Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Research Roundup: COVID; MIS-C; Leukemia; Childhood Cancer
CIDRAP: Prepandemic Coronavirus Antibodies May React To COVID-19
Two preliminary retrospective studies in the United Kingdom, sub-Sahara Africa, and the United States suggest that some people who were never infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 have cross-reactive antibodies against it—perhaps from previous exposure to similar human coronaviruses. (Van Beusekom, 11/9)
Becker's Hospital Review: Novartis Arthritis Drug Fails To Benefit COVID-19 Patients
The Novartis arthritis drug Ilaris didn't improve survival rates for COVID-19 patients or affect their death rate, the drugmaker said Nov. 6. Novartis CMO John Tsai, MD, said that while the drug didn't show the benefit the company was hoping for, it helped to improve scientific understanding of COVID-19 and the role of similar drugs. "There’s still an urgent need for effective ways to combat COVID-19, and we will continue to apply our best scientific minds in support of the global pandemic response," Dr. Tsai said. (Anderson, 11/6)
CIDRAP: Report Details 70-Day SARS-CoV-2 Shedding In Asymptomatic Leukemia Patient
A Cell case report yesterday details a 105-day infection (as determined by the presence of viral RNA) and 70-day infectious period (live virus detected) in a 71-year old woman with leukemia, suggesting that immunocompromised patients may shed virus for longer than previously recognized. Researchers detailed the case of a Washington state woman with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and low antibody count who was admitted to a Seattle-area hospital for severe anemia, tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, for the first time on Mar 2 via reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and continued to test positive through Jun 15 while remaining asymptomatic. The authors suggest this is the longest known case of anyone being actively infected with SARS-CoV-2 while remaining asymptomatic. (11/5)
Modern Healthcare: New Data Drills Down On Comorbidities With Highest COVID-19 Risks
Sanford Health's analysis of the around 44,000 COVID-19 patients it has treated revealed some patterns that have helped the health system get ahead of the virus. Many of the patients who have a harder time fending off COVID-19 also battle underlying chronic conditions, the Sioux Falls, S.D.-based system found. While that has been corroborated by other providers and researchers, new data from FAIR Health show which comorbidities present the most risk to COVID-19 patients. The findings could help risk-stratify patients—particularly as COVID-19 cases are on the rise—and prioritize interventions and vaccination distribution, providers said. (Kacik, 11/11)
JAMA Network: Association Between Nursing Home Crowding And COVID-19 Infection And Mortality In Ontario, Canada
What is the association of crowding in nursing homes, defined as the mean number of residents per bedroom and bathroom, with nursing home coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mortality?Findings In this cohort study that included more than 78 000 residents of 618 nursing homes in Ontario, Canada, COVID-19 mortality in homes with low crowding was less than half (578 of 46 028 residents [1.3%]) than that of homes with high crowding (874 of 32 579 residents [2.7%]). (Brown et al, 11/9)
American Academy Of Pediatrics: Atrioventricular Block In Children With Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome
Children are at risk for multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) after infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Cardiovascular complications, including ventricular dysfunction and coronary dilation, are frequent, but there are limited data on arrhythmic complications. (Dionne, 11/1)
Also —
Becker's Hospital Review: Common Antidepressant May Halt Childhood Cancer Growth, Study Suggests
The antidepressant drug paroxetine led to a significant reduction in childhood sarcoma tumor growth after being used to treat cancer cells in a mouse model study, according to research published Nov. 6 in Cancer Research. Researchers from Karolinska Institute in Sweden and MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston found the insulin-like growth factor receptor, also known as IGF1R, a receptor that plays a key role in many cancers, shares characteristics with G protein-coupled receptors, also known as GCPRs, which are the receptors targeted by many existing drugs used to treat conditions like allergies, depression and anxiety. The commonalities between the two groups of receptors indicated that drugs used to target GPCRs might also be able to affect the function of the IGF1R. (Carbajal, 11/6)
