COVID-19 Recap Part Three: Insights from Recent Noteworthy Articles

Reading Time: 2 Minutes |

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 articles published in July in less than two minutes.

      1. One – How Important is Obesity as a Risk Factor for Respiratory Failure, Intensive Care Admission and Death in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients?

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      3. Results from a single Italian Center found that obesity is a strong, independent risk factor for respiratory failure and death among patients with COVID-19. Additionally, a BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2 dramatically increases the risk of death.

      4. Two – The Effect of Large-Scale Anti-Contagion Policies on the COVID-19 Pandemic

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      2. It is estimated that interventions have prevented or delayed 62 million confirmed cases of COVID-19, leading to the prevention of an estimated 530 million cases.

      3. Three – Absence of Apparent Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from Two Stylists After Exposure at a Hair Salon with Universal Face Covering Policy – Springfield, Missouri, May 2020

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        Anecdotal report of two hair stylists who saw 139 customers while symptomatic and awaiting positive SARS-CoC-2 test results. Of the 100 clients who were interviewed, 98% were also wearing face coverings. No clients developed symptoms.

      4. Four – Contact Tracing During Coronavirus Disease Outbreak, South Korea, 2020

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      6. Children aged 10–19 years have been found to spread SARS-CoV-2 to household members more readily than adults, Data from South Korea of ~60,000 contacts of 5700 COVID-19 index patients.

      7. Five – Dexamethasone in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19 — Preliminary Report

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    In patients hospitalized with COVID-19, the use of dexamethasone led to lower mortality at 28-days among those receiving invasive mechanical ventilation or oxygen. No difference was noted among those not receiving respiratory support.

    1. Six – Estimation of Excess Deaths Associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States, March to May 2020

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During the three months between March 1 and May 30, 2020, there were 780,975 total deaths; 122,300 more deaths than expected from previous years, with COVID-19 accounting for 78% of these deaths, indicating likely underreporting.

For more insights, view our collection of COVID-19 resources and CME courses. We recognize it is critical that you have access to timely, reliable information, so we are working hard to release new content in collaboration with our team of infectious disease experts, medical specialists, and primary care clinicians like Dr. Frank Domino.