Research Roundup: COVID; CARB-X; Gender Dysphoria; Statin Therapy
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
CIDRAP:
US Vets With COVID-Related Kidney Injury At 6.7 Times Risk Of Death
Acute kidney injury (AKI) and its attendant almost-seven-times-higher risk of death is common in US veterans hospitalized with COVID-19—especially black patients, an observational study published yesterday in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology suggests. (Van Beusekom, 11/17)
CIDRAP:
Diaphragm Dysfunction Found In Patients Who Died Of COVID-19
A research letter published yesterday in JAMA Internal Medicine shows that patients who died of COVID-19 in the Netherlands were more than twice as likely to have scarring of their diaphragms than patients who died of other causes. A research team led by Amsterdam University Medical Center compared diaphragm specimens from 26 patients who died of coronavirus with those of 8 patients who died of other causes at three academic medical centers in April and May. Weakness of the diaphragm, the main muscle responsible for breathing, can result in acute respiratory failure, prolong mechanical ventilation, and raise the risk of death. (11/17)
CIDRAP:
Study Shows Cross-Neutralizing Antibodies In Recovering COVID Patients
Patients recovering from severe COVID-19 infections show a strong neutralizing antibody response, with some people producing cross-neutralizing antibodies that are capable of neutralizing other types of coronaviruses, a study yesterday in Nature Microbiology reported. Patients with severe disease had a higher frequency of circulating immune cells called T follicular helper (TFH) cells specific to SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins—surface molecules that allow the virus to bind to and penetrate host cells. (11/17)
Nature Medicine:
Wearable Sensor Data And Self-Reported Symptoms For COVID-19 Detection
Owing to the current lack of fast and reliable testing, one of the greatest challenges for preventing transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is the ability to quickly identify, trace and isolate cases before they can further spread the infection to susceptible individuals. As regions across the United States start implementing measures to reopen businesses, schools and other activities, many rely on current screening practices for COVID-19, which typically include a combination of symptom and travel-related survey questions and temperature measurements. However, this method is likely to miss pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic cases, which make up ~40–45% of those infected with SARS-CoV-2, and who can still be infectious1,2. An elevated temperature (>100 °F (>37.8 °C)) is not as common as frequently believed, being present in only 12% of individuals who tested positive for COVID-193 and just 31% of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 (at the time of admission)4. (Quer et al, 10/29)
Also —
CIDRAP:
CARB-X To Fund Development Of Monoclonal Antibody For Biofilm Infections
CARB-X announced today that it is awarding up to $2.42 million to Clarametyx Biosciences of Columbus, Ohio, to develop a monoclonal antibody treatment for serious infections caused by bacterial biofilms. The money from CARB-X (the Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator) will help fund preclinical development of CMTX-101, a monoclonal antibody designed to rapidly collapse bacterial biofilms by targeting a region of DNABII-binding proteins that help stabilize and maintain biofilm integrity. (11/18)
American Academy Of Pediatrics:
Timing Of Puberty Suppression And Surgical Options For Transgender Youth
Puberty suppression (PS) is a cornerstone of treatment in youth experiencing gender dysphoria. In this study, we aim to inform prescribing professionals on the long-term effects of PS treatment on the development of sex characteristics and surgical implications. (van de Grift et al, 11/1)
JAMA Network:
Evaluation Of Time To Benefit Of Statins For The Primary Prevention Of Cardiovascular Events In Adults Aged 50 To 75 Years: A Meta-Analysis
What is the time to benefit of statin therapy for primary prevention of cardiovascular events in adults aged 50 to 75 years? In this survival meta-analysis of 8 trials randomizing 65 383 adults, 2.5 (95% CI, 1.7-3.4) years were needed to avoid 1 cardiovascular event for 100 patients treated with a statin. (Yourman, 11/16)
