabetes: understanding the reasons for worse outcomes. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol, 17 July 2020. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(20)30238-2

This review provides an assessment of prognostic factors in patients with diabetes and COVID-19. A poorer prognosis would be the consequence of the syndromic nature of diabetes: hyperglycemia, older age, comorbidities, and in particular hypertension, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. All would contribute to an increased risk.

 

14 July

Hogan AB, Jewel BL, Sherrard-Smith E, et al. Potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria in low-income and middle-income countries: a modelling study. Lancet July 13, 2020. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(20)30288-6

The collateral damage is just as great. Using established transmission models, data indicate that in countries with a high burden of malaria, HIV and tuberculosis, COVID-19 related disruptions in care could lead to a loss of life-years of over 5 years, that is of the same order of magnitude as the direct impact from COVID-19. The authors estimate that deaths due to HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria over 5 years could increase by up to 10% due to HIV (mainly due to treatment interruptions), 20% to TB (less timely diagnosis and treatment of new cases), and 36% to malaria (interruption of planned net campaigns), respectively.

 

11 July

Ikematsu H, Hayden FG, Kawaguchi K, et al. Baloxavir Marboxil for Prophylaxis against Influenza in Household Contacts. NEJM July 8, 2020. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1915341

How will we deal with influenza next winter? Baloxavir marboxil (baloxavir) is a prodrug of the cap-dependent endonuclease inhibitor baloxavir acid and was approved as a single-dose treatment for uncomplicated influenza A and B in Japan and in the US in 2018. Among 752 household contacts of 545 index patients (96% influenza A) virus infection, the percentage in whom clinical influenza developed was significantly lower in the baloxavir group than in the placebo group (1.9% vs. 13.6%).

 

Uyeki TM. Baloxavir for Postexposure Prophylaxis against Influenza in Households. NEJM July 8, 2020. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMe2022702

This editorial discusses some caveats of the above trial, including resistance issues. Moreover, 73% of the household contacts received baloxavir or placebo rapidly – within 24 hours after the onset of illness. Last but not least, clinicians are reminded that the primary prevention of influenza is through annual influenza vaccination. We have to be prepared next winter.

9 July

Panepinto JA, Brandow A, Mucalo L, et al. Coronavirus disease among persons with sickle cell disease, United States, March 20–May 21, 2020. Emerg Infect Dis. 2020 Oct. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2610.202792

Sickle cell disease (SCD) disproportionately affects Black or African-American persons in the United States and can cause multisystem organ damage and reduced lifespan. Among 178 persons with SCD in the US who were reported to an SCD–coronavirus disease case registry, 122 (69%) were hospitalized and 13 (7%) died. According to the authors, this is alarming, given that the mean patient age was < 40 years. However, there may be bias toward more severe cases in this registry.

 

6 July

Tadic M, Cuspidi C, Grassi G, Mancia G. COVID-19 and arterial hypertension: Hypothesis or evidence? J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2020 Jul 6. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32627330. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1111/jch.13925

Hypertension has been proven to be more prevalent in patients with an adverse outcome. So far, there is no study that demonstrates the independent predictive value of hypertension on mortality in COVID-19 patients. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the relationship between hypertension and COVID‐19 and the role of hypertension on outcome in these patients.

 

5 July

Stanworth SJ, New HV, Apelseth TO, et al. Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on supply and use of blood for transfusion. Lancet Hematology, July 03, 2020. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-3026(20)30186-1

The pandemic has major implications for blood transfusion. There are uncertain patterns of demand, and transfusion institutions need to plan for reductions in donations and loss of crucial staff because of sickness and public health restrictions. This article provides a synthesis of the published literature and guidance during times of potential or actual shortage. However, a reduction in donor numbers has largely been matched by reductions in demand for transfusion.

 

Zhong J, Shen G, Yang H, et al. COVID-19 in patients with rheumatic disease in Hubei province, China: a multicentre retrospective observational study. Lancet Rheumatology July 03, 2020. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2665-9913(20)30227-7

Patients with autoimmune rheumatic disease might be more susceptible. Within 42 families with at least one member suffering from a rheumatic disease, COVID-19 was diagnosed in 27 (63%) of 43 patients with a rheumatic disease and in 28 (34%) of 83 of their family members with no rheumatic disease (adjusted odds ratio 2.68, 95% CI 1.14–6.27). Patients with rheumatic disease who were taking hydroxychloroquine had a lower risk of COVID-19 infection than patients taking other disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (OR 0.09, 0.01–0.94).

2 July

Armeni E, Aziz U, Qamar S, et al. Protracted ketonaemia in hyperglycaemic emergencies in COVID-19: a retrospective case series. Lancet Diabetol Endocrinol July 01, 2020. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(20)30221-7

COVID-19 is associated with hyperglycemic emergencies in COVID-19. In this case series of 35 patients from three hospitals in north London, UK, March 1–30, 2020, an over-representation of type 2 diabetes in patients presenting with diabetic ketoacidosis and long-lasting ketosis was observed. Findings suggest acute insulinopenia in patients with COVID-19 and with type 2 diabetes, which persisted up until the time of discharge in 30% of patients previously not insulin-treated. Moreover, the study sample, with almost half of patients of African background, had protracted ketonemia and ketoacidosis.

 

1 July

Del Amo J, Polo R, Moreno S, et al. Incidence and Severity of COVID-19 in HIV-Positive Persons Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy – A Cohort Study. Annals Int Med 2020, June 26. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.7326/M20-3689

Is there an effect of TDF? Of 77,590 HIV-positive persons receiving ART, 236 were diagnosed with COVID-19, 151 were hospitalized, 15 were admitted to the ICU, and 20 died. The risk for COVID-19 hospitalization was 20.3 (95% CI, 15.2 to 26.7) among patients receiving TAF/FTC, 10.5 (CI, 5.6 to 17.9) among those receiving TDF/FTC, 23.4 (CI, 17.2 to 31.1) among those receiving ABC/3TC, and 20.0 (CI, 14.2 to 27.3) for those receiving other regimens. However, residual confounding by comorbid conditions cannot be completely excluded.

 

30 June

Tison GH, Avram R, Kuhar P, et al. Worldwide Effect of COVID-19 on Physical Activity: A Descriptive Study. Ann Int Med 2020, June 29. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.7326/M20-2665

Big data: Using data from a popular health and wellness smartphone app (Argus), a rapid worldwide step count decrease was seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, with regional variability. Samples from different countries varied widely in the number of days after pandemic declaration that a 15% step count decrease was seen: Italy (5 days), Spain (9 days), France (12 days), India (14 days), the United States (15 days), the United Kingdom (17 days), Australia (19 days), and Japan (24 days).

