Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Research Roundup: COVID; Multiple Sclerosis; Fibromyalgia
CIDRAP: Lower COVID-19 Viral Loads Found In Asymptomatic Children
In the first large study looking at SARS-CoV-2 viral loads (VL) in asymptomatic children, researchers found that VL were 3 to 4 logs lower compared with symptomatic children, which was consistent with the difference in median cycle threshold (Ct) values—10.3 cycles—between the two groups. This finding, published yesterday in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology, held true across age (0 to 17 years old), race and ethnicity, sex, and institution, although the researchers found that both the magnitude of Ct difference and the VL lessened with older subgroups. SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes COVID-19. (10/23)
CIDRAP: Studies Show Long-Term COVID-19 Immune Response
A UK study in Nature Microbiology today examined 65 individuals with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and 31 seropositive healthcare workers (HCWs).The study authors sampled patients—with symptoms ranging from asymptomatic to critical—for antibody responses in serum collected up to 94 days after symptom onset using enzyme-linked immunoassay. (Keubelbeck Paulsen, 10/26)
PLOS One: Global Impact Of Environmental Temperature And BCG Vaccination Coverage On The Transmissibility And Fatality Rate Of COVID-19
It is imperative to speculate the behaviour of COVID-19 in coming days as the climate will change largely in many countries in the coming months, which may directly affect the incidence and mortality associated with COVID-19 outbreak. The decision-making of governments could be framed for lock-down period of their respective countries if the effect of climatic conditions can be examined with the incidence and mortality rate associated with COVID-19 infection. Therefore, our study aims to determine the association of temperature and neonatal BCG vaccination coverage of respective countries with the spread of the COVID-19 infection and mortality across various countries around the world. (Kumar et al, 10/22)
PLOS One: Behavioral Practices Of Patients With Multiple Sclerosis During Covid-19 Pandemic
We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional survey to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to the Covid-19 pandemic in MS patients living in Saudi Arabia. This survey took place in June 2020, during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Our study was conducted during the curfew in Saudi Arabia. We included MS patients who, during our study period, had been diagnosed with MS for at least one year. (Alnajashi et al, 10/22)
JAMA Network: Association Of Therapies With Reduced Pain And Improved Quality Of Life In Patients With Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis
What is the association of therapies with reduced pain and improved quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia? In this systematic review, the effectiveness of most therapies for fibromyalgia was not supported. Strong evidence supported only cognitive behavioral therapy for pain, as well as antidepressants and central nervous system depressants for pain and quality of life, but these associations were small. (Mascarenhas et al, 10/26)
