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Live Zoster Vaccination and Cardiovascular Outcomes: A Nationwide, South Korean Study
In this study authors saw a 23% reduction in overall cardiovascular events comparing vaccinated to unvaccinated individuals in this study looking at over 2 million individuals in South Korea.
Impact of Nirsevimab on RSV and Non-RSV Severe Respiratory Infections in Hospitalized Infants
After the monoclonal antibody nirsevimab (Beyfortus) became available to prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in infants in Spain in October 2023, rates of respiratory infection–related hospital admissions dropped 63%, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions plummeted 75%, and admissions for RSV fell 78%. The ones that did get nirsevimab that did end up in hospital had shorter stays and milder disease with less need for high-flow oxygen.
Early Effectiveness of the BNT162b2 KP.2 Vaccine against COVID-19 in the U.S. Veterans Affairs Healthcare System
These are the results of a test-negative case-control study within the U.S. Veterans Affairs Healthcare System that estimate early vaccine effectiveness (VE) of the BNT162b2 KP.2 vaccine (2024–2025 formulation) compared to not receiving the KP.2 vaccine against COVID-19 outcomes. Among 44,598 ARI episodes, VE is 68% (42–82%), 57% (46–65%), and 56% (36–69%) against COVID-19-associated hospitalizations, emergency department and urgent care visits, and outpatient visits, respectively. A point for discussion is that uptake of updated COVID-19 vaccines is low (3.7%). Median age was 68 years (58.6% were ≥ 65 years of age), 87.7% were male, and 73.9% had at least one chronic medical condition.
Time to Antiviral Treatment in Mild–moderate COVID-19 in the Emergency Department: Influence of Prescribing Physician and Effect on Outcomes
Investigators conducted a nationwide, multicenter, retrospective cohort study in 16 Spanish EDs. They collected data from patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 who presented to an ED, received antiviral treatment, and were at risk of disease progression due to advanced age, comorbidities, or immunosuppression. They found that longer time to treatment (TT) was associated with worse outcomes. Prescription by an emergency physician was associated with a reduction both in TT and in (hospital time) HT. Remdesivir (Veklury) was the most commonly prescribed antiviral (50.6%), followed by nirmatrelvir-ritonavir (Paxlovid; 43.3%), sotrovimab (Xevudy; 3.7%), molnupiravir (Lagevrio; 1.9%), and combinations of these (0.6%). Each day of delayed antiviral receipt raised the risk of hospitalization or death 17.9%. Prescription from an ED physician was linked to shorter HT (adjusted median of reduction in hours 8.45). Earlier ED administration of antivirals for mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in vulnerable patients is associated with better clinical outcomes. Prescription by an emergency physician in the ED is also associated with shorter HT and TT.
Short and long-term trajectories of the post COVID-19 condition: Results from the EuCARE POSTCOVID study
This study included both hospitalized COVID-19 patients and outpatients from February 2020 to June 2023, who underwent at least one follow-up visit after acute infection at San Paolo Hospital, University of Milan. Follow-up visits were conducted at the post COVID-19 clinic or via telemedicine. During each follow-up examination, patients completed a short version of the World Health Organization (WHO) Case Report Form (CRF) for ongoing symptoms, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and a screening tool for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). They enrolled 853 patients (median age 62, IQR 52–73; 41% females). 551/853 (64.6%), 152/418 (36.4%) and 21/69 (30.4%) presented PCC at median follow up of 3 (IQR 2–3), 7 (IQR 6–10) and 26 (IQR 20–33) months, respectively (p < 0.001). The main clinical phenotypes were fatigue, respiratory sequelae, brain fog and chronic pain; anosmia/dysgeusia was observed mostly in the first post-acute period. There was a reduction in the PCC burden seven months following the acute phase; still, one third of patients experienced long-lasting symptoms. Having had SARS-CoV-2 infection during the first pandemic phases appears to be associated with persistent PCC.
Prevalence of Persistent Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Abnormalities on PET/MRI and DECT Imaging in Long COVID Patients
Subjects with a history of coronavirus disease 2019 infection, persistent cardiopulmonary symptoms nine to 12 months after initial infection, and a clinical assessment compatible with LC underwent cardiopulmonary 18F-FDG PET/MRI, dual-energy CT (DECT) of the lungs, and plasma protein analysis (subgroup). A control group that included subjects with a history of acute severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection but without cardiopulmonary symptoms at recruitment was also characterized. Overall, 57% of participants had evidence on PET/MRI of inflammation affecting the heart muscle, pericardium (the thin sac that surrounds the heart), heart valves, particularly the mitral valve, and the aortic and pulmonary blood vessels on imaging. The most common abnormality, seen in 28 participants, was vascular inflammation involving the aorta or pulmonary arteries. Twenty-two patients had myocardial (heart muscle) scarring and thickening of tissue. None of the control group had signs of inflammation.
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COVID-19 in US and Canada