 

27 June

Louapre C, Collongues N, Stankoff B, et al. Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes in Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Multiple Sclerosis. JAMA Neurol 2020, June 26. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2020.2581

This registry-based cohort study from France has included 347 patients with MS with a confirmed or highly suspected diagnosis of COVID-19. In total, 73 patients (21.0%) had a COVID-19 severity score of 3 or more, and 12 patients (3.5%) died. Age, Expanded Disability Severity Scale score (EDSS; ranging from 0 to 10, with cutoffs at 3 and 6), and obesity were independent risk factors for severe COVID-19; there was no association found between exposure to disease-modifying therapies and severity.

 

26 June

Meca-Lallana V, Aguirre C, Beatrizdel Río, Cardeñoso L, Alarcon T, Vivancos J. COVID-19 in 7 multiple sclerosis patients in treatment with ANTI-CD20 therapies. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2020 Jun 15;44:102306. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32585617. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2020.102306

A small case series on patients with MS and COVID-19, treated with the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) ocrelizumab and rituximab. Although the severity of the clinical picture varied, patients’ development was good, indicating that B cells and immunoglobulin may not be absolutely necessary for viral elimination. Not all patients developed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.

 

Sivaloganathan H, Ladikou EE, Chevassut T. COVID-19 mortality in patients on anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents. Br J Haematol. 2020 Jun 25. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32584423. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1111/bjh.16968

Anticoagulants, or other antithrombotic agents such as antiplatelet drugs, might counteract the coagulopathic effects of COVID-19 resulting in improved outcomes. This small, matched-control study shows that this is probably not the case. Patients on aspirin (n=18), on clopidogrel (n=8), apixaban (n=12), warfarin (n=7) and some other drugs did not have a significantly different mortality risk to patients not taking these drugs. According to the authors, this could suggest these agents negate any potential increased mortality risk attributable to whichever disease the drugs had been prescribed, but further data on comorbidities is required to confirm this assertion.

 

25 June

Zhang XJ, Quin JJ, Cheng X, et al. In-hospital Use of Statins is Associated with a Reduced Risk of Mortality among Individuals with COVID-19. Cell Metabolism June 24, 2020. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2020.06.015

Retrospective study on 13,981 patients in Hubei Province, China, among which 1,219 received statins. Based on a Cox model with time-varying exposure and after propensity score-matching, 28-day all-cause mortality was 5.2% and 9.4% in the matched statin and non-statin groups, respectively. Randomized controlled trials involving statin treatment for COVID-19 are needed.

 

Robilotti EV, Babady NE, Mead PA, et al. Determinants of COVID-19 disease severity in patients with cancer. Nat Med June 24, 2020. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-020-0979-0

Among 423 cases of symptomatic COVID-19 who were diagnosed at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 40% were hospitalized for COVID-19 and 12% died within 30 days. Age older than 65 years and treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) were predictors for hospitalization and severe disease, whereas receipt of chemotherapy and major surgery were not.

 

24 June

Kent DG, Knapp DJ, Kannan N. Survey Says: “COVID-19 Lockdown Hits Young Faculty and Clinical Trials“. Stem Cells Rep June 22, 2020. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stemcr.2020.06.010

The survey was conducted from 6 to 15 April, 2020 and filled out by 762 researchers from 52 countries. It captured opinions from across all career stages on how COVID-19 has severely impacted laboratory research (i.e., 65% of laboratories were mostly or completely shut). From the crippling of ongoing and planned clinical trials across the full breadth of stem cell research to the devastating loss of productivity for those researchers near career transitions, the survey revealed some of the bleak truths on the impact of COVID-19 in the stem cell community.

23 June

Lange SJ, Ritchey MD, Goodman AB, et al. Potential Indirect Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Use of Emergency Departments for Acute Life-Threatening Conditions — United States, January–May 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. ePub: 22 June 2020. Full-text: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6925e2.htm

National syndromic surveillance data has found that emergency department (ED) visits declined 42% during the early months of the pandemic. This report describes trends in ED visits for three acute life-threatening health conditions, immediately before and after declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic as a national emergency: in the 10 weeks following the declaration, ED visits declined 23% for heart attack, 20% for stroke, and 10% for hyperglycemic crisis. The substantial reduction might be explained by many pandemic-related factors including fear of exposure to COVID-19, unintended consequences of public health recommendations to minimize non-urgent health care, stay-at-home orders, or other reasons.

 

22 June

El-Sharkawi D, Iyengar S. Haematological Cancers and the risk of severe COVID-19: Exploration and critical evaluation of the evidence to date. Br J Haematol. 2020 Jun 19. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32559308. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1111/bjh.16956

The authors review the evidence to date to see whether a history of hematological malignancy is associated with increased risk of COVID‐19. Results: Multivariable analysis does indicate that patients with hematological malignancy, especially those diagnosed recently, are at increased risk of death with COVID‐19 compared to the general population. The evidence that this risk is higher than for those with solid malignancies is conflicting. There is suggestive evidence from smaller cohort studies that those with myeloid malignancy may be at increased risk within the blood cancer population, but this needs to be confirmed through larger studies.

 

Ibáñez-Samaniego L, Bighelli F, Usón C, et al. Elevation of liver fibrosis index FIB-4 is associated with poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. J Infect Dis. 2020 Jun 21:jiaa355. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32563190. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiaa355

In middle-aged patients with COVID-19, the FIB-4 index may have a relevant prognostic role. In a multivariate analysis, among other risk factors, a FIB-4 > 2.67 increased the risk of ICU admission significantly (OR 3.41; 95% CI 1.30-8.92).

20 June

Fosbøl EL, Butt JH, Østergaard L, et al. Association of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor or Angiotensin Receptor Blocker Use With COVID-19 Diagnosis and Mortality. JAMA June 19, 2020. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.11301

ACE inhibitors are not harmful, even in Denmark (one of the countries with the best epidemiological data). In a retrospective cohort study of 4,480 (!) patients diagnosed as having COVID-19, prior ACEI/ARB use, compared with no use, was not significantly associated with mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.83). In a nested case-control study of a cohort of 494,170 patients with hypertension, use of ACEI/ARB, compared with use of other antihypertensive medications, was not significantly associated with COVID-19 diagnosis (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.05).

