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 April 27 to May 1, 2020. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal studies and other trusted sources that is most likely to affect clinical practice.
COVID-19 Case Fatality Rate Increased for Cancer Patients
FRIDAY, May 1, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Cancer patients have an increased case fatality rate from COVID-19, according to a study from a New York hospital system published online May 1 in Cancer Discovery.
FDA Issues Emergency Use Authorization for Remdesivir
FRIDAY, May 1, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted an emergency use authorization for remdesivir to treat hospitalized patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, the agency announced Friday.
Black Patients Overrepresented in Hospitalized COVID-19 Cohort
FRIDAY, May 1, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In a cohort of hospitalized adults with COVID-19, black patients have a similar probability of receiving invasive mechanical ventilation or dying compared with nonblack patients, but they are disproportionately represented among hospitalized patients, according to a study published online April 29 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Anosmia in COVID-19 Linked to Lower Risk for Admission
FRIDAY, May 1, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients with COVID-19, anosmia is strongly associated with a reduced likelihood of being admitted to the hospital, according to a study published online April 24 in the International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology.
Fear of COVID-19 Keeping Adults From Emergency Care
FRIDAY, May 1, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Adults are avoiding emergency medical care for fear of catching COVID-19, according to a poll released April 28 by the American College of Emergency Physicians.
Contact Tracing Can Cut Time to Case Isolation in SARS-CoV-2
FRIDAY, May 1, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Contact tracing can reduce the time to case isolation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, according to a study published online April 27 in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
RV Strain on Echocardiogram May ID High-Risk COVID-19 Patients
FRIDAY, May 1, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Right ventricular longitudinal strain is a predictor of mortality in patients with COVID-19, according to a study published online April 28 in JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging.
Impact of COVID-19 on Oncology Clinical Trials Discussed
FRIDAY, May 1, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The impact of COVID-19 on oncology clinical trials and long-term implications are discussed in a study and recommendations published in JCO Oncology Practice.
Remdesivir May Accelerate Recovery From Severe COVID-19
THURSDAY, April 30, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Remdesivir may speed time to clinical improvement for patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, although results are conflicting, according to a study published online April 29 in The Lancet and press releases issued regarding a National Institutes of Health-sponsored study.
Pandemic Disrupting Health Care for 55 Percent of Older Adults
THURSDAY, April 30, 2020 (HealthDay News) — At least half of older adults report experiencing a disruption to their medical care at one month into social distancing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a survey released April 27 by NORC at University of Chicago.
Symptomatic Health Care Staff in U.K. Screened for COVID-19
THURSDAY, April 30, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Screening symptomatic health care workers for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection is feasible during the pandemic, according to a research letter published online April 22 in The Lancet.
NIH Launches $500 Million Contest to Produce Best COVID-19 Test
THURSDAY, April 30, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A competition between researchers is part of a $1.5 billion program that seeks to speed development of accurate, quick, and easy-to-use COVID-19 tests, the U.S. National Institutes of Health announced Wednesday.
Men Have More Serious Disease, Higher Death Rate From COVID-19
THURSDAY, April 30, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients with COVID-19, male gender is associated with worse outcomes, independent of age, according to a study published online April 29 in Frontiers in Public Health.
Large-Vessel Stroke Described in Young Adults With COVID-19
THURSDAY, April 30, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Cases of large-vessel stroke in individuals younger than 50 years are described in patients with COVID-19 in a case report published online April 28 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Rate, Timing of Altered Smell, Taste in Mild COVID-19 Examined
THURSDAY, April 30, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Mildly symptomatic patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection often have alterations in smell or taste, according to a research letter published online April 22 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Many Health Care Workers Face Risk for Poor Outcomes With COVID-19
WEDNESDAY, April 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) — More than one-quarter of health care workers with patient contact are at risk for poor outcomes from COVID-19, according to a study published online April 28 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Almost All COVID-19 Patients Have Diminished Sense of Smell
WEDNESDAY, April 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Quantitative smell testing shows that decreased smell function is a major marker for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, according to a study published online April 17 in the International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology.
Guidelines Recommended for ECMO Use in Setting of Pandemic
WEDNESDAY, April 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Hospitals should have a formal plan to respond to the increasing need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in the setting of a pandemic such as COVID-19, according to a study published online April 15 in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
Thromboembolic Complications in COVID-19 Discussed
WEDNESDAY, April 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Prevention, diagnosis, and therapeutic management of thromboembolic complications in COVID-19 are discussed in a report published online April 23 in Radiology.
