Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Prevalence and factors associated with thoracic alterations in infants born prematurely Prevalência e fatores associados às alterações torácicas em lactentes nascidos prematuros

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of thoracic musculoskeletal alterations and associated factors in infants born prematurely. METHODS: This was a cross sectional study with infants in the first year of age, born prematurely with birth weight < 2,000 g, who were followed up at the Premature Clinic from February, 2007 to December, 2008. Exclusion criteria were: maj or congenital malformations as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), grade III/IV intraventricular hemorrhage, or periventricular leucomalacia. Physical examinations performed independently by two physiotherapists were used to assess shoulder elevation and thoracic retractions. Comparisons between groups were performed using the chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test for categorical variables, and Mann-Whitney's test or Student's t-test were used for continuous variables. Interobserver reliability between the two physiotherapists was assessed by the kappa coefficient. Variables associated with these thoracic musculoskeletal alterations were studied by univariate and multiple logistic analyses. Statistical differences were considered significant when p < 0.05. This study was approved by the ethical committee of the institution, and parents/guardians signed an informed consent. RESULTS: 121 infants with a gestational age of 31.1 ± 2.8 weeks and birth weight of 1,400 ± 338 g were included. Thoracic alterations were detected by Physiotherapist 1 in 81 (66.9%) infants, and in 83 (68.6%) by Physiotherapist 2 (kappa coefficient = 0.77). By multivariate logistic regression analysis, factors associated with thoracic musculoskeletal alterations were: respiratory distress syndrome (odds ratio [OR] = 3.246, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.237-8.732), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (OR = 11.138, 95% CI: 1.339-92.621), and low length/age ratio (OR = 4.571, 95% CI: 1.371-15.242). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of thoracic alterations was high in infants born prematurely, and was associated with pulmonary disease and low length/age ratio.<br>OBJETIVO: Determinar a prevalência e os fatores associados ��s alterações torácicas musculoesqueléticas em lactentes nascidos prematuros. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal com lactentes no primeiro ano de vida, nascidos prematuros com peso < 2000 g e acompanhados em um ambulatório de seguimento de prematuros, de fevereiro/2007 a dezembro/2008. Foram excluídas crianças com malformações maiores definidas pelo CDC ou com hemorragia peri-intraventricular grau III/IV ou leucomalácia periventricular. Duas fisioterapeutas realizaram o exame físico, avaliando, de modo independente, a elevação de ombros e as retracões da caixa torácica. O estudo foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da Instituição, sendo solicitada assinatura do Termo de Consentimento pelos pais. As variáveis numéricas foram comparadas pelo teste t ou Mann-Whitney. O grau de concordância entre as avaliações das fisioterapeutas foi obtido pelo coeficiente kappa e as variáveis associadas às alterações torácicas foram estudadas por regressão logística univariada e múltipla. Considerou-se significante p < 0,05. RESULTADOS: Foram estudados 121 lactentes com idade gestacional de 31,1 ± 2,8 semanas e peso ao nascer de 1400 ± 338 g. A fisioterapeuta 1 detectou alterações torácicas em 81 (66,9%) lactentes e a fisioterapeuta 2 em 83 (68,6%) (coeficiente kappa = 0,77). Os fatores associados às alterações musculoesqueléticas foram: síndrome do desconforto respiratório no período neonatal (OR=3,246; IC 95%: 1,237-8,732), ter apresentado displasia broncopulmonar (OR=11,138; IC 95%: 1,339-92,621) e relação comprimento para a idade alterada (OR=4,571; IC 95%: 1,371-15,242). CONCLUSÃO: A prevalência de alterações torácicas foi alta em lactentes nascidos prematuros e associou-se a doença pulmonar no período neonatal e baixa relação comprimento/idade

Vitamin C for asthma and exercise-induced bronchoconstriction

Background Dietary antioxidants, such as vitamin C, in the epithelial lining and lining fluids of the lung may be beneficial in the reduction of oxidative damage (Arab 2002). They may therefore be of benefit in reducing symptoms of inflammatory airway conditions such as asthma, and may also be beneficial in reducing exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, which is a well-recognised feature of asthma and is considered a marker of airways inflammation. However, the association between dietary antioxidants and asthma severity or exercise-induced bronchoconstriction is not fully understood. Objectives To examine the effects of vitamin C supplementation on exacerbations and health-related quality of life (HRQL) in adults and children with asthma or exercise-induced bronchoconstriction compared to placebo or no vitamin C. Search methods We identified trials from the Cochrane Airways Group's Specialised Register (CAGR). The Register contains trial reports identified through systematic searches of a number of bibliographic databases, and handsearching of journals and meeting abstracts. We also searched trial registry websites. The searches were conducted in December 2012. Selection criteria We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs). We included both adults and children with a diagnosis of asthma. In separate analyses we considered trials with a diagnosis of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (or exercise-induced asthma). We included trials comparing vitamin C supplementation with placebo, or vitamin C supplementation with no supplementation. We included trials where the asthma management of both treatment and control groups provided similar background therapy. The primary focus of the review is on daily vitamin C supplementation to prevent exacerbations and improve HRQL. The short-term use of vitamin C at the time of exacerbations or for cold symptoms in people with asthma are outside the scope of this review. Data collection and analysis Two review authors independently screened the titles and abstracts of potential studies, and subsequently screened full text study reports for inclusion. We used standard methods expected by The Cochrane Collaboration. Main results A total of 11 trials with 419 participants met our inclusion criteria. In 10 studies the participants were adults and only one was in children. Reporting of study design was inadequate to determine risk of bias for most of the studies and poor availability of data for our key outcomes may indicate some selective outcome reporting. Four studies were parallel-group and the remainder were cross-over studies. Eight studies included people with asthma and three studies included 40 participants with exercise-induced asthma. Five studies reported results using single-dose regimes prior to bronchial challenges or exercise tests. There was marked heterogeneity in vitamin C dosage regimes used in the selected studies, compounding the difficulties in carrying out meaningful analyses. One study on 201 adults with asthma reported no significant difference in our primary outcome, health-related quality of life (HRQL), and overall the quality of this evidence was low. There were no data available to evaluate the effects of vitamin C supplementation on our other primary outcome, exacerbations in adults. One small study reported data on asthma exacerbations in children and there were no exacerbations in either the vitamin C or placebo groups (very low quality evidence). In another study conducted in 41 adults, exacerbations were not defined according to our criteria and the data were not available in a format suitable for evaluation by our methods. Lung function and symptoms data were contributed by single studies. We rated the quality of this evidence as moderate, but further research is required to assess any clinical implications that may be related to the changes in these parameters. In each of these outcomes there was no significant difference between vitamin C and placebo. No adverse events at all were reported; again this is very low quality evidence. Studies in exercise-induced bronchoconstriction suggested some improvement in lung function measures with vitamin C supplementation, but theses studies were few and very small, with limited data and we judged the quality of the evidence to be low. Authors' conclusions Currently, evidence is not available to provide a robust assessment on the use of vitamin C in the management of asthma or exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. Further research is very likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimates of effect and is likely to change the estimates. There is no indication currently that vitamin C can be recommended as a therapeutic agent in asthma. There was some indication that vitamin C was helpful in exercise-induced breathlessness in terms of lung function and symptoms; however, as these findings were provided only by small studies they are inconclusive. Most published studies to date are too small and inconsistent to provide guidance. Well-designed trials with good quality clinical endpoints, such as exacerbation rates and health-related quality of life scores, are required