Neurological symptoms in hospitalised patients with COVID-19 and their association with in-hospital mortality

Objectives. To evaluate the spectrum of neurological symptoms in patients with COVID-19 during the first 14 days of hospitalisation and its association with in-hospital mortality. Material and methods. We included 200 patients with RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19 admitted to University Hospital in Krakow, Poland. In 164 patients, a detailed questionnaire concerning neurological symptoms and signs was performed prospectively within 14 days of hospitalisation. In the remaining 36 patients, such questionnaires were completed retrospectively based on daily observations in the Department of Neurology. Results. During hospitalisation, 169 patients (84.5%) experienced neurological symptoms; the most common were: fatigue (62.5%), decreased mood (45.5%), myalgia (43.5%), and muscle weakness (42.5%). Patients who died during hospitalisation compared to the remainder were older (79 [70.5–88.5] vs. 63.5 [51–77] years, p = 0.001), and more often had decreased level of consciousness (50.0% vs. 9.3%, p < 0.001), delirium (33.3% vs. 4.4%, p < 0.001), arterial hypotension (50.0% vs. 19.6%, p = 0.005) or stroke during (18.8% vs. 3.3%, p = 0.026) or before hospitalisation (50.0% vs. 7.1, p < 0.001), whereas those who survived more often suffered from headache (42.1% vs. 0%, p = 0.012) or decreased mood (51.7% vs. 0%, p = 0.003). Conclusions. Most hospitalised patients with COVID-19 experience neurological symptoms. Decreased level of consciousness, delirium, arterial hypotension, and stroke during or before hospitalisation increase the risk of in-hospital mortality

Benefits of weight reduction in obesity treatment

Introduction. Obesity is a serious health problem of the twenty-first century. The number of patients steadily increased and efforts to reduce body weight rarely bear fruit. The basis of obesity therapy is to obtain through low-energy diet and physical activity, a negative energy balance. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a 3-month diet 1500 kcal on selected anthropometric and biochemical parameters in patients with obesity. Material and methods. The study included 23 patients of Clinic of Hypertension and Metabolic Disorders in Poznan, including 18 women and 5 men. All patients made anthropometric measurements — body weight, height, BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference and marked biochemical parameters — glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL and HDL. Patients were on a 3-month balanced 1500 kcal diet. After that time again rated the test parameters. Results. Patients had elevated values of selected anthropometric and biochemical parameters. 3-month diet 1500 kcal reduction resulted in a decrease in weight, thereby changing the value of the BMI. A decline of waist and hip circumference were reported. Among the biochemical parameters some were significantly reduced: the concentration of glucose, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Conclusions. Obese patients are characterized by elevated values of anthropometric parameters and selected biochemical parameters. 1500 kcal low-energy diet causes weight loss in obese patients. Reducing balanced diet helps lower blood glucose and lipid profile modification.Wstęp. Otyłość stanowi poważny problem zdrowotny XXI wieku. Liczba chorych systematycznie wzrasta, a działania podejmowane w celu redukcji masy ciała rzadko przynoszą efekty. Podstawą terapii otyłości jest uzyskanie za pomocą diety ubogoenergetycznej oraz aktywności fizycznej, ujemnego bilansu energetycznego. Celem pracy było określenie wpływu 3-miesięcznej diety 1500 kcal na wybrane parametry antropometryczne oraz biochemiczne u chorych z otyłością. Materiał i metody. Do badania zakwalifikowano 23 pacjentów Poradni Nadciśnienia Tętniczego i Zaburzeń Metabolicznych w Poznaniu, w tym 18 kobiet i 5 mężczyzn. U wszystkich chorych dokonano pomiarów antropometrycznych — masa ciała, wzrost, wskaźnik BMI, obwód talii, obwód bioder oraz oznaczono parametry biochemiczne — stężenie glukozy, triglicerydów, cholesterolu całkowitego, LDL i HDL. Pacjentów poddano 3-miesięcznej zbilansowanej diecie redukcyjnej 1500 kcal. Po tym czasie ponownie oceniono badane parametry. Wyniki. U pacjentów stwierdzono podwyższone wartości parametrów antropometrycznych oraz wybranych parametrów biochemicznych. Trzymiesięczna dieta redukcyjna 1500 kcal spowodowała spadek masy ciała, zmieniając tym samym wartość wskaźnika BMI. Zmniejszył się obwód talii oraz obwód bioder. Wśród parametrów biochemicznych istotnie statystycznie uległy redukcji: stężenie glukozy, cholesterolu całkowitego, cholesterolu LDL oraz triglicerydów. Wnioski. Otyli pacjenci charakteryzują się podwyższonymi wartościami parametrów antropometrycznych oraz wybranych parametrów biochemicznych, a dieta ubogoenergetyczna 1500 kcal powoduje utratę masy ciała u otyłych chorych. W badaniu dowiedziono, że zbilansowana dieta redukcyjna wpływa na obniżenie stężenia glukozy oraz parametrów gospodarki lipidowej

The role of physical activity in cancer patients: a narrative review

Physical activity plays an important role in the proper functioning of the human body and it is recommended in the prevention and treatment of many disease syndromes. The importance of physical activity in cancer patients has been highlighted in recent years. Physical activity has a positive impact on the course of the disease as well as on the condition of patients after anticancer treatment. It also reduces the risk of developing some types of cancer. Physical activity can be recommended to patients during and after cancer treatment. This narrative review presents current knowledge regarding the indications, applicability, and efficacy of physical activity in cancer patients, based on the recommendations of the American College of Sports Medicine International Multidisciplinary Roundtable on Exercise and Cancer. The paper discusses the role of physical activity in cancer patients receiving palliative care on the basis of the available systematic reviews