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Respiratory Medicine Jul 2024Sex and gender are related concepts, but they have distinct meanings and implications. Respiratory diseases are a major driver of morbi-mortality. It is frequent that... (Review)
Review
CONTEXT
Sex and gender are related concepts, but they have distinct meanings and implications. Respiratory diseases are a major driver of morbi-mortality. It is frequent that respirologists, primary care doctors, or other specialists, when dealing with respiratory patients, and aiming for a holistic management of their patients, they all skip any question or matter associated with sexual activity or behavior.
OBJECTIVES
To review how sexual activity is explored in respiratory patients.
METHODS
To conduct this review, we endorse PRISMA guidance for reporting systematic reviews, and also the sex and gender equity in research (SAGER) guidelines.
RESULTS
Compared to other conditions such as heart disease, mental disorders, Alzheimer's, or even COVID-19, to date there is no review focused on sexual activity and respiratory health and disease. Asthma, COPD and other respiratory patients can have their sexual activity and behaviors affected by their disease, but also limitations in sex might be the sentinel event of an incident respiratory disease. Asking on sexual desire and related sex issues should not be considered taboo in any respiratory consultation. Importantly, any marketed stereotypes on cigarettes after any sexual activity should be counteracted. Many clinical trials of respiratory drugs keep recruiting few or no women, so research on women's sexual desire and satisfaction lags behind that of men's. By using the available objective tools and validated questionnaires summarized in this review, these important domains of respiratory patients and their partners can be properly identified and managed.
CONCLUSIONS
Sexual activity, depending on age and individual specific conditions, is a fundamental driver of overall health, and therefore of lung health.
Topics: Humans; Sexual Behavior; Female; Male; Asthma; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; COVID-19; Sex Factors; Respiratory Tract Diseases
PubMed: 38768665
DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2024.107665 -
PloS One 2024Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, causing bacteremic pneumonia, meningitis, sepsis, and other invasive pneumococcal... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, causing bacteremic pneumonia, meningitis, sepsis, and other invasive pneumococcal diseases. Evidence supports nasopharyngeal pneumococcal carriage as a reservoir for transmission and precursor of pneumococcal disease.
OBJECTIVES
To estimate the pneumococcal nasopharyngeal burden in all age groups in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) before, during, and after the introduction of pneumococcal vaccine conjugate (PVC).
METHODS
Systematic literature review of international, regional, and country-published and unpublished data, together with reports including data from serotype distribution in nasopharyngeal carriage in children and adults from LAC countries following Cochrane methods. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO database (ID: CRD42023392097).
RESULTS
We included 54 studies with data on nasopharyngeal pneumococcal carriage and serotypes from 31,803 patients. In children under five years old, carriage was found in 41% and in adults over 65, it was 26%. During the study period, children under five showed a colonization proportion of 34% with PCV10 serotypes and 45% with PCV13 serotypes. When we analyze the carriage prevalence of PCV serotypes in all age groups between 1995 and 2019, serotypes included in PCV10 and those included in PCV13, both showed a decreasing trend along analysis by lustrum.
CONCLUSION
The data presented in this study highlights the need to establish national surveillance programs to monitor pneumococcal nasopharyngeal carriage to monitor serotype prevalence and replacement before and after including new pneumococcal vaccines in the region. In addition, to analyze differences in the prevalence of serotypes between countries, emphasize the importance of approaches to local realities to reduce IPD effectively.
Topics: Humans; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Latin America; Caribbean Region; Nasopharynx; Pneumococcal Infections; Carrier State; Pneumococcal Vaccines; Serogroup; Child, Preschool; Adult; Child; Prevalence
PubMed: 38768099
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297767 -
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews Jul 2024The COVID-19 pandemic, with its far-reaching influence on daily life, constituted a highly stressful experience for many people worldwide, jeopardizing individuals'... (Review)
Review
The COVID-19 pandemic, with its far-reaching influence on daily life, constituted a highly stressful experience for many people worldwide, jeopardizing individuals' mental health, particularly in vulnerable populations such as pregnant women. While a growing body of evidence links prenatal maternal stress to biological and developmental alterations in offspring, the specific impact of prenatal exposure to maternal pandemic-related stress (PRS) on infant development remains unclear. A comprehensive literature search was performed in October 2023 according to the PRISMA guidelines, which yielded a total of 28 records. The selected papers investigated a vast range of developmental and biological outcomes in the offspring with large methodological variations. The reviewed studies showed mixed results. Either direct associations between maternal PRS during pregnancy and infant temperament and socio-emotional development, or indirect links, mediated by maternal mental health, emerged in most studies. Furthermore, maternal PRS was associated with epigenetic and brain alterations in the offspring, although studies were limited in number. Collectively, the reviewed findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the role of early adverse exposures on infant development.
