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 Sept. 27 to Oct. 1, 2021. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal studies and other trusted sources that is most likely to affect clinical practice.
Intranasal Corticosteroids Tied to Less Severe COVID-19 Outcomes
FRIDAY, Oct. 1, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Intranasal corticosteroid therapy is associated with a lower risk for COVID-19-related hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, and death, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice.
1 in 4 Parents Say Their Children Have Been Quarantined Since School Started
FRIDAY, Oct. 1, 2021 (HealthDay News) — One-quarter of U.S. parents report that their child has had to quarantine because of possible COVID-19 exposure since school started, a new poll reveals.
Merck to Ask FDA for Emergency Approval of Its New Antiviral Pill for COVID-19
FRIDAY, Oct. 1, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. said Friday that it will seek federal approval for emergency use of its new antiviral pill molnupiravir after a clinical trial showed the drug halved the risk for hospitalization or death when given to high-risk people shortly after infection with COVID-19.
REGEN-COV Reduces Risk for COVID-19 Hospitalization, Death
FRIDAY, Oct. 1, 2021 (HealthDay News) — For outpatients with COVID-19 and risk factors for severe disease, REGEN-COV reduces the risk for COVID-19-related hospitalization or death from any cause, according to a study published online Sept. 29 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
COVID-19 Deaths Up for Kidney Waitlist Candidates, Transplant Recipients
FRIDAY, Oct. 1, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Among waitlisted candidates and kidney transplant recipients, a considerable proportion of deaths in 2020 were attributed to COVID-19, according to research published online Sept. 29 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Exercise May Improve Child Mental Health During Pandemic
FRIDAY, Oct. 1, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Physical activity and less screen time are associated with better mental health outcomes for children during the pandemic, according to a study published online Oct. 1 in JAMA Network Open.
No Change Found in Pattern of Adverse Events After Third COVID-19 Shot
THURSDAY, Sept. 30, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Safety monitoring indicates that the pattern of adverse reactions after dose 3 of the COVID-19 vaccine is similar to that seen after dose 2, according to research published in the Oct. 1 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Americans Divided on Biden’s COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate, Poll Finds
THURSDAY, Sept. 30, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Americans are of two minds about President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, with political party affiliation playing a pivotal role in their opinions, a new poll finds.
CDC Pushes Hard on Vaccination for Pregnant Women in New Advisory
THURSDAY, Sept. 30, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The country’s leading health agency on Wednesday implored all Americans who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
Study Characterizes Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Adults
THURSDAY, Sept. 30, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults presents about four weeks postacute COVID-19 with heterogeneous clinical symptoms, according to research published online Sept. 22 in JAMA Network Open.
Preexisting Chronic Conditions Tied to COVID-19 Severity in Children
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 29, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Preexisting chronic conditions, including asthma and obesity, are associated with COVID-19 disease severity in children, according to a study published online Sept. 15 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
SARS-CoV-2 Infection May Increase Risk for Preeclampsia
TUESDAY, Sept. 28, 2021 (HealthDay News) — There is a dose-response relationship between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection and the risk for preeclampsia, according to a research letter published online Aug. 25 in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Smoking Has Causal Effect on Risk for Severe COVID-19
TUESDAY, Sept. 28, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Smoking seems to have a causal effect on the risk for severe COVID-19, according to a study published online Sept. 27 in Thorax.
Pfizer Sends First Data to FDA on COVID-19 Vaccines for Younger Children
TUESDAY, Sept. 28, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Pfizer Inc. announced Tuesday that it has submitted initial data to federal regulators on the efficacy of its COVID-19 vaccine among younger children. The company is also expected to submit the same data on children aged 5 to 11 years to the European Medicines Agency and other regulatory authorities in the next few weeks, CNN reported.
U.S. Appeals Panel Backs New York City Vaccine Mandate for School Staff
TUESDAY, Sept. 28, 2021 (HealthDay News) — All New York City teachers and school staff will still need to get a COVID-19 vaccine following an unexpected ruling from a federal appeals panel on Monday that upheld the school system’s vaccine mandate.
COVID-19 Mortality Burden High Among Those 25 to 64 Years
TUESDAY, Sept. 28, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. COVID-19 pandemic resulted in 9.08 million years of life lost through March 13, 2021, according to a study published online Sept. 21 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Highest Parental COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Seen Among Most Impacted
MONDAY, Sept. 27, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Targeted outreach may be needed to counter COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among some parents, according to a study published online Sept. 13 in BMC Public Health.
Vaccines Effective in Preventing Symptomatic COVID-19 in Health Care Workers
MONDAY, Sept. 27, 2021 (HealthDay News) — COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective under real-world conditions in preventing symptomatic disease in health care personnel, according to a study published online Sept. 22 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Pfizer to Ask FDA Soon for Approval of Its COVID-19 Vaccine for Younger Children
MONDAY, Sept. 27, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Pfizer plans to request approval for use of its COVID-19 vaccine in children younger than 12 years soon.
mRNA-1273 Continues to Be Efficacious at Five Months
MONDAY, Sept. 27, 2021 (HealthDay News) — At more than five months, the mRNA-1273 vaccine continues to be efficacious for preventing COVID-19 and severe COVID-19, according to a study published online Sept. 22 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Schizophrenia Tied to Higher Risk for Severe COVID-19
MONDAY, Sept. 27, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Individuals with schizophrenia are at increased risk for COVID-19 morbidity and mortality versus individuals without schizophrenia, according to a study published in the September issue of Schizophrenia Bulletin.
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