Cardiac Injury Prediction In COVID-19 Patients

In this article from the International Journal of Cardiology, data from 124 consecutive hospitalized patients with COVID-19 were collected. The authors attempt to determine risk factors and predictive markers of cardiac injury in COVID-19 patients. Using high-sensitivity cardiac markers (Troponin-1) from 68 patients, authors discuss the comorbidities associated with severe and critical cases. In severe and critical cases, patients with hypertension, CAD, and smoking were most observed, with diabetes mellitus being among the most common factor among severe cases. Those aged 65 years and older, presence of CKD, and lower blood lymphocyte percentage were independent risk factors of cardiac injury with COVID-19 infection. In patients with cardiac injury, total T-and-B lymphocyte counts were significantly lower, and a minimal lymphocyte percentage of 1:80, and 42,319 individuals testing negative. Of the positive cases, the vast majority had moderate-to-high titers of anti-spike antibodies. The data of this study suggests that more than 90% of seroconverters make detectible neutralizing antibody responses, and that these titers remain relatively stable for several months after infection.

Screening for COVID-19 Among Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis

In an article published by the National Kidney Foundation, the poor prognosis for those undergoing maintenance hemodialysis during COVID-19 infection is discussed. In this retrospective study, 200 maintenance dialysis patients are discussed among two clinics. Of the 200 patients, 38 patients (19%) were diagnosed with COVID-19. 39.5% of these patients were admitted to the hospital, with four requiring intensive care. There were 8 deaths among study participants. The most common symptoms in this group were fever, followed by dry cough, fatigue, and dyspnea. All the COVID-19 positive patients had increased lymphopenia and increase in C-reactive protein. Authors discuss the susceptibility of dialysis patients to COVID-19 during the pandemic. Unexplained lymphopenia and/or a rise in C-reactive protein should raise suspicion in physicians that patients may be COVID positive, and lead to diagnosis or rule out of COVID-19 using RT-PCR when indicated.