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 Nov. 2 to 6, 2020. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal studies and other trusted sources that is most likely to affect clinical practice.
Considerable Decreases Seen in Health Care Use During COVID-19
FRIDAY, Nov. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — During the first two months of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a considerable decrease in preventive and elective health care use, according to a study published online Nov. 5 in JAMA Network Open.
College Campuses See Rise in COVID-19 Cases
FRIDAY, Nov. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — As the daily U.S. coronavirus case count shattered yet another record on Thursday with 121,000 infections reported, a new survey shows that nearly a quarter of a million COVID-19 cases have now been identified at colleges and universities nationwide.
Review: Nearly One in Five With SARS-CoV-2 Has GI Manifestations
FRIDAY, Nov. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Gastrointestinal manifestations of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection occur in about 18 percent of patients and can include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, according to a review recently published in Abdominal Radiology.
COVID-19-Linked Ischemic Strokes More Severe
FRIDAY, Nov. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — COVID-19-associated ischemic strokes seem to be more severe and correlate with more severe disability on discharge and increased inpatient death, according to a study published online Nov. 5 in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.
Oncology Staff Have High SARS-CoV-2 Seropositivity
THURSDAY, Nov. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Oncology staff, especially nurses, have high severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 seropositivity, which decreases over time, and many U.K. oncology staff report poor well-being and burnout, according to two studies presented at the NCRI Virtual Showcase, held from Nov. 2 to 3.
Abnormal EEG Findings Common With COVID-19
THURSDAY, Nov. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — One-third of COVID-19 patients have abnormal electroencephalogram findings in the frontal lobe, according to a review published online Oct. 18 in Seizure.
AAP Reports Biggest One-Week Jump in Child COVID-19 Cases
THURSDAY, Nov. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The highest one-week increase in child COVID-19 cases was seen for the week ending Oct. 29, 2020, according to a report published by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
U.S. Hits Record-Breaking 100,000 New COVID-19 Cases in One Day
THURSDAY, Nov. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Crossing yet another bleak threshold during an unrelenting pandemic, America logged more than 100,000 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday.
AstraZeneca Hopes to Have COVID-19 Vaccine Ready by Year’s End
THURSDAY, Nov. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — AstraZeneca is hoping to have its COVID-19 vaccine ready by the end of the year and is already beginning manufacturing so it can supply hundreds of millions of doses in January, the Associated Press reported Thursday.
High SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Load Tied to Worse Outcomes
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 pneumonia, high genomic load of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is associated with worse outcomes, according to research published online Oct. 29 in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
Incidence of Cerebrovascular Disease Quantified in COVID-19
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Overall, 1.4 percent of patients with COVID-19 have acute cerebrovascular disease, with acute ischemic stroke being the most common manifestation, according to a review published online Oct. 26 in the International Journal of Stroke.
Dermatologic Manifestations of COVID-19 May Persist
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Some patients with COVID-19 have long-lasting dermatologic manifestations, according to a study presented at the annual congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, held virtually from Oct. 29 to 31.
Cognitive Disorders More Common in People Admitted for COVID-19
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Alzheimer disease and dementia are risk factors for hospital admission due to COVID-19, according to a study published online Oct. 24 in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity.
Preterm Birth May Be Increased for Women With SARS-CoV-2
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Preterm birth may be increased among women with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2, but perinatal infection is infrequent, according to research published in the Nov. 2 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Outcomes Worse for Minority Patients With Rheumatic Disease, COVID-19
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For individuals with rheumatic disease, the burden of poor outcomes in COVID-19 is higher for racial/ethnic minorities compared with Whites, according to a study published online Nov. 4 in Arthritis & Rheumatology.
Exposure to Air Pollution May Up COVID-19 Mortality Risk
TUESDAY, Nov. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Air pollution is an important cofactor increasing the risk for mortality from COVID-19, according to a study published online Oct. 26 in Cardiovascular Research.
Heart Failure History Linked to Adverse Outcomes in COVID-19
TUESDAY, Nov. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — History of heart failure is associated with an increased risk for mechanical ventilation and mortality among patients hospitalized with COVID-19, according to a study published online Oct. 28 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Few Nursing Facilities Have One-Day COVID-19 Test Turnaround
TUESDAY, Nov. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Few U.S. skilled nursing facilities have a COVID-19 test turnaround of less than one day, according to a research letter published online Oct. 30 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Household Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Common
TUESDAY, Nov. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Household transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is common and occurs rapidly after onset of the index patient’s illness, according to research published in the Oct. 30 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
‘Deadly’ Phase of Pandemic Looms, White House Advisor Birx Warns
TUESDAY, Nov. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The pandemic is entering a new and “deadly” phase and the United States needs to adopt a more aggressive approach to curbing the spread of COVID-19, the White House coronavirus response coordinator warned Monday.
Influenza Vaccination May Have Protective Effect on COVID-19
TUESDAY, Nov. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Influenza vaccination may have a protective effect for COVID-19-positive patients, according to a brief report recently published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine.
Risk for Severe Disease Up for Pregnant Women With SARS-CoV-2
TUESDAY, Nov. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Pregnant women with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 have increased risks for severe COVID-19-associated illness, according to research published in the Nov. 2 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Pandemic Has Negative Financial Impact on Physician Practices
MONDAY, Nov. 2, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Medical practices have been economically stressed by the COVID-19 pandemic, with roughly a one-third average drop in revenue, according to a survey released by the American Medical Association.
App Personalizes Impact of Delayed Cancer Treatment
MONDAY, Nov. 2, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The OncCOVID web application may allow clinicians to personalize assessment of the impact of delaying cancer treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study published online Oct. 29 in JAMA Oncology.
Higher COVID-19 Rates Seen for First Responders
MONDAY, Nov. 2, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Emergency medical service providers have higher rates of severe COVID-19 than firefighters, according to a letter to the editor published online Oct. 29 in ERJ Open Research.
Hispanics Have Worse COVID-19 Outcomes
MONDAY, Nov. 2, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Hispanic individuals are more likely to be hospitalized and die from COVID-19 infection than White individuals, according to a study published online Oct. 22 in the Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health.
IgG Antibody Response Robust for Most With COVID-19
MONDAY, Nov. 2, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Most individuals with COVID-19 have robust immunoglobulin G antibody responses against the viral spike protein, which last for about five months, according to a study published online Oct. 28 in Science.
New Score Predicts Adverse COVID-19 Events in Outpatient Setting
MONDAY, Nov. 2, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The COVID-19 Acuity Score is a validated score that predicts adverse COVID-19 events in the outpatient setting, according to a study published online Oct. 24 in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.