Topics: Humans; Pregnancy; Female; COVID-19; Stress, Psychological; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Child Development; Infant; SARS-CoV-2; Pandemics
PubMed: 38762129
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105723 -
Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics Dec 2024COVID-19 vaccine acceptance is crucial for patients with chronic diseases, but previous studies in Ethiopia have yielded inconsistent and inconclusive findings. To fill... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
COVID-19 vaccine acceptance is crucial for patients with chronic diseases, but previous studies in Ethiopia have yielded inconsistent and inconclusive findings. To fill this gap, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis following established guidelines. Our search included relevant articles published between 2019 and 2023 from various sources. We assessed study heterogeneity and publication bias, and performed subgroup and sensitivity analyses. Our findings indicate that the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate among patients with chronic diseases in Ethiopia was 55.4%. We also found that good knowledge and a favorable attitude toward the vaccine were positively associated with the acceptance rate. Based on these results, we recommend that healthcare professionals, policymakers, and healthcare guide developers should work more to address the relatively low acceptance rate. Improving the knowledge and attitude further about the COVID-19 vaccines is crucial. Future research should include community-based and qualitative studies to enhance our understanding of vaccines acceptance.
Topics: Humans; Ethiopia; COVID-19 Vaccines; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; COVID-19; Chronic Disease; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Vaccination Hesitancy; SARS-CoV-2; Vaccination
PubMed: 38757639
DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2024.2350815 -
BMC Psychology May 2024Despite the negative outcomes, exposure to a crisis may cause people to experience positive changes. This study aims to analyze the prevalence of post-traumatic growth... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Despite the negative outcomes, exposure to a crisis may cause people to experience positive changes. This study aims to analyze the prevalence of post-traumatic growth (PTG) and its relevant factors among nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
METHOD
The research protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022329671), and PRISMA steps were taken in this study. PubMed, Scopus and ProQuest were explored on 1/9/2022 to create the research database. According to the inclusion criterion, all studies analyzing the prevalence of post-traumatic growth through the PTG Inventory were considered eligible. They were all qualitatively assessed through the modified version of the Quality Assessment Checklist for prevalence studies.
RESULTS
A total of 15 papers met the inclusion criterion (n = 22756). According to the research results, the prevalence of PTG was randomly calculated ES [95% Conf. Interval = 0.15 [0.12-0.17]), and heterogeneity was reported I2 = 98.52% (P = 0.000). The results also indicated that the mean score of PTGI decreased in nurses as their work experience and mean age increased. However, the effect was not statistically significant for the mean age (P = 0.06). According to the results, the PTGI score decreased in nurses with more work experience, a finding which was statistically significant (P = 0.04).
CONCLUSION
This meta-analysis determined a 15% prevalence rate of PTG in nurses. Psychological interventions should be developed and applied to older nurses with more work experience in order to mitigate the harm caused by the pandemic and its consequent crises.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Prevalence; Posttraumatic Growth, Psychological; Nurses; SARS-CoV-2; Pandemics
PubMed: 38755690
DOI: 10.1186/s40359-024-01578-z -
The Journal of Infection Jul 2024The COVID-19 pandemic has posed a significant threat to the global healthcare system, presenting a major challenge to antimicrobial stewardship worldwide. This study... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVES
The COVID-19 pandemic has posed a significant threat to the global healthcare system, presenting a major challenge to antimicrobial stewardship worldwide. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date picture of global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and antibiotic use in COVID-19 patients.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic review to determine the prevalence of AMR and antibiotic usage among COVID-19 patients receiving treatment in healthcare facilities. Our search encompassed the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus databases, spanning studies published from December 2019 to May 2023. We utilized random-effects meta-analysis to assess the prevalence of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) and antibiotic use in COVID-19 patients, aligning with both the WHO's priority list of MDROs and the AWaRe list of antibiotic products. Estimates were stratified by region, country, and country income. Meta-regression models were established to identify predictors of MDRO prevalence and antibiotic use in COVID-19 patients. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD 42023449396).
