Here is what the editors at Physician’s Briefing chose as the most important COVID-19 developments for you and your practice for the week of Oct. 5 to 9, 2020. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal studies and other trusted sources that is most likely to affect clinical practice.
CDC: U.S. COVID-19 Deaths Could Reach 233,000 by End of October
FRIDAY, Oct. 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) — COVID-19 deaths in the United States could reach 233,000 by the end of October, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday.
Remdesivir Cuts Time to COVID-19 Recovery
FRIDAY, Oct. 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients hospitalized with COVID-19, remdesivir is superior for shortening time to recovery compared with placebo, according to a study published online Oct. 8 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Bedside Tracheotomy Feasible for Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients
FRIDAY, Oct. 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Bedside open tracheotomy seems safe for critically ill patients with COVID-19, according to a study published online Oct. 8 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
Symptoms of COVID-19 Poor Marker for SARS-CoV-2 Infection
FRIDAY, Oct. 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Symptoms of COVID-19 are a poor marker for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, according to a study published online Oct. 8 in Clinical Epidemiology.
Maker of Antibody Cocktail Trump Took Seeks Emergency Use Authorization
THURSDAY, Oct. 8, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. said Wednesday that it is seeking emergency approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for an experimental antibody cocktail given to President Donald Trump shortly after he was diagnosed with COVID-19.
COVID-19 Symptoms Often Prolonged in Pregnant Women
THURSDAY, Oct. 8, 2020 (HealthDay News) — COVID-19 symptoms are prolonged in pregnant women and persist for eight or more weeks in 25 percent, according to a study published online Oct. 7 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Some Patients Have Increase in Cardiac Events With Azithromycin
THURSDAY, Oct. 8, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Patients using QT-prolonging drugs have an increased risk for cardiac events in association with azithromycin versus amoxicillin, according to a study published online Sept. 15 in JAMA Network Open.
Company Seeks FDA Emergency Approval for COVID-19 Antibody Therapy
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Eli Lilly and Co. is seeking U.S. approval for emergency use of an experimental antibody therapy for COVID-19.
Six States Set Records for COVID-19 Hospitalizations
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Records for COVID-19 hospitalizations were set Tuesday in six states — Arkansas, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
White House Approves Tougher Rules for COVID-19 Vaccine Development
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Following weeks of delay, the White House on Tuesday approved tough new rules for COVID-19 vaccine developers that will make it unlikely that a vaccine will be approved before Election Day.
Review: Estimated Prevalence of VTE 14.1 Percent in COVID-19
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The overall prevalence of venous thromboembolism in patients with COVID-19 is estimated to be 14.1 percent, with a higher prevalence for patients in the intensive care unit, according to a review published online Sep. 25 in Research and Practice in Thrombosis and Haemostasis.
Lopinavir-Ritonavir No Benefit in Patients Admitted With COVID-19
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Lopinavir-ritonavir is not associated with reductions in 28-day mortality or duration of hospital stay among patients admitted to the hospital with COVID-19, according to a study published online Oct. 5 in The Lancet.
Neurologic Manifestations Seen in Most Hospitalized With COVID-19
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Neurologic manifestations are common in COVID-19, occurring in 82.3 percent of hospitalized patients, according to a study published online Oct. 5 in the Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology.
Poll: Only Half of Americans Would Try to Get COVID-19 Vaccine
TUESDAY, Oct. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Only 51 percent of Americans would get a COVID-19 vaccine, while 45 percent would not even try, a new poll shows.
Pandemic-Induced Impairments in Work Impact Mental Health
TUESDAY, Oct. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Pandemic-induced impairments in work and social functioning are strongly correlated with elevated depression and anxiety symptoms and with decreased psychological well-being, according to a study published online Oct. 6 in Frontiers in Psychiatry.
Hydroxychloroquine Not Beneficial for SARS-CoV-2 Preexposure Prophylaxis
TUESDAY, Oct. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Hydroxychloroquine administered for eight weeks as preexposure prophylaxis has no clinical benefit in hospital-based health care workers exposed to patients with COVID-19, according to a study published online Sept. 30 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
CDC Now Acknowledges Airborne Transmission of COVID-19
MONDAY, Oct. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Infection with the new coronavirus can occur through airborne transmission between people farther than 6 feet apart, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention acknowledged in an update to its website on Monday.
Daily COVID-19 Cases in U.S. Highest in Months
MONDAY, Oct. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The highest daily rate of new COVID-19 cases in the United States in nearly two months was reported late last week.
CDC Reports Cases of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Adults
MONDAY, Oct. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Adult patients with current or previous severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 can develop a hyperinflammatory syndrome, which resembles multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, according to a case series published in the Oct. 2 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Loss of Smell Prevalent in Those With SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies
MONDAY, Oct. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Loss of smell is prevalent among individuals with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 antibodies, according to a study published online Oct. 1 in PLOS Medicine.
COVID-19 Mortality Higher in Patients With Parkinson Disease
MONDAY, Oct. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — COVID-19-related case fatality rates are higher for patients with Parkinson disease, independent of age, sex, and race, according to a research letter published online Sept. 21 in Movement Disorders.
