COVID-19 symptoms at hospital admission vary with age and sex: results from the ISARIC prospective multinational observational study

Background: The ISARIC prospective multinational observational study is the largest cohort of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. We present relationships of age, sex, and nationality to presenting symptoms. Methods: International, prospective observational study of 60 109 hospitalized symptomatic patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 recruited from 43 countries between 30 January and 3 August 2020. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate relationships of age and sex to published COVID-19 case definitions and the most commonly reported symptoms. Results: ‘Typical’ symptoms of fever (69%), cough (68%) and shortness of breath (66%) were the most commonly reported. 92% of patients experienced at least one of these. Prevalence of typical symptoms was greatest in 30- to 60-year-olds (respectively 80, 79, 69%; at least one 95%). They were reported less frequently in children (≤ 18 years: 69, 48, 23; 85%), older adults (≥ 70 years: 61, 62, 65; 90%), and women (66, 66, 64; 90%; vs. men 71, 70, 67; 93%, each P < 0.001). The most common atypical presentations under 60 years of age were nausea and vomiting and abdominal pain, and over 60 years was confusion. Regression models showed significant differences in symptoms with sex, age and country. Interpretation: This international collaboration has allowed us to report reliable symptom data from the largest cohort of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Adults over 60 and children admitted to hospital with COVID-19 are less likely to present with typical symptoms. Nausea and vomiting are common atypical presentations under 30 years. Confusion is a frequent atypical presentation of COVID-19 in adults over 60 years. Women are less likely to experience typical symptoms than men

Evaluación del potencial energético geotérmico en Chachimbiro – Imbabura para su utilización en invernaderos agrícolas mediante cálculos de eficiencia energética