 

Lai PH, Lancet EA, Weiden MD. Characteristics Associated With Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrests and Resuscitations During the Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic in New York City. JAMA Cardiol. Published online June 19, 2020. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamacardio.2020.2488

In this population-based cross-sectional study of 5,325 patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in New York City, the number undergoing resuscitation was 3-fold higher during the COVID-19 period compared with the similar period in 2019. The authors report 2,653 excess out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (90% of these excess cases resulted in out-of-hospital deaths).

 

Koopmann A, Ekaterini G, Falk K, et al. Did the General Population in Germany Drink More Alcohol during the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown? Alcohol and Alcoholism, June 19 20020. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agaa058

Question of the day. Answer: Some did so, yes. Out of the 2,102 participants of this survey, 34.7% reported drinking “more or much more” alcohol since the begin of the lockdown. Binary logistic regression analyses showed that especially low educated subjects and subjects with higher levels of perceived stress due to the lockdown were at risk of consuming more alcohol during the lockdown.

 

Cappo A, Bellani G, Wintertin D, et al. Feasibility and physiological effects of prone positioning in non-intubated patients with acute respiratory failure due to COVID-19 (PRON-COVID): a prospective cohort study. Lancet Resp Med June 19, 2020. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(20)30268-X

This prospective cohort study enrolled 56 patients with COVID-19-related pneumonia receiving supplemental oxygen or non-invasive continuous positive airway pressure. Prone positioning was feasible in most patients and effective in rapidly ameliorating blood oxygenation. The effect was maintained after resupination in half of the patients.

 

19 June

Arlet JB, de Luna G, Khimoud D, et al. Prognosis of patients with sickle cell disease and COVID-19: a French experience. Lancet Hematology 2020, June 18. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-3026(20)30204-0

Results of this French cohort of 83 patients suggest that COVID-19, even if potentially severe, does not seem to carry an increased risk of morbidity or mortality in patients with sickle cell disease, as most patients worldwide have the SS/Sβ0 genotype and are younger than 45 years.

 

Zeidan AM, Poddu P, Patniak MM, et al. Special considerations in the management of adult patients with acute leukaemias and myeloid neoplasms in the COVID-19 era: recommendations from a panel of international experts. Lancet Hematology 2020, June 18. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-3026(20)30205-2

This article summarise key changes related to service allocation, clinical and supportive care, clinical trial participation, and ethical considerations regarding the use of lifesaving measures for these patients. It also offers a consensus on clinical practice guidance for optimal care in both the university and community health-care settings.

 

17 June

Piccolo R, Bruzzese D, Mauro C, et al. Population Trends in Rates of Percutaneous Coronary Revascularization for Acute Coronary Syndromes Associated With the COVID-19 Outbreak. Circulation. 2020 Jun 16; 141(24): 2035–2037. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.120.047457

This study investigated the association between the outbreak of COVID-19 and PCI rates for ACS (Acute Coronary Syndromes) in the Campania region, which, with 5.8 million residents, represents ≈10% of the Italian population. The outbreak was associated with a decline in the number of PCIs for ACS by 32%. In the last 2 weeks of the observational period, PCIs for ACS were reduced by 50%. In comparison with PCI volumes for the same time in 2019, the decline in PCI rates was of a similar magnitude (between 36% and 38%).

 

Garassino MC, Whisenant JG, Huang LC, et al. COVID-19 in patients with thoracic malignancies (TERAVOLT): first results of an international, registry-based, cohort study. Lancet Oncol. 2020 Jun 12:S1470-2045(20)30314-4. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32539942. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(20)30314-4

Of 200 patients with COVID-19 and thoracic cancers (76% NSCLC) from eight countries were identified and included in the TERAVOLT registry, 152 (76%) were hospitalised and 66 (33%) died. Of note, in a multivariable analysis, only smoking history (OR 3.18, 95% CI 1.11-9.06) was associated with increased risk of death.

 

16 June

Furfaro F, Vuitton L, Fiorino G, et al. SFED recommendations for IBD endoscopy during COVID-19 pandemic: Italian and French experience. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020 Jun 11:1-10. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32528139. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41575-020-0319-3

This perspective aims to provide a guide based on the Italian and French experience to better face the difficulties encountered by endoscopists during this pandemic. Some helpful recommendations regarding the use of personal protective equipment (both for patients and HCW) are proposed and different scenarios in endoscopic IBD management are evaluated to suggest when endoscopy could be rescheduled and replaced by alternative biomarkers.

 

15 June

Doglietto F, Vezzoli M, Gheza F, et al. Factors Associated With Surgical Mortality and Complications Among Patients With and Without Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Italy. JAMA Surg. 2020 Jun 12. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32530453. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamasurg.2020.2713

There is no good time for surgery: In this cohort study of 41 surgical patients with COVID-19 and 82 tightly matched control patients, significant differences were documented regarding rates of early mortality and complications (odds ratios 9.5 and 5.0, respectively), mainly pneumonia and thrombotic complications, were significantly associated with COVID-19, and different models identified COVID-19 as the first variable associated with surgical complications. These data suggest that, whenever possible, surgery should be postponed in patients with COVID-19.

12 June

Pinto BGG, Oliveira AER, Singh Y, et al. ACE2 Expression is Increased in the Lungs of Patients with Comorbidities Associated with Severe COVID-19. J Infect Dis. 2020 Jun 11:jiaa332. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32526012. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiaa332

The authors analyzed over 700 lung transcriptome samples of patients with comorbidities associated with severe COVID-19 and found that ACE2 was highly expressed in these patients, compared to control individuals. Findings suggest that the higher expression of ACE2 in the lungs is associated with higher chances of developing a severe form of COVID-19, by facilitating SARS-CoV-2 entry into lung cells during the infection.

7 June

Belli LC, Duvoux C, Karam V, et al. COVID-19 in liver transplant recipients: preliminary data from the ELITA/ELTR registry. Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, June 4, 2020. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-1253(20)30183-7

First large analysis on liver transplant recipients. At a median follow-up of 18 days, 16/100 died from COVID-19. Of note, mortality was observed only in patients aged 60 years or older (16/73) and was more common in male recipients than in female recipients. Although not statistically significant, more patients who were transplanted at least 2 years earlier died than did those who received their transplant within the past 2 years (15/82, 18% vs 1/21, 5%).

