Socioeconomic deprivation and illness trajectory in the Scottish population after COVID-19 hospitalization

Background The associations between deprivation and illness trajectory after hospitalisation for coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) are uncertain. Methods A prospective, multicentre cohort study was conducted on post-COVID-19 patients, enrolled either in-hospital or shortly post-discharge. Two evaluations were carried out: an initial assessment and a follow-up at 28–60 days post-discharge. The study encompassed research blood tests, patient-reported outcome measures, and multisystem imaging (including chest computed tomography (CT) with pulmonary and coronary angiography, cardiovascular and renal magnetic resonance imaging). Primary and secondary outcomes were analysed in relation to socioeconomic status, using the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD). The EQ-5D-5L, Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ), Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) for Anxiety and Depression, and the Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) were used to assess health status. Results Of the 252 enrolled patients (mean age 55.0 ± 12.0 years; 40% female; 23% with diabetes), deprivation status was linked with increased BMI and diabetes prevalence. 186 (74%) returned for the follow-up. Within this group, findings indicated associations between deprivation and lung abnormalities (p = 0.0085), coronary artery disease (p = 0.0128), and renal inflammation (p = 0.0421). Furthermore, patients with higher deprivation exhibited worse scores in health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-5L, p = 0.0084), illness perception (BIPQ, p = 0.0004), anxiety and depression levels (PHQ-4, p = 0.0038), and diminished physical activity (DASI, p = 0.002). At the 3-month mark, those with greater deprivation showed a higher frequency of referrals to secondary care due to ongoing COVID-19 symptoms (p = 0.0438). However, clinical outcomes were not influenced by deprivation. Conclusions In a post-hospital COVID-19 population, socioeconomic deprivation was associated with impaired health status and secondary care episodes. Deprivation influences illness trajectory after COVID-19

SCUBA-2: a 10,000-pixel submillimeter camera for the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope.

SCUBA-2 is an innovative 10,000 pixel submillimeter camera due to be delivered to the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope in late 2006. The camera is expected to revolutionize submillimeter astronomy in terms of the ability to carry out wide-field surveys to unprecedented depths addressing key questions relating to the origins of galaxies, stars and planets. This paper presents an update on the project with particular emphasis on the laboratory commissioning of the instrument. The assembly and integration will be described as well as the measured thermal performance of the instrument. A summary of the performance results will be presented from the TES bolometer arrays, which come complete with in-focal plane SQUID amplifiers and multiplexed readouts, and are cooled to 100mK by a liquid cryogen-free dilution refrigerator. Considerable emphasis has also been placed on the operating modes of the instrument and the "common-user" aspect of the user interface and data reduction pipeline. These areas will also be described in the paper. Copyright 2006 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper are prohibited.Science, Faculty ofPhysics and Astronomy, Department ofReviewedFacult

Mental health symptoms and illness trajectory following COVID-19 hospitalization: A cohort study

Background: The multisystem associations between baseline mental health status and coronavirus disease-19 (COVID)-19 illness trajectory are uncertain. Objectives: This article will investigate the associations between baseline mental health status and disease trajectory following COVID-19 hospitalization, which may have implications for practice and future research. Methods: The Chief Scientist Office Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Imaging in severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) COVID-19 study is a prospective, observational, multicenter, longitudinal, secondary care cohort study that assessed the time-course of multi-organ injury in posthospital survivors of COVID-19. Patients were assessed in-hospital, at 28–60 days after discharge and in the longer term using electronic health record linkage. Results: One hundred and fifty-two patients (mean ± standard deviation [SD] age 54.3 ± 11.8 years, 43% female, 40% most socio-economically deprived quintile, 33% history of mental health history) were enrolled and had mental health serially assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) questionnaire. Fifty-three (35%) had PHQ-4 score of 6–12 consistent with moderate-severe symptoms of anxiety or depression and this was associated with diagnostic criteria for myocarditis (P = 0.0498). Moderate-severe symptoms of anxiety or depression were positively associated with higher perception of illness, lower health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and poorer physical function. The mean (SD) duration of follow-up after hospital discharge was 428 (86) days (range, 290–627 days). PHQ-4 score was not associated with clinical outcomes at follow-up. Conclusions: In patients who have been hospitalized with COVID-19, moderate-severe symptoms of anxiety or depression were associated with myocarditis, worse HRQoL, higher perception of illness, and lower levels of physical function. Public Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier is NCT04403607