Evaluation of dyspnea severity and sleep quality in patients with novel coronavirus

The study of single nucleotide polymorphism in a promoter region of ACE-2 receptor gene in the samples of Iraqi population with COVID-19

BACKGROUND

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is an essential receptor on the host cell's cell membrane. It's interesting to note that the entry point receptor ACE2 protein and the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus are correlated. This study aimed to determine the influence of the ACE gene genotype and explore the effects of genetic variation in the promotor region of the ACE-2 gene receptor in SARS COV-2 patients.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The 225 participants were categorized into two groups (75 infected and 150 control) according to the results of Real Time -polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), IgM, and IgG, also included two types of samples were collected for diagnosis hematological and molecular study. The hematological and biochemical parameters showed significant differences between the two studied groups according to D. dimer, ferritin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cells (WBC), lymphocyte, packed cell volume (PCV) (P˂0.0001), also red blood cell (RBC) (P = 0.0034). While the results of hemoglobin (HB) and platelet displayed non-significant differences between the two groups (p value 0.6811 and 0.9201 respectively). In addition, the sequencing result in the promotor of the ACE-2 gene detected novel eight polymorphisms and recorded them in NCBI under no. (ON959139).

CONCLUSIONS

The ACE D/D polymorphism associated with increased levels of ACE could represent a genetic risk factor in addition the discovery stems from the prospect that genetic differences could lead to differing responses to COVID-19 therapies.

Evaluation of dyspnea severity and sleep quality in patients with novel coronavirus

AIM

Dyspnea, a common symptom of novel coronavirus, can negatively affect sleep quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between dyspnea severity and sleep quality in patients with COVID-19.

STUDY DESIGN

A cross-sectional design was used.

METHODS

Using the researcher's mobile phone, data were collected via an online questionnaire from patients (n = 100) who agreed to participate in the study. The data-collection form comprised three parts: a patient descriptive information form, the Dyspnea-12 Questionnaire, and the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ).

RESULTS

The mean age of patients was 46.39 ± 12.61 years and 66.0% were men. Patients who were treated in the intensive care unit had bachelor's degree or more and patients with comorbid diseases had low mean scores from the RCSQ and high mean scores from the Dyspnea-12 Questionnaire (P < .001, P < .001; P = .047, P < .001; P < .001, P < .001, respectively). Patients who were not receiving oxygen therapy had higher RCSQ mean scores and lower Dyspnea-12 Questionnaire scores (P < .001, P < .001; P < .001, P < .001, respectively). There was a strong negative relationship between the total scores obtained from the RCSQ and the Dyspnea-12 Questionnaire (r = -.701, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Sleep quality is affected by dyspnea severity in patients with COVID-19. Sleep quality and dyspnea severity are also influenced by quite different factors, and these should be addressed and eliminated by nurses as part of a holistic approach. The results of this study will help nurses, especially those providing treatment and care for patients with COVID-19, to identify the factors affecting dyspnea and sleep quality and to plan, implement and evaluate nursing interventions that will reduce their workload.