Headache : A striking prodromal and persistent symptom, predictive of COVID-19 clinical evolution

To define headache characteristics and evolution in relation to COVID-19 and its inflammatory response. This is a prospective study, comparing clinical data and inflammatory biomarkers of COVID-19 patients with and without headache, recruited at the Emergency Room. We compared baseline with 6-week follow-up to evaluate disease evolution. Of 130 patients, 74.6% (97/130) had headache. In all, 24.7% (24/97) of patients had severe pain with migraine-like features. Patients with headache had more anosmia/ageusia (54.6% vs. 18.2%; p < 0.0001). Clinical duration of COVID-19 was shorter in the headache group (23.9 ± 11.6 vs. 31.2 ± 12.0 days; p = 0.028). In the headache group, IL-6 levels were lower at the ER (22.9 (57.5) vs. 57.0 (78.6) pg/mL; p = 0.036) and more stable during hospitalisation. After 6 weeks, of 74 followed-up patients with headache, 37.8% (28/74) had ongoing headache. Of these, 50% (14/28) had no previous headache history. Headache was the prodromal symptom of COVID-19 in 21.4% (6/28) of patients with persistent headache (p = 0.010). Headache associated with COVID-19 is a frequent symptom, predictive of a shorter COVID-19 clinical course. Disabling headache can persist after COVID-19 resolution. Pathophysiologically, its migraine-like features may reflect an activation of the trigeminovascular system by inflammation or direct involvement of SARS-CoV-2, a hypothesis supported by concomitant anosmia

The relationship of the triarchic model of grit, self-control, and academic engagement

The high dropout rates and low academic performance in achievement tests of Filipino students have posed an educational crisis in the Philippines. Researchers have suggested that such problems can be addressed by increasing academic engagement. Self-control and the two-factor model of grit (passion and perseverance) were said to be factors that influence academic engagement. However, past studies on grit argue differently, especially when culture is considered. The Triarchic Model of Git (TMG) addresses this gap by adding adaptability as a factor of grit. However, TMG studies are limited, and the addition of adaptability needs further empirical support. Thus, the aim of the current study was to assess the significant unique contributions of self-control, passion, perseverance, and adaptability on academic engagement while controlling for conscientiousness. The participants of the study were 255 Filipino undergraduate students. Findings of a four-step hierarchical regression analysis showed that perseverance, adaptability, and self-control were significant predictors of academic engagement while controlling for conscientiousness. Interestingly, it was also found that the addition of adaptability in the model made self-control a significant predictor of student engagement, suggesting that adaptability and self-control have a complex relationship with each other. These findings suggest that in a collectivist society, being persistent, adaptable, and able to control oneself are important factors in increasing academic engagement. Keywords: Filipino undergraduate students, collectivist culture, self-control, triarchic model of grit, academic engagemen