Here is what the editors at Physician’s Briefing chose as the most important COVID-19 developments for you and your practice for the week of Jan. 11 to 15, 2021. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal studies and other trusted sources that is most likely to affect clinical practice.
Life Expectancy Reduced Considerably Due to COVID-19
FRIDAY, Jan. 15, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The COVID-19 pandemic has had a considerable impact on life expectancy in the United States, especially among Black and Latino populations, according to a study published online Jan. 13 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Primary Care-Recorded Mental Illness Decreased During COVID-19
FRIDAY, Jan. 15, 2021 (HealthDay News) — In April 2020, there were reductions in primary care-recorded mental illness and self-harm in the United Kingdom, according to a study published online Jan. 11 in The Lancet Public Health.
Previous COVID-19 Infection May Confer Immunity for at Least Five Months
FRIDAY, Jan. 15, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Immunity against the new coronavirus can last for at least five months in most people who have been infected, British researchers report.
Referrals for Acute Heart Failure Dropped During COVID-19
FRIDAY, Jan. 15, 2021 (HealthDay News) — In the eight weeks following the first reported U.K. death due to COVID-19, there was a decrease in referral of patients with acute heart failure, with a corresponding significant increase in mortality, according to a study published online Jan. 6 in ESC Heart Failure.
Smokers More Likely to Report Symptoms Suggestive of COVID-19
FRIDAY, Jan. 15, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Current smokers are more likely to report symptoms suggesting a diagnosis of COVID-19, according to a study published online Jan. 6 in Thorax.
One-Third of U.S. Adults Likely to Refuse a COVID-19 Vaccine
FRIDAY, Jan. 15, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Roughly one-third of Americans say they will decline a COVID-19 vaccine, according to research published online Jan. 4 in Social Science & Medicine.
Stem Cell Infusions Investigated for Treatment of COVID-19 ARDS
FRIDAY, Jan. 15, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Researchers are exploring the potential immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell infusions for acute respiratory distress syndrome in COVID-19, according to a study published online Jan. 5 in Stem Cells Translational Medicine.
Incidence of COVID-19 Increased in Children Since September
THURSDAY, Jan. 14, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The incidence of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 increased since September among children, adolescents, and young children, according to research published in the Jan. 13 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Mental Health Disorders Common Among ICU Staff During COVID-19
THURSDAY, Jan. 14, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Probable mental health disorders are common among intensive care unit staff working in English hospitals during June and July 2020, according to a study published online Jan. 13 in Occupational Medicine.
U.S. COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Nears 1 Million Doses Per Day
THURSDAY, Jan. 14, 2021 (HealthDay News) — One month after the United States began what has become a troubled rollout of a national COVID-19 vaccination campaign, the effort is finally gathering real steam.
WHO Experts Finally Arrive in Wuhan for COVID-19 Investigation
THURSDAY, Jan. 14, 2021 (HealthDay News) — After a long wait for approval from the Chinese government, a World Health Organization team of experts arrived in the city of Wuhan on Thursday to try to pinpoint the origins of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
CDC Describes COVID-19 Trends in Nursing Home Residents, Staff
THURSDAY, Jan. 14, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Among residents and staff members in U.S. nursing homes, the rates of COVID-19 increased in June and July, then decreased by September, and increased again by late November, paralleling trends in surrounding communities, according to research published in the Jan. 8 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
College Campuses at Risk for Extreme Incidence of COVID-19
THURSDAY, Jan. 14, 2021 (HealthDay News) — College campuses are at risk for developing extreme incidence of COVID-19, which can spread beyond their campus, according to a study published online Jan. 13 in Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering.
Multifocal Microvascular Injury ID’d in Brain in COVID-19
THURSDAY, Jan. 14, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Multifocal microvascular injury has been observed in the brain and olfactory bulbs in postmortem observation of patients who died from COVID-19, according to a research letter published online Dec. 30 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Ad26.COV2-S Vaccine Seems Safe, Immunogenic for SARS-CoV-2
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 13, 2021 (HealthDay News) — A candidate vaccine, Ad26.COV2.S, with a recombinant, replication-incompetent adenovirus serotype 26 vector encoding a full-length and stabilized severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike protein is safe and immunogenic, according to a study published online Jan. 13 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Negative COVID-19 Test to Be Required for People Flying to U.S.