4 June

Rubin EJ. Expression of Concern: Mehra MR et al. Cardiovascular Disease, Drug Therapy, and Mortality in Covid-19. N Engl J Med 2020, June 2. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2007621

Ooops. They don’t trust their own authors (Mehra 2020). “Recently, substantive concerns have been raised about the quality of the information in that database”, editor Eric Rubin writes, washing NEJM’s hands in innocence. “We have asked the authors to provide evidence that the data are reliable. In the interim and for the benefit of our readers, we are publishing this Expression of Concern about the reliability of their conclusions.” Ok. Let’s wait and see what happens. But bad news because even in a journal like NEJM, bad data quality is possible.

 

Mehra MR, Desai SS, Kuy S, Henry TD, Patel AN. Cardiovascular disease, drug therapy, and mortality in Covid-19. N Engl J Med. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2007621

This was the original work of concern. Bad news that we cannot trust it. This was our comment: “The first study analyzed a total of 8,910 COVID-19 patients (from 169 hospitals located in 11 countries) for whom discharge status was availably by March 29 (Mehra 2020). A total of 515 (5.8%) died in the hospital. Factors independently associated with an increased risk of in-hospital death were an age greater than 65 years (odds ratio, 1.93), coronary artery disease (2.70), heart failure (2.48; 95% CI, 1.62 to 3.79), cardiac arrhythmia (1.95; 95% CI, 1.33 to 2.86), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2.96; 95% CI, 2.00 to 4.40), and current smoking (1.79; 95% CI, 1.29 to 2.47). No increased risk was found for the use of ACE inhibitors (0.33; 95% CI, 0.20 to 0.54) or the use of ARBs (1.23; 95% CI, 0.87 to 1.74). Of note, use of either ACE inhibitors or statins was associated with better survival. However, these associations should be considered with extreme caution as the study design cannot exclude the possibility of confounding.”

1 June

Shalev N, Scherer M, LaSota ED, et al. Clinical characteristics and outcomes in people living with HIV hospitalized for COVID-19. Clin Inf Dis 2020, May 30. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciaa635

31 people living with HIV (PLWH) were hospitalized for COVID-19. All patients were on antiretroviral therapy and virologically suppressed at the time of admission. One was mild (3%), 2 moderate (6.5%), 21 severe (60%) and 7 were critical (23%). At the time of analysis, 8 (25.8%) patients had died, 21 (67.7%) were alive and discharged and 2 (6.5%) were alive and hospitalized. Four deaths occurred in subjects over 65 years of age and 4 in patients between 50 and 65 years of age.

 

30 May

Tian J, Yuan X, Xiao J, et al. Clinical characteristics and risk factors associated with COVID-19 disease severity in patients with cancer in Wuhan, China: a multicentre, retrospective, cohort study. Lancet Oncology 2020, May 29. Full-text: https://10.1016/S1470-2045(20)30309-0

232 COVID-19 patients with cancer and were compared with 519 matched patients without cancer. Patients with cancer were more likely to have severe COVID-19 (64% versus 32%). Risk factors (of those well-known) for severe disease were advanced tumour stage (OR 2.60), elevated tumour necrosis factor α (1.22), elevated N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (1.65).

 

COVIDSurg Collaborative. Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study. Lancet May 29, 2020. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31182-X l (Important)

This large cohort includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, among them 835 (74%) emergency surgery and 280 (25%) elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (26%) patients. 30-day mortality was 24% and pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51%). In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (Odds Ratio 1.75), age 70 years or older (2.30), ASA grades 3–5 versus grades 1–2 (2.35), malignant versus benign (1.55), emergency versus elective surgery (1.67), and major versus minor surgery (1.52).

 

29 May

Kuderer NM, Choueiri TK, Shah DP. Clinical impact of COVID-19 on patients with cancer (CCC19): a cohort study. Lancet May 28, 2020. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31187-9

Cohort study from the USA, Canada, and Spain, analysing 928 cancer patients with COVID-19. Median age was 66 years (IQR 57–76) and the most prevalent malignancies were breast (21%) and prostate (16%). In total 121 (13%) patients had died. Beside general risk factors (age, male sex etc), independent factors associated with increased mortality were an ECOG status of 2 or higher and “active” cancer.

 

Vizcarra P, Pérez-Elías M, Quereda C, et al. Description of COVID-19 in HIV-infected individuals: a single-centre, prospective cohort. Lancet HIV. Published: May 28, 2020. Full-text: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhiv/article/PIIS2352-3018(20)30164-8/fulltext l (Important)

Single center study from Madrid, comparing 51 HIV+ patients with COVID-19 (35 confirmed cases) with 1,288 HIV patients without COVID-19. Six patients were critically ill and two died. There was no evidence that any specific antiretroviral drug (such as tenofovir or PIs) affected COVID-19 susceptibility or severity.

 

Geerts H, van der Graaf PH. Salvaging CNS Clinical Trials halted due to COVID-19. CPT Pharmacometrics Syst Pharmacol. 2020 May 28. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32468710. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1002/psp4.12535

COVID-19 has halted many ongoing CNS clinical trials, especially in Alzheimer’s disease. While some of these trials will need to restart, others can re-start at different points with substantial protocol amendments. Authors propose the concept of mechanistic modeling-based virtual twin patients as a possible solution to harmonize the readouts from these complex and fragmented clinical datasets in a biologically relevant way.

 

28 May

Yahalom J, Dabaja BS, Ricardi U. ILROG emergency guidelines for radiation therapy of hematological malignancies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Blood 2020, 135 (21): 1829–1832. https://doi.org/10.1182/blood.2020006028

Realizing the need to reduce the exposure of patients and staff to potential infection with COVID-19, a task force makes recommendations for alternative radiation treatment schemes. The emphasis is on maintaining clinical efficacy and safety by increasing the dose per fraction while reducing the number of daily treatments.

 

27 May

Lupo-Stanghellini MT, Messina C, Marktel S, et al. Following-up allogeneic transplantation recipients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lancet Haematol. 2020 May 22:S2352-3026(20)30176-9. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32450053. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-3026(20)30176-9

The authors describe their way of taking care of the most vulnerable patient groups using telemedicine. They contacted 236/465 adult patients who received an allogeneic transplantation. Physicians felt confident about the management of patients using teleconsultations, and patients—reassured that they were not left alone while in quarantine—provided positive feedback on this approach.

Gartshteyn Y, Askanase AD, Schmidt NM, et al. COVID-19 and systemic lupus erythematosus: a case series. Published: May 26, 2020. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2665-9913(20)30161-2

Of 18 SLE patients with COVID-19, most recovered. Previous intake of immunosuppressants before admission to hospital did not seem to influence the severity of infection.