RESULTS
Among the 11,050 studies screened, 173 were included in the review, encompassing a total of 892,312 COVID-19 patients. MDROs were observed in 42.9% (95% CI 31.1-54.5%, I = 99.90%) of COVID-19 patients: 41.0% (95% CI 35.5-46.6%) for carbapenem-resistant organisms (CRO), 19.9% (95% CI 13.4-27.2%) for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), 24.9% (95% CI 16.7-34.1%) for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing organisms (ESBL), and 22.9% (95% CI 13.0-34.5%) for vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus species (VRE), respectively. Overall, 76.2% (95% CI 69.5-82.9%, I = 99.99%) of COVID-19 patients were treated with antibiotics: 29.6% (95% CI 26.0-33.4%) with "Watch" antibiotics, 22.4% (95% CI 18.0-26.7%) with "Reserve" antibiotics, and 16.5% (95% CI 13.3-19.7%) with "Access" antibiotics. The MDRO prevalence and antibiotic use were significantly higher in low- and middle-income countries than in high-income countries, with the lowest proportion of antibiotic use (60.1% (95% CI 52.1-68.0%)) and MDRO prevalence (29.1% (95% CI 21.8-36.4%)) in North America, the highest MDRO prevalence in the Middle East and North Africa (63.9% (95% CI 46.6-81.2%)), and the highest proportion of antibiotic use in South Asia (92.7% (95% CI 90.4-95.0%)). The meta-regression identified antibiotic use and ICU admission as a significant predictor of higher prevalence of MDROs in COVID-19 patients.
CONCLUSIONS
This systematic review offers a comprehensive and current assessment of MDRO prevalence and antibiotic use among COVID-19 patients in healthcare facilities. It underscores the formidable challenge facing global efforts to prevent and control AMR amidst the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings serve as a crucial warning to policymakers, highlighting the urgent need to enhance antimicrobial stewardship strategies to mitigate the risks associated with future pandemics.
Topics: Humans; Anti-Bacterial Agents; COVID-19; Antimicrobial Stewardship; SARS-CoV-2; Health Facilities; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; Global Health; Prevalence; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
PubMed: 38754635
DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2024.106183 -
PloS One 2024Recently, several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of fluvoxamine have been successfully conducted for the treatment of patients with coronavirus disease 2019... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Recently, several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of fluvoxamine have been successfully conducted for the treatment of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of fluvoxamine in patients with COVID-19.
METHODS
MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and clinicaltrials.gov were searched for RCTs which were performed to evaluate fluvoxamine and placebo up to January 31, 2024. Review Manager 5.3 was used to perform meta-analysis. The risk ratio (RR) and mean difference (MD) was analyzed and calculated with a random effect model.
RESULTS
We pooled 4,711 participants from six RCTs (2,382 in the fluvoxamine group and 2,329 in the placebo group). Compared to the placebo group, the fluvoxamine group had a significantly lower rate of clinical deterioration (RR, 0.73; P = 0.004; 95% CI, 0.59 to 0.90; I2 = 0%) and hospitalization (RR, 0.76; P = 0.04; 95% CI, 0.59 to 0.99; I2 = 0%). In the meantime, compared with the placebo group, fluvoxamine group did not show any higher risk of AEs (P = 0.13 and 0.91, respectively) in safety outcomes analysis. The subgroup analysis showed that fluvoxamine treatment performed more than 200 mg daily appears to be more effective than those performed less than 200 mg daily in reducing clinical deterioration and hospitalization risks, while not exhibiting higher AE and SAE risks than placebo group.
CONCLUSION
Fluvoxamine for patients with COVID-19, especially those who take 200 mg or more daily, is superior to the placebo group in reducing clinical deterioration and hospitalization, and did not show any higher risk of AEs and SAEs in safety concerns, which might be a promising intervention for COVID-19.
Topics: Fluvoxamine; Humans; COVID-19 Drug Treatment; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; Treatment Outcome; Hospitalization
PubMed: 38753761
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300512 -
Acta Dermato-venereologica May 2024Telemedicine, the provision of remote healthcare, has gained prominence, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. It has the potential to replace routine in-person...
