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Mantilla Caicedo GC, Rusticucci M, Suli S, Dankiewicz V, Ayala S, Caiman Peñarete A, Díaz M, Fontán S, Chesini F, Jiménez-Buitrago D, Barreto Pedraza LR, Barrera F. Spatio-temporal multidisciplinary analysis of socio-environmental conditions to explore the COVID-19 early evolution in urban sites in South America. Heliyon 2023; 9:e16056. [PMID: 37200576 PMCID: PMC10162854 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to analyse how socio-environmental conditions affected the early evolution of COVID-19 in 14 urban sites in South America based on a spatio-temporal multidisciplinary approach. The daily incidence rate of new COVID-19 cases with symptoms as the dependent variable and meteorological-climatic data (mean, maximum, and minimum temperature, precipitation, and relative humidity) as the independent variables were analysed. The study period was from March to November of 2020. We inquired associations of these variables with COVID-19 data using Spearman's non-parametric correlation test, and a principal component analysis considering socio economic and demographic variables, new cases, and rates of COVID-19 new cases. Finally, an analysis using non-metric multidimensional scale ordering by the Bray-Curtis similarity matrix of meteorological data, socio economic and demographic variables, and COVID-19 was performed. Our findings revealed that the average, maximum, and minimum temperatures and relative humidity were significantly associated with rates of COVID-19 new cases in most of the sites, while precipitation was significantly associated only in four sites. Additionally, demographic variables such as the number of inhabitants, the percentage of the population aged 60 years and above, the masculinity index, and the GINI index showed a significant correlation with COVID-19 cases. Due to the rapid evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic, these findings provide strong evidence that biomedical, social, and physical sciences should join forces in truly multidisciplinary research that is critically needed in the current state of our region.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Matilde Rusticucci
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Departamento de Ciencias de la Atmósfera y los Océanos, CONICET, Argentina
| | - Solange Suli
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Departamento de Ciencias de la Atmósfera y los Océanos, CONICET, Argentina
| | - Verónica Dankiewicz
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Departamento de Ciencias de la Atmósfera y los Océanos, CONICET, Argentina
| | - Salvador Ayala
- Universidad de Chile, Programa de Doctorado en Salud Pública, Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile, Chile
| | - Alexandra Caiman Peñarete
- Subred Integrada de Servicios Hospitalarios Centro Oriente ESE, Red Hospitalaria Bogotá Distrito Capital, Colombia
| | - Martín Díaz
- Universidad Nacional de La Matanza, Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Argentina
| | - Silvia Fontán
- Universidad Nacional de La Matanza, Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Argentina
| | | | - Diana Jiménez-Buitrago
- Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social, Mesa de Variabilidad y Cambio Climático de la CONASA, Colombia
| | - Luis R. Barreto Pedraza
- Instituto de Hidrología, Meteorología y Estudios Ambientales - IDEAM, Subdirección de Meteorología, Mesa de Variabilidad y Cambio Climático de la CONASA, Miembro del grupo QuASAR UPN, Colombia
| | - Facundo Barrera
- Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (CADIC), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ushuaia, Argentina
- Centro i∼mar, Universidad de Los Lagos, Chile and Centre for Climate and Resilience Research (CR)2, Casilla 557, Puerto Montt Chile
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González del Castillo J, Miró Ò. Contributions of the Spanish Investigators in the Emergency Situations TeAm network to COVID-19 knowledge: an example of how emergency physicians can lead first-class research. Eur J Emerg Med 2022; 29:160-162. [PMID: 35283449 PMCID: PMC9042213 DOI: 10.1097/mej.0000000000000919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Òscar Miró
