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.
Vitamin D Sufficiency, a Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D at Least 30 ng/mL Reduced Risk for Adverse Clinical Outcomes in Patients with COVID-19 Infection
Observational study of 235 patients with COVID-19 admitted to the hospital in Iran found 20% of patients over 40 years of age had insufficient vitamin D levels (<30 ng/mL) on admission and approximately 90% of patients who died had insufficient levels. The authors noted that having a sufficient serum vitamin D level may lead to lower levels of C-reactive protein, and higher total blood lymphocyte count, theorizing higher vitamin D levels resulted in improved the immune function.
Contact Settings and Risk for Transmission in 3410 Close Contacts of Patients with COVID-19 in Guangzhou, China
Data from a prospective cohort study in China of 3410 close contacts of COVID-19 index-cases resulted in a 3.7% of developing the infection. Secondary attack rate for exposure was highest among household contacts (10.3%); lesser attack rate was noted for other exposures: 0.1% from public transportation, 1.0% healthcare workers, and 1.3% work exposure. The study also found that the greater the severity of the index-case was linked with the greater the risk of transmission (0.3% in contacts of asymptomatic cases vs 6.2% in contacts of severe/critical cases).
Alternations in Smell or Taste in Mildly Symptomatic Outpatients With SARS-CoV-2 Infection
One single factor that distinguishes COVID-19 from Influenza is the loss of sensation of Taste and Smell (seen in up to 60% of patients based upon observational data from Italy.
Loss of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Mild COVID-19
There remains conflicting data on persistence of antibody response in those already infected with the virus, with some showing loss of antibodies within a few weeks, while others show persistence up to 120 days after infection.
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