Primary PCI Remains Standard of Care for STEMI During COVID-19
WEDNESDAY, April 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Primary percutaneous coronary intervention remains the standard of care for patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a consensus statement published online April 20 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
GI Manifestations Seen for Nearly One in Three With SARS-CoV-2
WEDNESDAY, April 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A considerable proportion of patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 have gastrointestinal manifestations, according to a study involving patients at a U.S. hospital published online April 10 in Gastroenterology.
National Coronavirus Testing Strategy Announced as U.S. Cases Top 1 Million
TUESDAY, April 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — While health experts continued to call for a national strategy to test more Americans for coronavirus, President Donald Trump on Monday announced a “blueprint” for boosting testing capacity as some states began reopening their economies.
Rare, Serious Illness May Occur in Children With COVID-19
TUESDAY, April 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Abdominal pain, gastrointestinal complaints, and heart inflammation are among the symptoms in children with a rare syndrome that may be linked to COVID-19, British health officials say.
Most SARS-CoV-2-Positive Pregnant Women Asymptomatic at Screening
TUESDAY, April 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Universal severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 testing of pregnant women presenting for delivery in New York City revealed that most positive patients were asymptomatic, according to a research letter published online April 13 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Patients Aged 60 to 69 Most Often Hospitalized With COVID-19
TUESDAY, April 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Persons aged 60 to 69 years with COVID-19 are the most commonly hospitalized, according to a research letter published online April 24 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Adding High-Dose Chloroquine Not Advised for Severe COVID-19
TUESDAY, April 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — High-dosage chloroquine diphosphate has potential safety hazards when used as adjunctive therapy for patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19, according to a study published online April 24 in JAMA Network Open.
High Rate of Pulmonary Embolism Found for Patients With COVID-19
TUESDAY, April 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — COVID-19 is associated with a high rate of pulmonary embolism, according to two research letters published online April 23 in Radiology.
45.4 Percent of U.S. Adults at Risk for Complications With COVID-19
TUESDAY, April 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — An estimated 45.4 percent of U.S. adults may have an increased risk for COVID-19 complications due to chronic conditions, according to a study published in the August issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Recommendations Developed for Anesthesia Use During COVID-19
TUESDAY, April 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Recommendations have been developed for use of anesthesia during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a joint statement issued by the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine and the European Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Therapy.
David Shulkin, M.D., on COVID-19 Financial Consequences for Health Care System
MONDAY, April 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Health care organizations are facing hard financial decisions amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but an end is in sight as some are beginning to slowly open back up around the country, according to David Shulkin, M.D. Shulkin, who served as ninth secretary for Veterans Affairs and is former president and CEO of Beth Israel Medical Center in New York, spoke with HealthDay during a live stream on the HealthDay YouTube channel and live blog.
FDA Warns of Bogus Claims by Makers of Hand Sanitizer
MONDAY, April 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Some companies are selling hand sanitizers with unproven claims that they will protect against COVID-19, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns.
WHO: No Evidence COVID-19 Survivors Cannot Be Reinfected
MONDAY, April 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — There is “no evidence” that people who have recovered from COVID-19 cannot be reinfected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, according to the World Health Organization.
Neurologic Features Tied to ARDS in Severe COVID-19 Described
MONDAY, April 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Acute respiratory distress syndrome due to COVID-19 is associated with neurologic features, including encephalopathy, agitation, and confusion, according to a letter to the editor published online April 15 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Recommendations Issued for Imaging Use in Pediatric COVID-19
MONDAY, April 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In an international expert consensus statement, published online April 23 in Radiology: Cardiothoracic Imaging, recommendations are presented for chest imaging in pediatric COVID-19 patient management.
Direct Medical Costs of COVID-19 Infection Are Considerable
MONDAY, April 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A single symptomatic COVID-19 infection results in direct medical costs of $3,045 in the United States, according to a study published online April 23 in Health Affairs.
SARS-CoV-2 Not Detected in Semen After COVID-19 Recovery
MONDAY, April 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is not detected in the semen of patients one month after COVID-19 diagnosis, according to a study published online April 17 in Fertility and Sterility.
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