- Emergency Department, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Alquézar-Arbé A, Miró Ò, Castillo JGD, Jiménez S, Llorens P, Martín A, Martín-Sánchez FJ, García-Lamberechts EJ, Piñera P, Jacob J, Porrino JMM, Jiménez B, Río RD, García CP, Aznar JVB, Ponce MC, Fernández ED, Tost J, Mojarro EM, García AH, Quirós AM, Noceda J, Cano MJC, Almela AFDS, Bayarri MJF, Tejera MG, Rodriguez AD, Burillo-Putze G. Incidence, Clinical Characteristics, Risk Factors and Outcomes of Acute Coronary Syndrome in Patients With COVID-19: Results of the UMC-19-S10 10. J Emerg Med 2022; 62:443-454. [PMID: 35065863 PMCID: PMC8563352 DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2021.10.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a lack of knowledge about the real incidence of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in patients with COVID-19, their clinical characteristics, and their prognoses. OBJECTIVE We investigated the incidence, clinical characteristics, risk factors, and outcomes of ACS in patients with COVID-19 in the emergency department. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed all COVID-19 patients diagnosed with ACS in 62 Spanish emergency departments between March and April 2020 (the first wave of COVID-19). We formed 2 control groups: COVID-19 patients without ACS (control A) and non-COVID-19 patients with ACS (control B). Unadjusted comparisons between cases and control subjects were performed regarding 58 characteristics and outcomes. RESULTS We identified 110 patients with ACS in 74,814 patients with COVID-19 attending the ED (1.48% [95% confidence interval {CI} 1.21-1.78%]). This incidence was lower than that observed in non-COVID-19 patients (3.64% [95% CI 3.54-3.74%]; odds ratio [OR] 0.40 [95% CI 0.33-0.49]). The clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 associated with a higher risk of presenting ACS were: previous coronary artery disease, age ≥60 years, hypertension, chest pain, raised troponin, and hypoxemia. The need for hospitalization and admission to intensive care and in-hospital mortality were higher in cases than in control group A (adjusted OR [aOR] 6.36 [95% CI 1.84-22.1], aOR 4.63 [95% CI 1.88-11.4], and aOR 2.46 [95% CI 1.15-5.25]). When comparing cases with control group B, the aOR of admission to intensive care was 0.41 (95% CI 0.21-0.80), while the aOR for in-hospital mortality was 5.94 (95% CI 2.84-12.4). CONCLUSIONS The incidence of ACS in patients with COVID-19 attending the emergency department was low, around 1.48%, but could be increased in some circumstances. Patients with COVID-19 with ACS had a worse prognosis than control subjects with higher in-hospital mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aitor Alquézar-Arbé
- Emergency Department, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Òscar Miró
- Emergency Department, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Sònia Jiménez
- Emergency Department, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pere Llorens
- Emergency Department, Hospital General de Alicante, University Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain
| | - Alfonso Martín
- Emergency Department, Hospital Universitario de Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Pascual Piñera
- Emergency Department, Hospital Reina Sofía, Murcia, Spain
| | - Javier Jacob
- Emergency Department, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Blas Jiménez
- Emergency Department, Hospital Universitario Vinalopó de Elche, Alicante, Spain
| | - Rigoberto Del Río
- Emergency Department, Hospital Universitario de Torrevieja, Alicante, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | - Josep Tost
- Emergency Department, Hospital de Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | | | - José Noceda
- Emergency Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, Spain
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Love J, Chenyek R, Osta A. Spontaneous Pneumothorax as a Late Complication of Mild COVID-19 Infection: A Case Report. Cureus 2022; 14:e23294. [PMID: 35449691 PMCID: PMC9012587 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.23294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Spontaneous pneumothorax (PTX) is a rare but life-threatening complication of lung injuries sustained from severe COVID-19 infection, most commonly associated with mechanical ventilation. Development of spontaneous PTX in patients after only mild COVID-19 infections not requiring hospitalization is even rarer. Here, we present the case of a 37-year-old male with spontaneous PTX secondary to a mild COVID-19 infection diagnosed one-month prior. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest revealed new air-filled cysts thought to be mediated by the inflammatory response to his acute infection, and his PTX was thought to be secondary to cyst wall rupture due to prolonged coughing. He was successfully treated with a chest tube and supplemental oxygen and, at a two-month follow-up, demonstrated clinical and radiographic improvement.