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 13, 2021 (HealthDay News) — People flying to the United States will soon need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test result, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday.
COVID-19 Vaccine Recommended for All Americans Over 65
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 13, 2021 (HealthDay News) — On Tuesday, the Trump administration announced it would recommend a COVID-19 vaccine for every American older than 65 years, as it tries to speed up the nation’s vaccine rollout.
DKA Common in Blacks With T1DM and Confirmed COVID-19
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 13, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Non-Hispanic Blacks with type 1 diabetes and confirmed COVID-19 are more likely than non-Hispanic Whites to present with diabetic ketoacidosis, according to a study published online Jan. 7 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Practice’s Bariatric Nonsurgical Visits Up With Telehealth During Pandemic
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 13, 2021 (HealthDay News) — New patient visit volumes decreased across the board at a comprehensive metabolic and weight loss center during the COVID-19 pandemic, but follow-up visits increased for certain nonsurgical providers, according to a study published in the December issue of the Annals of Surgery.
Saliva, Nasopharyngeal Samples Equally Sensitive for SARS-CoV-2
TUESDAY, Jan. 12, 2021 (HealthDay News) — There is no statistically significant difference in the sensitivity of saliva versus nasopharyngeal swabs for detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, according to a review published online Jan. 12 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Disneyland to Be Mass COVID-19 Vaccination Site
TUESDAY, Jan. 12, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Disneyland will become the first mass COVID-19 vaccination site in Orange County, California, officials announced Monday.
Ischemic Heart, Hypertensive Disease Deaths Up During COVID-19
TUESDAY, Jan. 12, 2021 (HealthDay News) — During the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increase in deaths caused by ischemic heart disease and hypertensive diseases in the United States, as well as a reduction in cardiovascular diagnostic testing across the world, according to two studies published in the Jan. 19 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
More Infectious COVID-19 Variant Now Seen in Nine States
TUESDAY, Jan. 12, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The more contagious coronavirus variant that has brought Britain to its knees in recent weeks is showing signs that it is spreading widely throughout the United States, health officials and experts say.
Composition of Gut Microbiome Altered in Patients With COVID-19
TUESDAY, Jan. 12, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The composition of the gut microbiome is altered in patients with COVID-19, with the perturbed composition correlating with disease severity, according to a study published online Jan. 11 in Gut.
Pediatric Hospitalization for COVID-19 Increasing Across States
MONDAY, Jan. 11, 2021 (HealthDay News) — There is significant variation across states in the rates of pediatric hospitalization for COVID-19, but the average cumulative hospitalization rate is increasing, according to a research letter published online Jan. 11 in JAMA Pediatrics.
WHO Experts Arrive in China Thursday to Probe COVID-19 Origins
MONDAY, Jan. 11, 2021 (HealthDay News) — After a long delay, World Health Organization experts are expected to arrive in China on Thursday to investigate the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to officials.
Two Billion COVID-19 Vaccine Doses From BioNTech Expected This Year
MONDAY, Jan. 11, 2021 (HealthDay News) — A boost in manufacturing should enable Germany’s BioNTech to produce 2 billion doses of its COVID-19 vaccine this year, the company says.
Symptoms Persist in Many Discharged COVID-19 Patients
MONDAY, Jan. 11, 2021 (HealthDay News) — COVID-19 survivors frequently experience fatigue or muscle weakness, sleep difficulties, and anxiety or depression at six months after acute infection, according to a study published online Jan. 8 in The Lancet.
Three-Quarters of U.S. Adults Likely to Get COVID-19 Vaccine
MONDAY, Jan. 11, 2021 (HealthDay News) — More than three-quarters of U.S. adults report being “very likely” or “somewhat likely” to get the COVID-19 vaccine, according to a study published online Jan. 3 in the Journal of Community Health.
Maintaining Exercise During Pandemic Aids Prenatal Mental Health
MONDAY, Jan. 11, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The ability to maintain an exercise routine during the COVID-19 pandemic may help support mental health among pregnant women, according to a study published online Dec. 21 in PLOS ONE.
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