Study Hints Breakthrough Covid May Be Less Infectious

CIDRAP: Breakthrough COVID-19 May Be Less Infectious
Being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 significantly decreased the probability of virus culture positivity in breakthrough cases versus cases in unvaccinated healthcare workers, according to a study on the non–peer-reviewed research server, medRxiv. The results, published late last week, showed that 68.6% of 161 COVID-19 breakthrough infections had positive nasopharyngeal swabs compared with 84.9% of infections in unvaccinated patients. Cycle threshold value (Ct value, an inverse proxy for viral load) was similar for the two groups and decreased throughout the first 3 days of illness in breakthrough cases. It did not significantly differ across vaccine type or time since last vaccine administration. (8/23)

CIDRAP: COVID May Be Most Infectious 2 Or 3 Days Around Symptom Onset 
The risk of SARS-CoV-2 spread among COVID-19 patients to their close contacts was strongest in the 2 days before and 3 days after symptom onset and when index patients were mildly or moderately ill rather than asymptomatic, according to a US study of Chinese patients today in JAMA Internal Medicine. The researchers wrote. "Infected contacts of asymptomatic index patients were less likely to present with COVID-19 symptoms, suggesting that quantity of exposure may be associated with clinical presentation in close contacts." (Van Beusekom, 8/23)

In news on dementia and stroke risk —

The New York Times: Seeking Early Signals Of Dementia In Driving And Credit Scores 
Learning your odds of eventually developing dementia — a pressing concern for many, especially those with a family history of it — requires medical testing and counseling. But what if everyday behavior, like overlooking a couple of credit card payments or habitually braking while driving, could foretell your risk? A spate of experiments is underway to explore that possibility, reflecting the growing awareness that the pathologies underlying dementia can begin years or even decades before symptoms emerge. (Span, 8/23)

CNN: Risk Of Stroke Is Higher In A Certain Group Of Adults Under 60, Study Finds 
Adults under 60 who spend most of their days sitting have a higher risk of stroke compared to those who spend more time being physically active, a new study finds. People who reported sitting eight or more hours daily and were not very physically active otherwise were seven times more at risk of having a stroke than people who spent fewer than four hours being sedentary and at least 10 minutes exercising each day, according to a study published in Stroke from the American Heart Association. (Marples, 8/23)

On gene sequencing —

Stat: Parents Can Handle Finding Out Newborns' Disease Risks, Study Suggests
There’s a heated debate over whether to expand genomic sequencing to more newborns — especially about whether to sequence healthy babies. How will parents react to the results? The tests can turn out uncertain information — perhaps this child is at higher risk for a disease, but there’s no guarantee she’ll actually develop it — and families could worry, subjecting their child and the health system to unnecessary tests, appointments, and other care. A new study has found some encouraging signs. (Joseph, 8/23)

Also —

Stat: FDA, Drug Makers Propose Pilots Aimed At Speeding Rare Disease Drugs
The Food and Drug Administration and the drug industry have jointly agreed to create several new pilot programs aimed at speeding drugs to market for rare or previously untreatable conditions. The agreement announced Monday lays out the improvements the FDA will make in exchange for the millions of dollars it receives from drug makers who pay fees when the agency reviews their applications for new drug approvals. The industry and FDA negotiated the agreement throughout the fall and winter as part of a scheduled update to a joint agreement from five years ago. (Florko, 8/23)