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. 31 to Feb. 4, 2022. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal studies and other trusted sources that is most likely to affect clinical practice.
COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination Does Not Impair IVF Outcomes
FRIDAY, Feb. 4, 2022 (HealthDay News) — For women undergoing in vitro fertilization, COVID-19 mRNA vaccine administration is not associated with adverse effects on fertilization rates or early pregnancy outcomes, according to a study published online Jan. 25 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
CDC Turns to Wastewater Data to Track Spread of COVID-19
FRIDAY, Feb. 4, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Federal health officials announced Friday that they are expanding nationwide efforts to track COVID-19 by monitoring virus levels found in raw sewage.
Medicare to Provide Free COVID-19 Rapid Tests
FRIDAY, Jan. 4, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Medicare will soon provide up to eight free COVID-19 rapid tests a month to seniors enrolled in the government health insurance program, the Biden administration announced Thursday.
Bleeding Events Up With Full-Dose Thromboprophylaxis in COVID-19
FRIDAY, Feb. 4, 2022 (HealthDay News) — For hospitalized COVID-19 patients, bleeding events are more common after receiving full-dose anticoagulation, according to a study published online Dec. 27 in Hospital Pharmacy.
Type 1 Diabetes Diagnoses in Children Increased During Pandemic
FRIDAY, Feb. 4, 2022 (HealthDay News) — There has been a significant increase in the number of type 1 diabetes diagnoses in children during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study published online Jan. 24 in JAMA Pediatrics.
Survivors of Severe COVID-19 Report Many Long-Term Symptoms
FRIDAY, Feb. 4, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Physical, mental, and cognitive symptoms are frequent among COVID-19 survivors one year after intensive care unit discharge, according to a study published online Jan. 24 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
New-Onset Neuropsychiatric, Sleep Symptoms Common in MIS-C
THURSDAY, Feb. 3, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Most patients with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children have new-onset neurological, psychiatric, and sleep symptoms, with many of these symptoms persisting after discharge, according to a study published online Jan. 24 in the Journal of Child Neurology.
Adults With Asthma Compliant With COVID-19 Mask Wearing
THURSDAY, Feb. 3, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Adults with asthma report being compliant with COVID-19-related masking, despite some problematic effects, according to a study published in the January issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice.
COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma No Benefit for Most Patients
THURSDAY, Feb. 3, 2022 (HealthDay News) — For the typical patient, COVID-19 convalescent plasma is not associated with clinical outcomes, according to a meta-analysis published online Jan. 25 in JAMA Network Open.
Risk for Breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 Infection Lower With mRNA-1273
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 2, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Recipients of mRNA-1273 versus BNT162b2 had a lower risk for breakthrough severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection during predominance of the delta variant, according to a research letter published online Jan. 20 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Pfizer Asks FDA to Approve Its Vaccine for the Youngest Children
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 2, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Pfizer Inc. announced Tuesday that it has asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to authorize its two-dose COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in children younger than 5 years, while it continues to research the power of a third shot in these youngest Americans. If the FDA grants the request, the two-shot regimen would become the first approved for use in children this young; older children are already eligible for the vaccine.
Unvaccinated Have Highest SARS-CoV-2 Incidence, Hospitalization
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 2, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 incidence and hospitalization rates are consistently higher for unvaccinated persons, and rates are lowest for those fully vaccinated with a booster, according to research published in the Feb. 1 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Intention to Receive COVID-19 Vaccine Has Grown Faster Among Black Adults
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 2, 2022 (HealthDay News) — The intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine has increased more rapidly in Black individuals versus White individuals, according to a study published online Jan. 21 in JAMA Network Open.
Physician Mental Health Has Declined During the Pandemic
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 2, 2022 (HealthDay News) — The COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with a substantial increase in mental health and substance use visits among physicians, according to a study published online Jan. 21 in JAMA Network Open.
Pfizer Will Ask FDA to Approve Its COVID-19 Vaccine for Children Under 5 Years
TUESDAY, Feb. 1, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Pfizer Inc. plans to ask the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as soon as Tuesday to authorize its COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in children aged 6 months to 4 years old.
Remdesivir Offers Some Benefit for Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients
TUESDAY, Feb. 1, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Among hospitalized COVID-19 patients, remdesivir added to standard care does not reduce in-hospital mortality, but it does reduce the need for mechanical ventilation, according to a study published online Jan. 19 in CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Tests Should Not Be Used for Diagnosis
TUESDAY, Feb. 1, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 antibody tests should not be used for diagnosis of infection nor to predict natural immunity against reinfection, and, prior to emergence of the delta and omicron variants, individuals with recent SARS-CoV-2 infection had strong protection against symptomatic reinfection for at least seven months, according to a practice points guideline and a review, respectively, published online Jan. 25 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
FDA Gives Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Full Approval
MONDAY, Jan. 31, 2022 (HealthDay News) — The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine has received full approval for use in people 18 years and older, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Monday.
‘Stealth’ Version of Omicron Variant No Cause for Alarm, Experts Say
MONDAY, Jan. 31, 2022 (HealthDay News) — The so-called “stealth” variant of omicron is not likely to cause another devastating wave of COVID-19, experts say.
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