Author: Frank Domino, MD in collaboration with Aylin Madore, MD
I stay up-to-date on the latest COVID-19 news and am regularly compiling a list of articles published that are relevant to your primary care practice. Read the insights below from recently published articles in less than two minutes.
COVID-19 Deaths Surpass 200,000
On September 22, 2020, the US passed 200,000 deaths from COVID-19, with the current projection to be at over 375,000 by January 1, 2021.
Association Between Administration of Systemic Corticosteroids and Mortality Among Critically Ill Patients with COVID-19
A Meta-analysis by the WHO on the use of steroids in severely ill patients with COVID-19 evaluated steroid use (dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, or methylprednisolone) in severely to critically ill patients. The study found that the 28 day mortality (primary outcome) was significantly lower in the steroid group (222/678; 32.7%) than in the control group (425/1025; 41.5%), with an odds ratio of 0.66.
COVID-19 Interim Guidance: Return to Sports
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that youth athletes with COVID-19 who have had moderate symptoms (e.g., prolonged fever), cardiac symptoms, or other concerning findings should undergo electrocardiography prior to returning to sports and may need pediatric cardiology for clearance to return to sports. Serum enzyme levels and EKG findings that are normal should not be considered adequate for return unless there are no symptoms, especially chest pain/pressure or dyspnea as MRI findings show a subset of young athletes have a persistent myocarditis that is not identified on blood or EKG testing. Any abnormal cardiac finding must return to normal before the athlete returns to play.
SARS-CoV-2-Associated Deaths Among Persons Aged <21 Years – United States, February 12 – July 31, 2020
CDC Data on prognosis in those under age 20 years found approximately 70% of deaths occurred in those aged 10 through 20 years, 20% aged 1 through 9, and 10% under 1 year with Black and Latino youth accounting for approximately 75% of those who died. Predisposing conditions of those who died included chronic lung disease (mostly asthma), obesity, neurologic/developmental conditions, and cardiovascular syndromes.
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