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

Detection of Floating Impurities in Filled Beverage Bottles Using Digital Image Processing Techniques

Some small and medium enterprise here in the Philippines uses manual inspection to check for contaminants inside filled bottled water. In the recent years demand for bottled water increases because many Filipinos believe bottled water is a healthier choice over carbonated drinks. Another factor that increases the demand for bottled water is due to the lack of access to potable water by many Filipinos in different areas in the country especially when a calamity stuck a certain region of the country. The proponent shows a proof of concept whether a low cost web camera can substitute an industrial grade camera for an inspection machine and if it can be used to make a locally available inspection machine that small and medium enterprise can afford. The inspection machine is composed of a web camera, a desktop computer, a proximity sensor, LED lights, and a Gizduino microcontroller while the program was created with the use of EMGU OpenCV and Visual C# .Net. An image capture will be triggered if the proximity sensor detects a presence of bottled water and the microcontroller will communicate with the desktop computer to command the web camera to take a snap shot. The captured image will be duplicated to be used for the detection of the moth wing and the detection of the moth body. The software will clean and process the captured images and analyze if there are any presence of contaminants or not. There were two experiments done, the first one is when the bottled water is stationary and after processing 30 images, results shows 76.67% reliable to detect moth wings and 90% reliable to detect a moth body. The second experiment was done with the use of a conveyor to simulate a production line and after processing 30 images, results shows 26.67% reliable to detect moth wings and 43.33% to detect moth body. On the GUI of the program, the captured image, processed image, and blob analysis are shown. The detected contaminants are enclosed inside a green box to indicate it is contaminated

A Comprehensive gait data acquisition system: An integrated pedobarograph and imaging system

Gait-related problems can be addressed with the use of qualitative and quantitative data. In the current Philippines\u27 setting, doctors rely only on their skills and experience on analyzing their patients\u27 gait patterns. Gait-analyzing systems are already available abroad but are very expensive. The proponents created a low cost system that integrated a pedobarograph and gait-imaging system which can be locally available. The imaging system is composed of an image capturing device (i.e web camera), a desktop computer, and reflective markers. The cameras capture the walking pattern, then save the images which can be reloadable. The gait analysis system measures the degree of angle displaced by the joints of the limbs during walking. After processing 269 images captured by the imaging system, the results show that the system has an average of 2.2% error and is 97% reliable in having an error of less than 5.0% for its angle measurements. The pedobarograph part is composed of a force plate, a signal conditioning circuit and a data acquisition system. The pressure readings are voltage signals processed by the motherboard. On the GUI of the program, colors were used to display relative pressure readings - black for off and no contact, blue for low pressure, and red for high pressure. It was found out that in order to capture the five complete stance phase events of a walk, the patient must walk along the platform at least three times per session. Overall, the system prototype proved to be able to provide reliable joint measurements and display relative foot pressure distribution simultaneously

International Impact of COVID-19 on the Diagnosis of Heart Disease

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has adversely affected diagnosis and treatment of noncommunicable diseases. Its effects on delivery of diagnostic care for cardiovascular disease, which remains the leading cause of death worldwide, have not been quantified. Objectives: The study sought to assess COVID-19's impact on global cardiovascular diagnostic procedural volumes and safety practices. Methods: The International Atomic Energy Agency conducted a worldwide survey assessing alterations in cardiovascular procedure volumes and safety practices resulting from COVID-19. Noninvasive and invasive cardiac testing volumes were obtained from participating sites for March and April 2020 and compared with those from March 2019. Availability of personal protective equipment and pandemic-related testing practice changes were ascertained. Results: Surveys were submitted from 909 inpatient and outpatient centers performing cardiac diagnostic procedures, in 108 countries. Procedure volumes decreased 42% from March 2019 to March 2020, and 64% from March 2019 to April 2020. Transthoracic echocardiography decreased by 59%, transesophageal echocardiography 76%, and stress tests 78%, which varied between stress modalities. Coronary angiography (invasive or computed tomography) decreased 55% (p &lt; 0.001 for each procedure). In multivariable regression, significantly greater reduction in procedures occurred for centers in countries with lower gross domestic product. Location in a low-income and lower–middle-income country was associated with an additional 22% reduction in cardiac procedures and less availability of personal protective equipment and telehealth. Conclusions: COVID-19 was associated with a significant and abrupt reduction in cardiovascular diagnostic testing across the globe, especially affecting the world's economically challenged. Further study of cardiovascular outcomes and COVID-19–related changes in care delivery is warranted