 

Junejo M, Girometti N, McOwan A. HIV postexposure prophylaxis during COVID-19. May 25, 2020. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-3018(20)30146-6

Weekly prescriptions of PEP at a large center in London dropped from a peak of 54 (from Feb 17–23, 2020) to four (from March 30–April 5, 2020) during lockdown. The most obvious explanation for this decline is that individuals are engaging in less condomless sex during lockdown. However, this might also reflect people’s reluctance to travel during this period, which would mean that individuals are not accessing the PEP they require.

Comment of the copy-editor: “And might also mean, that if they have less desire to travel, are hooking up less, and perhaps less sex is happening.”

 

20 May

Brenner EJ, Ungaro RC, Gearry RB, et al. Corticosteroids, but Not TNF Antagonists, Are Associated With Adverse COVID-19 Outcomes in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Results From an International Registry. Gastroenterology 2020 May 18. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2020.05.032

An important and large study, analysing 525 patients with IBD from 33 countries. Thirty-seven patients (7%) had severe COVID-19, and 16 patients died (3% case fatality rate). Risk factors for severe COVID-19 among IBD patients included increasing age, ≥2 comorbidities, systemic corticosteroids (aOR 6.9, 95% CI 2.3-20.5), and sulfasalazine or 5-aminosalicylate use (aOR 3.1, 95% CI 1.3-7.7). Maintaining remission with steroid-sparing treatments will be important in managing patients with IBD through this pandemic. However, a causal relationship cannot be definitively established. Notably, TNF antagonist treatment was not associated with severe COVID-19.

 

Solomon MD, McNulty EJ, Rana JS, et al. The Covid-19 Pandemic and the Incidence of Acute Myocardial Infarction. NEJM 2020, May 19. Full-text: HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1056/NEJMc2015630

In a large diverse community setting in California, the incidence of hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction declined after March 4 by up to 48% more than would be expected on the basis of typical seasonal variation alone. Similar findings have been noted in northern Italy.

 

19 May

Arjomandi Rad A, Vardanyan R, Tas NR. Ibuprofen and thromboembolism in SARS-COV2. J Thromb Haemost. 2020 May 16. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32415902. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1111/jth.14901

Review of the literature on thromboembolic events (TE) associated with COVID-19. The causation between the effects of ibuprofen and TE remains speculative. The role of ibuprofen on a vascular level remains unclear as well as whether ibuprofen is able to interact with SARS-CoV-2 through some mechanism. However, the authors recommend careful consideration to avoiding a high dosage of ibuprofen in subjects at particular risk of thromboembolic events.

 

18 May

Tschopp J, L´Huillier AG, Mombelli M, et al. First experience of SARS-CoV-2 infections in solid organ transplant recipients in the Swiss Transplant Cohort Study. Am J Transplant 2020 May 15. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32412159. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1111/ajt.16062

Data from Switzerland. Overall, 21 patients were included with a median age of 56 years (10 kidney, 5 liver, 1 pancreas, 1 lung, 1 heart and 3 combined transplantations). Ninety‐five percent and 24% of patients required hospitalization and ICU admission, respectively. After a median of 33 days of follow‐up, 16 patients were discharged, 3 were still hospitalized and 2 patients died.

 

16 May

Mackey K, King VJ, Gurley S. Risks and Impact of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors or Angiotensin-Receptor Blockers on SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Adults. A Living Systematic Review. Annals Internal Medicine 2020, May 15. Full-text: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-1515

According to this review (data cut on May 4), evidence is of moderate certainty that ACEI and ARB use is not associated with a higher likelihood of receiving a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result. Evidence is of high certainty (14 observational studies, involving 23,565 adults) that neither medication is associated with more severe COVID-19 illness. Four registered randomized trials plan to evaluate ACEIs and ARBs for treatment of COVID-19. For more information, see our special from May 4: https://covidreference.com/top-10-may-4.

 

14 May

Latif F, Farr MA, Clerkin KJ, et al. Characteristics and Outcomes of Recipients of Heart Transplant With Coronavirus Disease 2019. JAMA Cardiol. 2020 May 13. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32402056. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamacardio.2020.2159

Is there a higher mortality risk in heart transplanted patients? Probably yes. In this case series of 28 patients who had received a heart transplant in a large academic center (New York), 22 patients (79%) were hospitalized. At the end of the follow-up, 4 remained hospitalized and 7 (25%) had died.

13 May

Alqahtani JS, Oyelade T, Aldhahir AM, et al. Prevalence, Severity and Mortality associated with COPD and Smoking in patients with COVID-19: A Rapid Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. PLoS One. 2020 May 11;15(5):e0233147. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32392262. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0233147

Time to quit smoking. Meta-analysis of 15 studies, including a total of 2,473 confirmed cases. COPD patients were at a higher risk of more severe disease (calculated RR 1.88). Current smokers were 1.45 times more likely to have severe complications compared to former and never smokers. Current smokers also had a higher mortality rate of 39%.

 

Paul S, Rausch CR, Jain N, et al. Treating Leukemia in the Time of COVID-19. Acta Haematol. 2020 May 11:1-13. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32392559. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1159/000508199

This paper offers some recommendations on the optimization of leukemia management during high-risk COVID-19 periods. Instead of reducing patient access to specialized cancer centers and modifying therapies to ones with unproven curative benefit, there is more rationale for less intensive yet effective therapies that may require fewer visits to the clinic or hospitalizations.

 

11 May

Härter G, Spinner CD, Roider J, at al. COVID-19 in people living with human immunodeficiency virus: a case series of 33 patients. Infection 2020, May 11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-020-01438-z. Full-text https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s15010-020-01438-z. l (Important)

The first larger case series in HIV-infected patients. No excess morbidity and mortality was found among symptomatic COVID-19 cases. As the majority (22/33) was treated with tenofovir, including those developing severe or critical disease, data indicate no or only minimal clinical effect of tenofovir against SARS-CoV-2. Four patients also were on darunavir when they developed COVID-19 symptoms.

 

Xiong F, Tang H, Liu L, et al. Clinical Characteristics of and Medical Interventions for COVID-19 in Hemodialysis Patients in Wuhan, China. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2020 May 8. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32385130. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1681/ASN.2020030354

First large (multicenter retrospective) study about epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of patients undergoing hemodialysis with COVID-19. There were 101 mild/moderate and 30 severe/critical cases. Of note, 28 (21%) were asymptomatic over the whole course of the disease and were diagnosed only by universal screening. Morbidity was around 2% and only 52% of patients experienced fever.

