World | Nov 11, 2020
A few life-saving notes on COVID-19
The following is a roundup of some of the latest scientific studies on the novel coronavirus and efforts to find treatments and vaccines for COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus.
USE OF RISKIER BLOOD THINNER SEEN IN BLACKS WITH COVID-19
A new analysis of the use of blood thinners in hospitaliSed COVID-19 patients highlights a striking racial disparity that may help further explain why Black patients are hit harder by the disease.
The anticoagulant enoxaparin – sold under the brand name Lovenox – which is associated with superior COVID-19 outcomes, is more likely to be given to Caucasian patients. Unfractionated heparin, an alternative drug associated with more complications, is more likely to be given to Black patients, according to data from over 25,000 hospitalised COVID-19 patients in the international Discovery VIRUS registry. Treatment with unfractionated heparin was tied to more kidney injuries, heart injuries, life threatening blood infections, and anemia. Black patients were 28 per cent more likely than Caucasians to receive heparin, the analysis found.
Mortality rates were 41 per cent in patients who got unfractionated heparin and 15 per cent in patients administered enoxaparin, researchers reported on Tuesday (November 10) on medRxiv ahead of peer review.
Despite the availability of generic enoxaparin, it still remains more expensive than heparin, said coauthor Venky Soundararajan of nference, a Massachusetts data analytics company. As the study cannot prove causality, Soundararajan's team calls for rigorous research to elucidate the socioeconomic, racial, or other disparities that underlie their findings.
RECOVERING COVID-19 PATIENTS FACE MENTAL HEALTH RISKS
Compared to patients recovering from other medical conditions, COVID-19 survivors are at greater risk of developing mental health problems, most commonly anxiety, depression and insomnia, psychiatrists reported on Monday (November 9). The estimated incidence of a first psychiatric diagnosis within 90 days was 5.8 per cent among COVID-19 survivors, compared to 2.8 per cent in a comparison group of flu survivors, 3.2 per cent in patients recovering from gallstones, and 2.5 per cent in patients who had suffered fractures. The study, published in The Lancet Psychiatry, included more than 62,000 U.S. COVID-19 patients, about two-thirds of whom had never been diagnosed with a psychiatric illness. Mental health specialists not directly involved with the study said the findings add to growing evidence that COVID-19 can affect the brain and mind, increasing the risk of a range of psychiatric illnesses.
"This is likely due to a combination of the psychological stressors associated with this particular pandemic and the physical effects of the illness," said Michael Bloomfield, a consultant psychiatrist at University College London.
PRONE POSITIONING MIGHT HELP MORE COVID-19 PATIENTS
Prone positioning, or lying face down, might be useful for severely ill COVID-19 patients who can still breathe on their own, early data suggest. Lying face down makes it easier for the lungs to deliver oxygen to the blood.
In a report on Wednesday in CMAJ, researchers say evidence is emerging that hospitalised COVID-19 patients who are awake and breathing on their own might benefit. Their review of published data found that studies so far have been small, and randomised trials are needed to clarify the benefits and risks in COVID-19 patients, they advise.
Earlier this year, Dr. Sanja Jelic of Columbia University Medical Center told Reuters she would not recommend prone positioning at home.
"Lay people may not be able to assess accurately whether somebody has altered mental status or is too weak for this maneuver," she said.
"Patients need to have intact mental status and be able to turn themselves in bed without assistance. Being in prone position while confused or lethargic may increase the risk for aspiration and possibly worsen already low oxygen levels."
The position is often used in COVID-19 patients on mechanical ventilators, but it is not without risks. Until the pandemic, it was not used in patients who were not intubated, even if they had low oxygen levels.
blood thinner coronavirus COVID-19
Life CHN Jul 1, 2022
GLOBALink | Summer night economy regains vitality in China's Wuhu
Reading Time: < 1 minute With the effective control of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the night economy regains vitality in east China's Wuhu city. Find out how locals spend their summer nights there. WATCH:
Life World May 29, 2022
Could I still be infectious after COVID isolation? And should I bother wearing a mask once I'm all better?
Reading Time: 4 minutes If you are at home with COVID, you might be wondering how long you're really infectious for. You don't want to isolate longer than necessary but you also don't want…
Life CARIB Apr 22, 2022
Caribbean Airlines will still enforce its mask mandate
Reading Time: 2 minutes Passengers looking for a respite from face masks have a longer wait ahead as regional carrier Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) is maintaining its mask mandate. According to a Wednesday (April…
Life World Apr 22, 2022
What to know about Omicron BA.2 variant
Reading Time: < 1 minute Just when we thought the pandemic was finally nearing an end, here comes a subvariant of Omicron to rain on our parade. So, what is this newest player on the…
Life JM Apr 16, 2022
'Teachers change the world': ICWI to recognise Jamaican educators
Reading Time: 2 minutes The Insurance Company of the West Indies (ICWI) is encouraging its customers' children at the primary, preparatory and high school levels to nominate a teacher who has helped them through…
Life JM Mar 19, 2022
Chris Tufton's inadvertent mask slip
Reading Time: 2 minutes Minister of Health Dr Christopher Tufton was among a number of senior politicians photographed at Shenseea's launch party for her debut album ALPHA not wearing a mask when they were…