The risk factors and related hospitalizations for cases with positive and negative COVID-19 tests: A case-control study

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors for hospitalizations of cases with positive and negative COVID-19 tests. Methods: In this case-control study, the case and control groups consisted of 292 COVID-19 patients and 296 non-COVID-19 patients. Patients who referred to a reference laboratory in Tehran (Iran) in March 2020 were selected and interviewed. The patients were contacted by telephone and data were recorded through a questionnaire. Results: The sample of this study consisted of 588 patients (349 59% females, 239 41% males) with a mean age of 42 ± 15. The results of this study showed that comorbidities like diabetes (OR = 7.42), hypertension (OR = 4.85), asthma and respiratory diseases (OR = 5.64) in addition to symptoms including fever (OR = 6.67), chills (OR = 11.2), anorexia (OR = 11.3), dyspnea (OR = 4.8), weakness and lethargy (OR = 5.7) were the most predictive variables for hospitalization of non-COVID-19 cases. Furthermore, demographical variables like male gender (OR = 3.71), high age (>50; OR = 3.12), BMI (>25; OR = 2.37), travel (OR = 2.79), comorbidities including diabetes (OR = 5.26), hypertension (OR = 3.7) and underlying immunosuppressant patients receiving corticosteroid therapy (OR = 3.62) in addition to symptoms like anorexia OR = 2.55 and dyspnea (OR = 6.99) tend to increase the risk of hospital admission in COVID-19 patients, suggesting their predictive values for hospitalization of COVID-19 patients. Conclusion: Our results indicated that different factors tend to increase the odds of hospital admission in patients with positive and negative COVID-19 tests, suggesting their predictive values for hospitalization. © 202

Statin Antiarrhythmic Effect on Atrial Fibrillation in Statin-Naive Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery

Background: Statin therapy has been thought to improve outcomes in cardiac surgeries. We aimed to determine the statin effects on the development of postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF), hospital length of stay (LOS), and inflammatory status in patients undergoing cardiac surgeries. Methods: A systematic literature search in databases was performed, until January 2015. Randomized clinical trial (RCT) studies evaluating statin effect on statin-naive patients with sinus rhythm undergoing cardiac surgeries were eligible to be analyzed. Results: Twelve RCTs involving 1116 patients, 559 receiving statin and 557 receiving control regimen, were analyzed. Postoperative AF occurred in 17.9 and 36.1 of patients in the statin and control groups, respectively. The statin therapy was associated with decreases in the postoperative AF (risk ratio RR 0.50, 95% confidence interval CI 0.41-0.61, P <.000010), hospital LOS (mean difference in days, RR -'0.44, 95% CI -'0.67 to -'0.20, P =.0002), and postoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) compared with control (mean difference in mg/L, RR -'12.37, 95% CI -'23.87 to -'0.87, P =.04). The beneficial effects on AF and CRP were more marked in patients receiving atorvastatin compared to other statins. Decrease in postoperative AF was greater in coronary artery bypass graft surgery compared to that in isolated valvular surgery. Conclusion: Perioperative statin therapy in statin-naive patients with sinus rhythm undergoing cardiac surgeries was associated with decreases in the development of postoperative AF, the hospital LOS, and the CRP level. However, there were insufficient data to provide evidences regarding statin impacts in patients undergoing isolated valvular surgery. © The Author(s) 2015

Comparative evaluation of the safety and efficacy of recombinant FVIII in severe hemophilia A patients

Objective: This study compared the safety and efficacy of Safacto® versus xyntha® in patients with severe hemophilia A. Methods: Thirty-three male patients with severe hemophilia A were randomly divided into two groups. Seventeen patients received Safacto® and 16 patients received Xyntha® for four consecutive times. The dosage of FVIII was 40-50 IU/kg for each injection. Plasma level of FVIII activity was evaluated before every injection, 15 minutes after the injection and one month after the start of the trial. The rate of factor VIII activity, pain and joint motion were also assessed before and after the treatment. Results: Plasma level of FVIII clotting activity in Safacto® and Xyntha® were 1.96±0.5 IU/dl and 1.63±0.5 IU/dl and increased to 88.84±25.2 IU/dl and 100.09±17.8 IU/dl, respectively (P < 0.001). Pain score and range of motion improvement were 9.3±0.9 and 8.7±0.1 in Safacto® (P=0.17); and 9.4±0.8 and 8.8±0.3 in Xyntha® (P=0.35), respectively. No allergic or other unfavorable reactions was observed with either of the preparations. Conclusion: This study showed that Safacto® has a favorable efficacy and safety profile. © 2018 Korean Pharmacopuncture Institute