Incidence and risk factors of sarcopenia in hospitalized survivors of COVID-19; a retrospective cohort study

INTRODUCTION

Among the persistent conditions affecting patients in the post-acute COVID-19 period, sarcopenia is increasingly emphasized. In this study, we aimed to determine the incidence of sarcopenia and to reveal the risk factors predicting it in hospitalized survivors of COVID-19.

METHODOLOGY

This is a retrospective cohort study conducted between December 2021 and May 2022 in the post-COVID follow-up center of a tertiary hospital in Turkey. One hundred and sixty-eight patients who were hospitalized because of COVID-19 and discharged were included in the study. The SARC-F scale was applied to determine the risk of sarcopenia in the participants. Twelve patients with a SARC-F score ≥ 4 before COVID-19 were excluded from the study. The medical records of the remaining 156 participants were reviewed, and their demographic characteristics, COVID-19 disease data, hemogram, and CRP parameters were also noted.

RESULTS

Sarcopenia risk was detected in 17 (10.9%) patients whose median age was higher than the others. Increased risk for sarcopenia was higher in women, lack of education, use of assisted respirators at home, having a psychiatric illness, losing > 10% weight during the hospitalization, and being treated in the intensive care unit. Multiple regression analysis showed that female gender (OR: 8.04 [1.51-42.76]), having a psychiatric illness (OR: 13.23 [2.12-82.51]), and losing > 10% weight during hospitalization (OR: 18.46 [2.57-132.72]) predicted the sarcopenia risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Sarcopenia should be closely monitored in patients with cases of severe inflammatory effect, inadequate food intake, and diminished physical activity such as hospitalized survivors of COVID-19.

Depression, Anxiety and Sleep Disturbance in Primary Health Care Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Aim: In Turkey, family physicians and family health nurses are among the groups fighting COVID-19 on the frontline. This study was aimed to determine depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders and related factor during the COVID-19 pandemic in FPs and FHNs working in Rize. Methods: Single-centered, a cross-sectional web-based survey study was conducted between July 21-31, 2020 in Rize, Turkey. Demographic characteristics and information related to the COVID-19 pandemic were collected from primary health care workers and depression, anxiety, and sleep quality were evaluated by Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, respectively. A total of 109 primary health care workers were included in the study. Results: While 48 (44%) of the primary health care workers had at least mild depressive symptoms, 46 (42.2%) had the least mild anxiety symptoms. Sleep disturbance was also found in 48 (44%) of them. The frequency of psychological symptoms was higher in women, nurses, and those who thought that their protective equipment was insufficient. Sleep disturbances were more common in primary health care workers with psychiatric illness and who suspect they have had COVID-19 at any time. Conclusion: Primary health care workers had a high rate of depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. It would be beneficial to make special interventions to promote mental health for primary health care workers, who are among the frontline groups in the fight against COVID-19. Keywords: anxiety, COVID-19, depression, health care worker, sleep disorders

Imaging findings of a rare pararectal splenosis and literature review

Pararectal splenosis is an extremely rare lesion caused by ectopic auto-transplantation of splenic tissue after splenic trauma or splenectomy. It is often asymptomatic and detected incidentally during radiologic evaluation. We present a 24-year-old male with pararectal splenosis. The patient had a history of splenectomy and presented with complaints of abdominal discomfort and chronic constipation. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed multiple well-enhanced masses located in the abdominal cavity and one mass in pararectal area. Additionally, the pararectal lesion showed diffusion restriction on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI). In this case report, we aim to highlight the significance of taking a detailed medical history; and using DW-MRI for diagnosis of splenosis by presenting a case in a rare location.