Articles: pandemics.
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Comment Multicenter Study Observational Study
Clinical characteristics and factors associated with ICU mortality during the first year of the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic in Romania: A prospective, cohort, multicentre study of 9000 patients.
The epidemiology of critically ill patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may be different worldwide. Despite similarities in medicine quality and formation, there are also significant differences concerning healthcare and ICU organisation, staffing, financial resources and population compliance and adherence. Large cohort data of critically ill patients from Central and Eastern Europe are also lacking. ⋯ The SARS-CoV-2 critically ill Romanian patients share common personal and clinical characteristics with published European cohorts. Public health measures and vaccination campaign should focus on patients at risk.
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Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at increased risk of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Personal protective equipment (PPE) and infection control guidelines help limit transmission. However, poor confidence leads to higher levels of anxiety rates and infection. We assessed knowledge and confidence in PPE among HCWs and associated anxiety. ⋯ Confidence in PPE was poor and anxiety was related to inadequate information and training. Thus, improved communication is required for effective response to subsequent COVID-19 waves and similar pandemics.
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Mayo Clinic proceedings · Jan 2023
Multicenter StudyCharacteristics, Treatment Patterns, and Clinical Outcomes After Heart Failure Hospitalizations During the COVID-19 Pandemic, March to October 2020.
To compare clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and 30-day all-cause readmission and mortality between patients hospitalized for heart failure (HF) before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. ⋯ The findings of this large tristate multicenter cohort study of HF hospitalizations suggest lower rates of index hospitalizations and 30-day readmissions but higher incidence of 30-day mortality with broadly similar use of HF medication, surgical interventions, and devices during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with the pre-COVID-19 time frame.
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In March 2020, rising numbers of COVID-19 infections contributed to changes in intensive care unit visitation policies, with some facilities allowing no visitors. ⋯ Results of the study suggest that despite the vast amount of evidence supporting the benefits of visitation and the harms of restricted visitation and expert recommendations for returning safe visitation to hospitals, Magnet and Pathway to Excellence hospitals continue to enforce restricted visitation policies in intensive care units. Patients, families, and nursing and health care staff must partner to create pandemic-proof visitation policies.
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The Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to an unprecedented strain on the ICU resources. It is not known how the ICU resources employed in treating COVID-19 patients are related to inpatient characteristics, use of organ support or mortality. ⋯ Pressure on ICU resources was associated with more invasive respiratory support, indicating that during these times, ICU resources were reserved for sicker patients.