En Chachimbiro - Imbabura, las aguas de origen volcánico sólo se utilizan con fines de turismo recreacional en complejos de piscinas termales, aún no se ha considerado la posibilidad de aprovecharlas con fines energéticos en la agricultura. En el presente estudio se pretende potencializar su uso en la calefacción de invernaderos, tomando en cuenta que la zona tiene valores de radiación solar bajos y alta nubosidad. En el proyecto se trata de estudiar y aprovechar la eficacia en el uso de una energía que proviene del interior de la propia tierra: el potencial geotérmico. Su principal propósito es el de aumentar los rendimientos por medio del manejo de la temperatura y humedad que inciden en el desarrollo de los cultivos, gracias a esta energía limpia, renovable y respetuosa con el medio ambiente; lo que disminuiría la emisión del dióxido de carbono a un coste mínimo. Los métodos utilizados fueron descriptivos, observacionales, comparativos, analíticos, estadísticos y bibliográficos con un enfoque cuantitativo considerando la variable de humedad relativa atmosférica y los parámetros de desarrollo de la planta en estudio, Solanum betaceum (tomate de árbol). La cual tiene mejor desarrollo en clima templado, mientras que, en climas fríos, el inicio de la primera cosecha se retarda, la temperatura ideal para su evolución depende de la altitud y cubre un rango de 13 a 24ºC, pero su óptimo es un promedio anual de 15 a 19ºC; mientras que en temperaturas inferiores a 12ºC ocasionan la caída de las flores o la fecundación es defectuosa o nula. Temperaturas sobre los 30ºC afectan la fructificación. Asimismo, la temperatura nocturna puede ser determinante, pues debe oscilar de 15 a 22°C. En el proyecto se aplicaron dos tratamientos, en el primero, las plantas fueron ubicadas en el Interior del invernadero aprovechando el poder calorífico (calefacción) de la fuente termal que pasa por un sistema de tuberías construido para este efecto. El segundo tratamiento fue ubicado a cielo abierto Exterior del invernadero, donde las plantas se desarrollaron bajo las condiciones climáticas normales. Se hicieron comparaciones para establecer posibles diferencias en los parámetros del crecimiento de la planta: altura, diámetro de tallo, longitud y ancho de la hoja. Resultando ser el tratamiento geotérmico beneficioso para el desarrollo de las plantas, puesto que, en general cada uno de los parámetros medidos obtuvieron una mejora en su crecimiento, poniendo como ejemplo la altura de las plantas que obtuvieron un resultado promedio de crecimiento de 33,61 cm en el interior, a diferencia del exterior del invernadero donde crecieron un promedio de 19,16 cm en los dos meses de toma de datos; estadísticamente hay una diferencia significativa, denotando así también que el tiempo para que las plantas alcancen su madurez se ve acortado, lo que en términos de producción sugiere un mayor ingreso y ahorro económico. Se realizaron también análisis estadísticos para establecer correlaciones y estadísticas correspondientes con la ayuda del programa STATGRAPHICS Plus.In Chachimbiro - Imbabura, actually, waters of volcanic origin are only used for recreational tourism in thermal pool complexes, the possibility of using them for energy purposes in agriculture has not yet been considered. In the present investigation, it is intended to potentiate its use in the heating of greenhouses, taking into account that the area has low solar radiation values and high cloudiness. The project is about studying and taking advantage of the efficiency in the use of an energy that comes from within the earth itself: the geothermal potential. Its main purpose is to increase yields by managing the temperature and humidity that affect the development of crops, thanks to this clean, renewable and environmentally friendly energy; which would reduce the emission of carbon dioxide at a minimum cost. The used methods were descriptive, observational, comparative, analytical, statistical and bibliographic with a quantitative approach considering the atmospheric relative humidity variable and the development parameters of the plant under study, Solanum betaceum (tree tomato). This plant develops well in temperate climate, while, in cold climates, the start of the first harvest is delayed, the ideal temperature for its evolution depends on the altitude and covers a range of 13 to 24ºC, but its optimum is an average annual from 15 to 19ºC; while in temperatures lower than 12ºC they cause the fall of the flowers or the fertilization is defective or null. Temperatures above 30ºC affect fructification. Also, the night temperature can be decisive, since it must oscillate from 15 to 22 ° C. In the project two treatments were applied, in the first, the plants were located in the interior of the greenhouse taking advantage of the calorific power (heating) of the thermal source that passes through a system of pipes built for this purpose. The second treatment was located in the open sky outside the greenhouse, where the plants developed under normal climatic conditions. Comparisons were made to establish possible differences in plant growth parameters: height, stem diameter, leaf length and width. It turned out to be the geothermal treatment beneficial for the development of the plants, since, in general, each of the measured parameters obtained an improvement in their growth, As the example of the height of the plants that obtained a result of growth of 33.61 cm in the interior, a difference of the exterior of the greenhouse where they grew an average of 19.16 cm in the two months of data collection; statistically there is a significant difference, also denoting that the time for the plants to reach maturity is shortened, which in terms of production, it suggests higher income and economic savings. Statistical analyzes were performed to establish correlations and corresponding statistics with the help of the STATGRAPHICS Plus program.ECA

ISARIC-COVID-19 dataset: A Prospective, Standardized, Global Dataset of Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19

The International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infection Consortium (ISARIC) COVID-19 dataset is one of the largest international databases of prospectively collected clinical data on people hospitalized with COVID-19. This dataset was compiled during the COVID-19 pandemic by a network of hospitals that collect data using the ISARIC-World Health Organization Clinical Characterization Protocol and data tools. The database includes data from more than 705,000 patients, collected in more than 60 countries and 1,500 centres worldwide. Patient data are available from acute hospital admissions with COVID-19 and outpatient follow-ups. The data include signs and symptoms, pre-existing comorbidities, vital signs, chronic and acute treatments, complications, dates of hospitalization and discharge, mortality, viral strains, vaccination status, and other data. Here, we present the dataset characteristics, explain its architecture and how to gain access, and provide tools to facilitate its use