Mental Illness Appears To Be Yet Another COVID Side Effect
A new study out from The Lancet found that 20 percent of COVID-19 patients are diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder within 90 days after the COVID diagnosis. New research on the virus also covers hospital readmissions, melatonin, testing and more.
The Hill:
One In Five Coronavirus Patients Develop Mental Illness Within 90 Days
New research suggests that people who have survived COVID-19 infections are at a greater risk of developing mental illness. This data, published in The Lancet Psychiatry Journal, indicates that 20 percent of observed COVID-19 patients are diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder such as anxiety, depression, or insomnia within 90 days after being diagnosed. (Kelley, 11/10)
Fox News:
9% Of Hospitalized Coronavirus Patients Readmitted Within 2 Months Of Discharge: CDC Report
A report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that looked at hospitalized coronavirus patients found that up to 9% were readmitted within two months of discharge. The likelihood of readmission increased for patients over age 65, those with chronic conditions, those who were discharged to a nursing facility or home health care, and those who had been hospitalized within three months prior to a coronavirus-related hospitalization. (Hein, 11/10)
In other COVID science and research news —
Fox News:
Melatonin Eyed As Possible Coronavirus Treatment, Study Suggests
Melatonin could possibly have more use than just aiding in a good night’s sleep. A new study from the Cleveland Clinic suggests the hormone could be a possible treatment option for those infected with the novel coronavirus. In an analysis of patient data from the Cleveland Clinic's COVID-19 registry, researchers found that melatonin, a hormone that regulates the body’s sleep-wake cycle, was “associated with a nearly 30% reduced likelihood of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 after adjusting for age, race, smoking history and various disease comorbidities,” according to a news release accompanying the study published in the journal PLOS Biology. (Farber, 11/10)
CIDRAP:
Preemie Tests Negative After Drinking COVID-19–Infected Breast Milk
A preterm baby girl delivered via emergency cesarean delivery at 32 weeks remained healthy despite drinking SARS-CoV-2–infected breast milk from her mother, a case report today in Pediatrics notes. The infant was born at 1.6 kilograms (3 pounds, 9 ounces). During her first 3 days of life, she was largely on noninvasive mechanical ventilation and given donor human or expressed breast milk. The mother occasionally visited the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) wearing a facemask and gown. (11/10)
The New York Times:
New Type Of Test May Better Discern Immunity To The Coronavirus
A new type of test can detect a person’s immune response to the coronavirus better than a widely used antibody test, according to research released on Tuesday. The test, if authorized by the Food and Drug Administration, would be the first commercial product to detect the response of a T cell — a type of immune cell — to the virus. Antibodies have dominated the conversation on immunity since the start of the pandemic, but scientists believe that T cells may be just as important in preventing reinfection. (Mandavilli, 11/10)
The New York Times:
Covid-19 Threatens People With Intellectual And Developmental Challenges
People with intellectual disabilities and developmental disorders are three times more likely to die if they have Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, compared with others with the diagnosis, according to a large analysis of insurance claims data. The finding raises complex questions about how to allocate new vaccines as they become available in limited supplies. The drug maker Pfizer announced this week that its experimental vaccine is performing well in clinical trials. (Rabin, 11/10)
