Enhancement in medication adherence amidst COVID-19 using active reminders

Dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic: nonlinear approaches on the modelling, prediction and control

This special issue contains 35 regular articles on the analysis and dynamics of COVID-19 with several applications. Some analyses are on the construction of mathematical models representing the dynamics of COVID-19, and some are on the estimations and predictions of the disease, a few with possible applications. The various contributions report important, timely, and promising results, such as the effects of several waves, deep learning-based COVID-19 classifications, and multivariate time series with applications.

The Pharmacist's Role in Managing COVID-19 in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients: A Review of Existing Strategies and Future Implications

The global burden of the COVID-19 pandemic has not only disrupted healthcare delivery but has also compromised patients’ access to healthcare on account of the scarcity of medications and trained healthcare professionals. COVID-19 has been particularly challenging for patient subpopulations constituting immunocompromised individuals, geriatric patients, and those afflicted by chronic ailments. Reports indicate that diminished kidney function in chronic kidney disease (CKD) renders patients highly susceptible to complications during COVID-19 treatment. Pharmacists, being medication experts, have a significant role in making treatment decisions during COVID-19 infection. This article describes pharmacists’ interventions for monitoring and managing COVID-19 in patients with CKD. Given the massive increase in off-label use of medications to treat COVID-19, pharmacists can contribute substantially towards dosing decisions, reporting adverse medication events, and managing drug–drug interactions in COVID-19 patients suffering from CKD. In addition to traditional methods of delivering their services, the pharmacist should also adopt innovative tele-health systems to optimize patient care and ensure that patients receive safe and effective therapy during the pandemic.