 

10 May

Chung SC, Providencia R, Sofat R, et al. Association between Angiotensin Blockade and Incidence of Influenza in the United Kingdom. NEJM May 8, 2020. Full-text: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2005396

Like SARS-CoV-2, influenza A viruses have been shown to use the ACE2 receptor. Using the linked electronic health care records of 5.6 million persons in the United Kingdom, authors have investigated the incidence of influenza among adults who received a prescription for an ACE inhibitor from 1998 through 2016. Main results: the use of ACE inhibitors and ARBs was associated with either no effect on the incidence of influenza or a lower incidence.

 

3 May

Zhu L, She ZG, Cheng X. Association of Blood Glucose Control and Outcomes in Patients with COVID-19 and Pre-existing Type 2 Diabetes. Cell Metabolism, April 30, 2020. Full-text: https://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/fulltext/S1550-4131(20)30238-2 l (Important)

Check your HbA1c! The hitherto largest retrospective study on the impact of type 2 diabetes (T2D) has carefully analyzed 7,337 cases of COVID-19 in Hubei Province, China, among them 952 with pre-existing T2D. The authors found that subjects with T2D required more medical interventions and had a significantly higher mortality (7.8% versus 2.7%; adjusted hazard ratio, 1.49) and multiple organ injury than the non-diabetic individuals. Well-controlled blood glucose was associated with markedly lower mortality (in-hospital death rate 1.1% versus 11.0%) compared to individuals with poorly controlled BG.

 

Piccolo R, Bruzzese D, Mauro C, et al. Population Trends in Rates of Percutaneous Coronary Revascularization for Acute Coronary Syndromes Associated with the COVID-19 Outbreak. Circulation. 2020 Apr 30. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32352318. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.120.047457

Collateral damage of the current pandemic: data from Italy providing evidence that the outbreak of COVID-19 was associated with a decline by 32% in the number of percutaneous coronary intervention for acute coronary syndromes.

1 May

Stefanini GG, Montorfano M, Trabattoni D, et al. ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction in Patients with COVID-19: Clinical and Angiographic Outcomes. Circulation. 2020 Apr 30. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32352306. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.120.047525

STEMI may represent the first clinical manifestation of COVID-19. In 11 out of 28 patients (39%) with STEMI, a culprit lesion was not identifiable by coronary angiography. According to the authors, a dedicated diagnostic pathway should be delineated for COVID-19 patients with STEMI, aimed at minimizing patients’ procedural risks and healthcare providers’ risk of infection.

 

Yang G, Tan Z, Zhou L, et al. Effects Of ARBs And ACEIs On Virus Infection, Inflammatory Status And Clinical Outcomes In COVID-19 Patients With Hypertension: A Single Center Retrospective Study. Hypertension. 2020 Apr 29. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32348166. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.120.15143

The next retrospective study analysing COVID-19 patients with hypertension, argueing against deleterious effects of angiotensin II receptor blockers or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. Patients on these drugs (n=43) had significantly lower concentrations of CRP (p = 0.049) and procalcitonin (p = 0.008) than patients on other antihypertensive drugs (n = 83). Furthermore, trends toward lower proportions of critical diseases (9.3% vs 22.9%; p = 0.061) and death rates (4.7% vs 13.3%; p = 0.216) were observed.

 

30 April

Haberman R, Axelrad J, Chen A, et al. Covid-19 in Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases – Case Series from New York. N Engl J Med. 2020 Apr 29. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32348641. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMc2009567

Baseline use of biologics is not associated with worse COVID-19 outcomes. A case series of 86 patients with immune-mediated inflammatory disease (rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, or related conditions) and symptomatic COVID-19, among them 62 (72%) receiving biologics or Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors. The percentage of patients who were receiving biologics or JAK inhibitors at baseline was higher among the ambulatory patients than among the hospitalized patients. In contrast, hospitalization rates were higher in patients treated with oral glucocorticoids, hydroxychloroquine and methotrexate.

Rangé G, Hakim R, Motreff P. Where have the STEMIs gone during COVID-19 lockdown? European Heart Journal – Quality of Care and Clinical Outcomes, April 29, 2020. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjqcco/qcaa034

Best paper title of the day. Using a French Registry, the authors found a spectacular drop of 25% for admission due to STEMI between March 2019 and March 2020. The steep decline was found for both acute (< 24hrs) and late presentation (> 24 hrs) STEMI. But where did they go? According to the authors, explanations may be patients’ fear of coming to the hospital or disturbing busy caregivers, especially in the case of mild STEMI clinical presentation. Other hypothetical reasons are reduced air pollution, better adherence to treatment, limited physical activity or absence of occupational stress during lockdown. When will we ever learn?

 

Baldi E, Sechi GM, Mare C, et al. Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest during the Covid-19 Outbreak in Italy. N Engl J Med. 2020 Apr 29. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32348640. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMc2010418

Avoiding hospitals, staying at home, dying of fear? Using data from the Lombardy Cardiac Arrest Registry for the provinces of Lodi, Cremona, Pavia, and Mantua during the first 40 days of the COVID-19 outbreak (February 21 through March 31, 2020), the authors found a 58% increase of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest compared to the same period in 2019.

 

29 April

De Filippo O, D’Ascenzo F, Angelini F, et al. Reduced Rate of Hospital Admissions for ACS during Covid-19 Outbreak in Northern Italy. N Engl J Med, April 28, 2020. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMc2009166

The authors report a significant decrease in acute coronary syndrome-related hospitalization rates across several cardiovascular centers in northern Italy during the early days of the outbreak.

 

Castiglion V, Chiriacò M, Emdin M, et al. Statin therapy in COVID-19 infection. European Heart Journal Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy, 2020, 29 April. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjcvp/pvaa042

Brief review: adjuvant treatment and continuation of pre-existing statin therapy could improve the clinical course of patients with COVID-19, either by their immunomodulatory action or by preventing cardiovascular damage.

 

26 April

Cai G, Bosse Y, Xiao F, Kheradmand F, Amos CI. Tobacco Smoking Increases the Lung Gene Expression of ACE2, the Receptor of SARS-CoV-2. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2020 Apr 24. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32329629. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.202003-0693LE

Brand new information: smoking is not the best idea. However, this is particularly true in the current pandemic. Ever having smoked significantly and substantially increased pulmonary ACE2 expression by 25%. The significant smoking effect on ACE2 pulmonary expression may suggest an increased risk for viral binding and entry of SARS-CoV-2 in lungs of smokers.