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Cifuentes-Faura J. COVID-19 Mortality Rate and Its Incidence in Latin America: Dependence on Demographic and Economic Variables. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18136900. [PMID: 34199070 PMCID: PMC8297293 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18136900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The pandemic caused by COVID-19 has left millions infected and dead around the world, with Latin America being one of the most affected areas. In this work, we have sought to determine, by means of a multiple regression analysis and a study of correlations, the influence of population density, life expectancy, and proportion of the population in vulnerable employment, together with GDP per capita, on the mortality rate due to COVID-19 in Latin American countries. The results indicated that countries with higher population density had lower numbers of deaths. Population in vulnerable employment and GDP showed a positive influence, while life expectancy did not appear to significantly affect the number of COVID-19 deaths. In addition, the influence of these variables on the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 was analyzed. It can be concluded that the lack of resources can be a major burden for the vulnerable population in combating COVID-19 and that population density can ensure better designed institutions and quality infrastructure to achieve social distancing and, together with effective measures, lower death rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Cifuentes-Faura
- Department of Financial Economics and Accounting, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
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Marza AM, Petrica A, Buleu FN, Mederle OA. Case Report: Massive Spontaneous Pneumothorax-A Rare Form of Presentation for Severe COVID-19 Pneumonia. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 57:medicina57020082. [PMID: 33498180 PMCID: PMC7908986 DOI: 10.3390/medicina57020082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is a viral disease that is spreading worldwide and became a pandemic. Although most of the time, the symptoms of the infection are flu like, a percentage of patients develop severe forms, along with severe complications. Many of them are known among front-line health workers, but the number of uncommon presentations and complications has increased. This case report aims to alert healthcare workers on less common forms of presentation, and to introduce this differential diagnosis in the evaluation of patients with COVID-19, given the increasing occurrence of pneumothorax in patients who are not mechanical ventilated. Case presentation: A 57-year-old female patient came to the Emergency Department (ED) by ambulance, with acute respiratory failure. She had SpO2 (peripheral O2 saturation ) = 43% on room air at home, and 86% on admission in ED after oxygen delivery (on a reservoir mask). SARS-CoV-2 infection was suspected based on symptoms that started three days ago (fever, dry cough, dyspnea, and fatigability). Blood was taken for lab tests, pharyngeal and nasal swabs for the reverse transcription–PCR (RT-PCR) test, and native computed tomography (CT) was scheduled. The thoracic CT scan showed massive right pneumothorax, partially collapsed lung, multiple bilateral lung infiltrates with a ground glass aspect and the RT-PCR test came back positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Despite the prompt diagnosis and treatment of pneumothorax (thoracostomy was performed and the drain tube was placed), the patient died after a long hospitalization in the intensive care unit. Conclusion: Secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (SSP), as a complication in severe forms of COVID-19 pneumonia, especially in female patients without risk factors is rare, and early diagnosis and treatment are essential for increasing the survival chances of these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adina Maria Marza
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Multidiciplinary Center for Research, Evaluation, Diagnosis and Therapies in Oral Medicine Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.M.M.); (O.A.M.)
- Emergency Clinical Municipal Hospital, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Alina Petrica
- Emergency Clinical County Hospital Pius Brînzeu, 300736 Timisoara, Romania;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +40-744-772-427
| | - Florina Nicoleta Buleu
- Emergency Clinical County Hospital Pius Brînzeu, 300736 Timisoara, Romania;
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Ovidiu Alexandru Mederle
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Multidiciplinary Center for Research, Evaluation, Diagnosis and Therapies in Oral Medicine Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.M.M.); (O.A.M.)
- Emergency Clinical Municipal Hospital, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
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