Plos One
-
The burden to fight with Corona Virus Disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has lied to frontline health care workers that are putting themselves at a higher risk in the battle against the disease. This study aimed to assess the exposure health risks of COVID-19 among frontline healthcare workers in the Amhara region, Ethiopia. ⋯ Poor adherence to personal protective equipment use and aseptic practices during and after health care interactions with patients were identified. Strategies should be implemented to institute effective and sustainable infection control measures that protect the health care workers from COVID-19 infection.
-
We aimed to determine the degree to which reasons for primary care visits changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. ⋯ The decrease in primary care visit volumes during the COVID-19 pandemic varied based on the reason for the visit, with increases in visits for anxiety and decreases for preventive care and visits for chronic diseases. Implications of increased demands for mental health services and gaps in preventive care and chronic disease management may require focused efforts in primary care.
-
Data on the burden of dyslipidaemia among people with HIV undergoing antiretroviral therapy (ART) in sub-Saharan Africa are limited and little is known about the factors contributing for poor lipid profiles. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of dyslipidaemia and factors associated with lipid levels among HIV-infected patients receiving first-line combination ART in North Shewa, Ethiopia. ⋯ We found a high prevalence of dyslipidaemia among HIV-infected patients receiving first-line ART in North Shewa, Ethiopia. There is a need for monitoring of blood lipid levels in patients with HIV on long term first-line ART with a special attention to be focused on older age, urban residents, longer duration of ART use, high BMI and smokers.
-
The Nicaraguan COVID-19 situation is exceptional for Central America. The government restricts testing and testing supplies, and the true extent of the coronavirus crisis remains unknown. Dozens of deaths have been reported among health-care workers. ⋯ Our data are the first non-governmental data obtained in Nicaragua. They shed light on several important aspects of COVID-19 in an underdeveloped nation whose government has implemented a herd-immunity strategy, while lacking an adequate healthcare system and sufficient PPE for health-care workers. These data are important for creating policies for containing the spread of SARS-CoV-2.
-
Predicting survival of patients with malignant pleural effusions (MPEs) is notoriously difficult. A robust prognostic marker can guide clinical decision making. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in blood has been shown to predict survival in many cancers. ⋯ The proportion of neutrophils in pleural fluid was predictive of prognosis more strongly than lymphocytes. This study provides evidence that NLR in malignant effusions can predict survival, and therefore may provide prognostic information for this cohort. This prognostic association in the fluid is driven by the presence of neutrophils.