 

25 April

Pereira MR, Mohan S, Cohen DJ, et al. COVID-19 in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: Initial Report from the US Epicenter. Am J Transplant. 2020 Apr 24. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32330343. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1111/ajt.15941

The first large cohort of COVID-19 in transplant recipients. Of 90 patients (median age 57 years), 46 were kidney recipients, 17 lung, 13 liver, 9 heart and 5 dual-organ transplants. Sixteen patients died (18% overall, 24% of hospitalized, 52% of ICU), indicating that transplant recipients appear to have more severe outcomes.

 

Akalin E, Azzi Y, Bartash B. Covid-19 and Kidney Transplantation. N Engl J Med. 2020 Apr 24. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32329975. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMc2011117

Single center experience with 36 kidney transplant recipients. Patients appear to have less fever as an initial symptom, lower CD3/4/8 cell counts and more rapid clinical progression: after 21 days, 10 died.

 

French JA, Brodie MJ, Caraballo R, et al. Keeping people with epilepsy safe during the Covid-19 pandemic. Neurology. 2020 Apr 23. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32327490. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000009632

Some helpful recommendations on how to modify clinical care for people with epilepsy and what general advice can be given to these patients during this crisis.

 

24 April

Sriram K, Insel PA. Risks of ACE inhibitor and ARB usage in COVID-19: evaluating the evidence. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2020 Apr 22. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32320478. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1002/cpt.1863

Nice review. Data from 12 animal studies and from 12 human studies overwhelmingly imply that administration of ACEIs/ARBs does not increase ACE2 expression. Available evidence does not support the hypothesis that ACEI/ARB use increases ACE2 expression and the risk of complications from COVID-19. The authors conclude that patients being treated with ACEIs and ARBs should continue their use for approved indications.

Zhang P, Zhu L, Cai J, et al. Association of Inpatient Use of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers with Mortality Among Patients With Hypertension Hospitalized With COVID-19. Circ Res. 2020 Apr 17. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32302265. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.120.317134

Same idea: in this retrospective, multi-center study of 1128 adult patients with hypertension diagnosed with COVID-19, 188 patients taking ACEI/ARB were compared with 940 patients without using ACEI/ARB. Unadjusted mortality rate was lower in the ACEI/ARB group versus the non-ACEI/ARB group (3.7% vs. 9.8%). In a Cox model, after adjusting for age, gender, comorbidities, and in-hospital medications, the detected risk for all-cause mortality was lower in the ACEI/ARB group (adjusted HR 0.42; 95%CI, 0.19-0.92).

23 April

Sattar N, McInnes IB, McMurray JJV. Obesity a Risk Factor for Severe COVID-19 Infection: Multiple Potential Mechanisms. Circulation. 2020 Apr 22. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32320270. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.120.047659

Brief review on obesity as a unifying risk factor for severe COVID-19 infection, reducing both protective cardiorespiratory reserve as well as potentiating the immune dysregulation. Possible patho-mechanisms are discussed.

 

20 April

Brojakowska A, Narula J, Shimony R, Bander J. Clinical Implications of SARS-Cov2 Interaction with Renin Angiotensin System. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2020 Apr 14. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32305401. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2020.04.028

Don’t stop your sartans or ACE inhibitors! The authors hypothesize that the benefits of treatment with renin-angiotensin system inhibitors in SARS-COV-2 may outweigh the risks and at the very least should not be withheld.

 

Kennedy NA, Jones GR, Lamb CA, et al. British Society of Gastroenterology guidance for management of inflammatory bowel disease during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gut. 2020 Apr 17. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32303607. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1136/gutjnl-2020-321244

Making recommendations in the absence of data is not that easy. The authors have made heroic attempts to balance the risk of immune modifying drugs with the risk associated with active disease.

 

15 April

Daniels MJ, Cohen MG, Bavry AA, Kumbhani DJ. Reperfusion of STEMI in the COVID-19 Era – Business as Usual? Circulation. 2020 Apr 13. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32282225. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.120.047122

In the current crisis with limited resources to protect the work force, fibrinolytic therapy (FT) may be considered for patients with myocardial infarction (STEMI). FT may even be preferred over primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Arguments for this strategy are summarized.

 

Zhong Z, Zhang Q, Xia H, et al. Clinical characteristics and immunosuppressants management of coronavirus disease 2019 in solid organ transplant recipients. Am J Transplant. 2020 Apr 13. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32282986. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1111/ajt.15928

COVID-19 was observed in two transplant recipients (liver and kidney), with different treatments and prognoses. Both patients recovered.

 

14 April

Wang H, Li T, Barbarino P, et al. Dementia care during COVID-19. Lancet. 2020 Apr 11; 395(10231):1190-1191. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32240625. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30755-8

Some thoughts on dementia care in this crisis.

 

13 April

Torres T, Puig L. Managing Cutaneous Immune-Mediated Diseases During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2020 Apr 10. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32277351. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40257-020-00514-2

Patients with cutaneous immune-mediated diseases (including psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and hidradenitis suppurativa) may continue their treatment even during the COVID-19 outbreak, preventing disease flares. However, in patients with active COVID-19 infection, it is generally recommended to withhold immunosuppressive or biologic treatment.

 

Coles CE, Aristei C, Bliss J, et al. International Guidelines on Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol). 2020 May;32(5):279-281. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32241520. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clon.2020.03.006

In order to reduce hospital visits to a minimum and to ease pressure on workforce, detailed guidelines on radiation therapy for breast cancer are given, mainly focussing on hypofractionation.

 

9 April

Dave M, Seoudi N, Coulthard P. Urgent dental care for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lancet. 2020 Apr 3. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32251619. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30806-0

Don’t forget the dentists! And test them with the same high priority as that of medical health­care workers in hospitals!

 

Sun J, Aghemo A, Forner A, Valenti L. COVID-19 and liver disease. Liver Int. 2020 Apr 6. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/liv.14470. [Epub ahead of print]

“Since December 2019, patients with unexplained pneumonia have been found in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, which was caused by a novel coronavirus that had not been previously identified (1). Tentatively defined as 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), the pathogen has now been named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) (2), while the disease termed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).” This abstract was published on April 6, with references. In all seriousness. Come on guys, we all know that already! Is it to be feared that nobody will read your interesting mini-review on mechanisms and clinical implications of liver injury, unmet clinical needs and main research questions?