Telemedicine, the provision of remote healthcare, has gained prominence, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. It has the potential to replace routine in-person follow-up visits for patients with chronic inflammatory skin conditions. However, it remains unclear whether telemedicine can effectively substitute in-person consultations for this patient group. This systematic review assessed the effectiveness and safety of telemedicine compared with traditional in-person care for chronic inflammatory skin diseases. A comprehensive search in various databases identified 11 articles, including 5 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 1 clinical controlled trial (CCT). These studies evaluated telemedicine's impact on patients with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, with varying methods like video consultations and digital platforms. The findings tentatively suggest that telemedicine does not seem to be inferior compared with in-person care, particularly in terms of condition severity and quality of life for patients with chronic inflammatory skin diseases. However, these results should be interpreted with caution due to the inherent uncertainties in the evidence. There are indications that telemedicine can offer benefits such as cost-effectiveness, time savings, and reduced travel distances, but it is important to recognize these findings as preliminary, necessitating further validation through more extensive research.
Topics: Humans; Telemedicine; COVID-19; Chronic Disease; Psoriasis; Quality of Life; Dermatitis, Atopic; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 38751176
DOI: 10.2340/actadv.v104.23901 -
International Journal of Medical... Aug 2024Health misinformation (HM) has emerged as a prominent social issue in recent years, driven by declining public trust, popularisation of digital media platforms and... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Health misinformation (HM) has emerged as a prominent social issue in recent years, driven by declining public trust, popularisation of digital media platforms and escalating public health crisis. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, HM has raised critical concerns due to its significant impacts on both individuals and society as a whole. A comprehensive understanding of HM and HM-related studies would be instrumental in identifying possible solutions to address HM and the associated challenges.
METHODS
Following the PRISMA procedure, 11,739 papers published from January 2013 to December 2022 were retrieved from five electronic databases, and 813 papers matching the inclusion criteria were retained for further analysis. This article critically reviewed HM-related studies, detailing the factors facilitating HM creation and dissemination, negative impacts of HM, solutions to HM, and research methods employed in those studies.
RESULTS
A growing number of studies have focused on HM since 2013. Results of this study highlight that trust plays a significant while latent role in the circuits of HM, facilitating the creation and dissemination of HM, exacerbating the negative impacts of HM and amplifying the difficulty in addressing HM.
CONCLUSION
For health authorities and governmental institutions, it is essential to systematically build public trust in order to reduce the probability of individuals acceptation of HM and to improve the effectiveness of misinformation correction. Future studies should pay more attention to the role of trust in how to address HM.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Communication; Trust; Information Dissemination; Social Media; SARS-CoV-2; Public Health; Health Communication
PubMed: 38743994
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2024.105478 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases May 2024Tuberculosis (TB) and COVID-19 co-infection poses a significant global health challenge with increased fatality rates and adverse outcomes. However, the existing... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Tuberculosis (TB) and COVID-19 co-infection poses a significant global health challenge with increased fatality rates and adverse outcomes. However, the existing evidence on the epidemiology and treatment of TB-COVID co-infection remains limited.
METHODS
This updated systematic review aimed to investigate the prevalence, fatality rates, and treatment outcomes of TB-COVID co-infection. A comprehensive search across six electronic databases spanning November 1, 2019, to January 24, 2023, was conducted. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist assessed risk of bias of included studies, and meta-analysis estimated co-infection fatality rates and relative risk.
RESULTS
From 5,095 studies screened, 17 were included. TB-COVID co-infection prevalence was reported in 38 countries or regions, spanning both high and low TB prevalence areas. Prevalence estimates were approximately 0.06% in West Cape Province, South Africa, and 0.02% in California, USA. Treatment approaches for TB-COVID co-infection displayed minimal evolution since 2021. Converging findings from diverse studies underscored increased hospitalization risks, extended recovery periods, and accelerated mortality compared to single COVID-19 cases. The pooled fatality rate among co-infected patients was 7.1% (95%CI: 4.0% ~ 10.8%), slightly lower than previous estimates. In-hospital co-infected patients faced a mean fatality rate of 11.4% (95%CI: 5.6% ~ 18.8%). The pooled relative risk of in-hospital fatality was 0.8 (95% CI, 0.18-3.68) for TB-COVID patients versus single COVID patients.
CONCLUSION
TB-COVID co-infection is increasingly prevalent worldwide, with fatality rates gradually declining but remaining higher than COVID-19 alone. This underscores the urgency of continued research to understand and address the challenges posed by TB-COVID co-infection.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Coinfection; Tuberculosis; Prevalence; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 38739637
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012136