 

8 April

Schiffrin EL, Flack J, Ito S, Muntner P, Webb C. Hypertension and COVID-19. Am J Hypertens. 2020 Apr 6. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32251498. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1093/ajh/hpaa057

Is hypertension a true risk factor for severe COVID-19 courses? According to the authors, there is as yet (March 29) “no evidence” that hypertension is related to outcomes of COVID-19, or that ACE inhibitor or ARB use is harmful, or for that matter beneficial.

 

Pasha SB, Fatima H, Ghouri YA. Management of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases in the Wake of COVID-19 Pandemic. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020 Apr 4. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32246874. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1111/jgh.15056

Some thoughts on how to manage patients suffering from Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, regarding their ongoing immunosuppressive therapies which could render them more susceptible to acquire COVID-19 infection and develop severe courses.

 

5 April

Bavishi C, Maddox TM, Messerli FH. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Infection and Renin Angiotensin System Blockers. JAMA Cardiol. 2020 Apr 3. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32242890. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamacardio.2020.1282

This mini-review outlines the mechanisms by which RAAS inhibitors (ACEIs/ARBs) may be of benefit in COVID-19. Overview of the current recommendations for their use in infected patients. According to the authors, the biological plausibility of the salutary effects of RAAS inhibitors is intriguing and several trials of starting losartan in patients with COVID-19 are currently being planned.

 

Al-Shamsi HO, Alhazzani W, Alhuraiji A, et al. A Practical Approach to the Management of Cancer Patients During the Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic: An International Collaborative Group. Oncologist. 2020 Apr 3. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32243668. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1634/theoncologist.2020-0213

Detailed and important review for oncologists, addressing current challenges associated with managing cancer patients during theCOVID-19 pandemic.

 

Volkow ND. Collision of the COVID-19 and Addiction Epidemics. Ann Intern Med. 2020 Apr 2. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32240293. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.7326/M20-1212

Don’t forget or marginalize persons with substance use disorders during this crisis!

 

Fried JA, Ramasubbu K, Bhatt R, et al. The Variety of Cardiovascular Presentations of COVID-19. Circulation. 2020 Apr 3. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32243205. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.120.047164

Four COVID-19 cases with cardiovascular presentations are described. In patients presenting with what appears to be a typical cardiac syndrome, COVID-19 infection should be in the differential during the current pandemic, even in the absence of fever or cough.

4 April

Meng J, Xiao G, Zhang J, et al. Renin-angiotensin system inhibitors improve the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 patients with hypertension. Emerg Microbes Infect. 2020 Dec;9(1):757-760. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32228222. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1080/22221751.2020.1746200

First study arguing against any deleterious effect of RAAS inhibitors (ACE inhibitors or sartans) in COVID-19! Among 42 of 417 patients admitted to Shenzhen Hospital while on antihypertensive therapy, those receiving RAAS inhibitors had a lower rate of severe diseases than patients without (5/17 compared to 12/25) and a trend toward a lower level of IL-6 in peripheral blood.

 

The Lancet Oncology. COVID-19: global consequences for oncology. Lancet Oncol. 2020 Apr;21(4):467. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32240603. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(20)30175-3

Thoughts on how the pandemic affects treatment of patients with cancer and how it will hit the wider oncology community. Substantial changes for research, education, and collaboration are expected, including reduced international travel and increased remote networking and telemedicine.

 

3 April

Bousquet J, Akdis C, Jutel M, et al. Intranasal corticosteroids in allergic rhinitis in COVID-19 infected patients: An ARIA-EAACI statement. Allergy. 2020 Mar 31. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32233040. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1111/all.14302

A joint statement of the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, following the results of a questionnaire. Bottom line: Stopping intranasal steroids is not advised, until we know better.

2 April

Kaiser UB, Mirmira RG, Stewart PM. Our Response to COVID-19 as Endocrinologists and Diabetologists. J Clin Endocrin Metabol, 105, May 2020, published 31 March 2020, dgaa148, https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgaa148

Thoughts on diabetes management, glucocorticoid use, pituitary or other neuroendocrine diseases.

 

CDC COVID-19 Response Team. Preliminary Estimates of the Prevalence of Selected Underlying Health Conditions Among Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 — United States, February 12–March 28, 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. ePub: 31 March 2020. Full-text: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6913e2

No, the situation in the US does not differ from other countries. Among 7,162 patients with underlying health conditions or potential risk factors reported to the CDC, those with these conditions were more likely admitted to the hospital and to an ICU. And yes, “persons with underlying health conditions who have symptoms of COVID-19 should immediately contact their health care provider”.

 

1 April

Yao H, Chen JH, Xu YF. Patients with mental health disorders in the COVID-19 epidemic. Lancet Psychiatry. 2020 Apr;7(4):e21. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30090-0

Don’t forget people with mental health conditions! A few thoughts on these patients who could be more substantially affected, resulting in relapses or worsening of an already existing mental health condition because of high susceptibility to stress compared with the general population.

 

Chen Q, Liang M, Li Y, et al. Mental health care for medical staff in China during the COVID-19 outbreak. Lancet Psychiatry. 2020 Apr;7(4):e15-e16. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32085839. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30078-X

And don’t forget the staff! Some thoughts on how to maintain staff mental health during such a crisis.

 

Jin XH, Zheng KI, Pan KH, Xie YP, Zheng MH. COVID-19 in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Lancet Haematol. 2020 Apr;7(4):e351-e352. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-3026(20)30074-0

Interesting case report on a patient with CLL. Clinical and biochemical features of COVID-19 might be partly masked by coexisting CLL. Longer incubation period was presumed.

 

31 March

Vaduganathan M, Vardeny O, Michel T, McMurray JV, Pfeffer MA, Solomon SD. Renin–Angiotensin–Aldosterone System Inhibitors in Patients with Covid-19. NEJM, March 30, 2020. Fulltext: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsr2005760?

Fantastic review of an interdisciplinary expert panel on the use, risks and benefit of RAAS inhibitors (ACE inhibitors and sartans) in the COVID-19 era. Bottom line: We don’t know enough. Until further data are available, RAAS inhibitors can be continued.

 

Joob B, Wiwanitkit V. SARS-CoV-2 and HIV. J Med Virol. 2020 Mar 27. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32220066. Fulltext: https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.25782

A few new thoughts on HIV infection and COVID-19.

 

Zhu F, Cao Y, Xu S, Zhou M. Co-infection of SARS-CoV-2 and HIV in a patient in Wuhan city, China [published online ahead of print March 11, 2020]. J Med Virol. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.25732

First case report of patient with undiagnosed HIV infection (low CD4 counts), recovering from a coronavirus–related pneumonia. Argues against deleterious effect of HIV.