In this edition, we'll be sharing articles on a variety of topics related to the ongoing impact of Covid-19 on individuals' health. From mental health issues to the lasting effects on kidney function and voice sequelae, we will be exploring the latest research and news on Long Covid. We'll also be touching on issues of discrimination and stigma faced by Long Covid patients, as well as potential treatments being investigated. It seems like the pace of research is really starting to pick up. Thank you for joining, and let's dive in!
Media
DEFINITIONS:
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): is a law that prohibits discrimination based on disability, requiring employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities.
SUMMARY:
Matthew Boyd claims his previous employer wrongfully terminated him due to employment discrimination regarding his long COVID disability.
According to a report, over 60% of long COVID patients have experienced unfair treatment in the workplace.
Under the U.S. Americans with Disabilities Act, long COVID is considered a disability if the person is suffering from certain factors, such as a history of physical or mental impairment that substantially limits life activity.
Employers are urged to adopt comprehensive policies and practices that promote equal treatment and reasonable accommodations for employees with long COVID or any other medical condition.
My Take:
It also shows that employers are required to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Employers must ensure equal treatment based on merit, irrespective of their employees' health status. ``
SUMMARY:
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a new advisory on the Identification and Management of Mental Health Symptoms and Conditions Related to Long COVID.
Long COVID can have devastating effects on the mental health of those who experience it, as well as their families, due to a number of factors, including social isolation, caregiver burnout, and grief.
Mental health conditions associated with Long COVID include fatigue, sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety, psychosis, cognitive impairment, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder, among others.
This advisory helps to raise awareness, especially among primary care practitioners and clinicians who are often the ones treating patients with Long COVID.
My Take:
The HHS advisory is significant as it highlights the impact Long COVID can have on mental health, as well as the need for proper identification and treatment of mental health conditions associated with Long COVID.
I personally do not get how some of these are considered mental health diagnoses (fatigue, sleep disturbances etc.)
Article: CDC: Research Says Long Covid "Contributing" to Labor Shortage
SUMMARY:
The CDC says research is "suggesting Long Covid is contributing to a labor shortage and is hurting the U.S.economy."
The report that the CDC highlighted in their new presentation actually came out last January.
If 5% of those who get Covid in the future will stay out of the labor market for at least a year, the economy will face some significant headwinds for as long as Covid continues to circulate.
Those with Long Covid face the challenge of a workplace that may be resistant to offering reasonable accommodations that could make the transition manageable.
My Take:
This is an important revelation by the CDC is significant becuse it shows that a 5% of Covid-19 patients incapable of working for over a year contributes to labor shortage.
The incidence of Long Covid in essential workers may be higher than the data suggests, which could cause blind sport for the policy makers.
In addition, those with Long Covid also face the challenge of workplaces that may be resistant to offering reasonable accomodations that could make the transition manageable.
Research
Article: Disrespectful language about patients with long COVID - The Lancet
DEFINITIONS:
Differential Diagnoses: Differential diagnosis is the process of distinguishing a particular disease or condition from others that have similar symptoms.
SUMMARY:
The Lancet Editorial expressed concern about the slow progress in providing proper clinical services for people infected by coronavirus and the inadequate care given to them.
The Editorial emphasized on differential diagnoses and correctly individualized management plans of post-COVID-19 patient while keeping psychosocial factors in consideration without hampering the progress of providing proper clinical services to the patients.
No information available on when the care will eventually be made available to the post-COVID-19 patients.
DEFINITIONS:
Dysphonia: difficulty speaking due to a physical disorder of the mouth, throat, tongue, or vocal cords.
SUMMARY:
Dysphonia is a common symptom of COVID-19 infection.
A quarter of the COVID patients experience dysphonia during acute infection.
The weighted prevalence of this study showed that 17.1 % of COVID-19 patients experienced dysphonia after recovery from COVID-19.
DEFINITIONS:
PTSD: a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event.
SUMMARY:
A study was conducted to explore the prevalence of PTSD and its associated risks among COVID-19 survivors of the first wave pandemic in Wuhan, China.
1541 COVID-19 survivors participated in the study, and 15.2% reported PTSD symptoms.
Four risk factors were identified, including higher COVID-19 severity, fatigue, COVID-19 related stigma, and poor sleep quality.
The study recommends designing psychological interventions to reduce stigma and fatigue and improve sleep quality among COVID-19 survivors.
My Take:
The findings can help healthcare professionals design effective strategies to support the mental health of COVID-19 survivors worldwide.
I think this is an understudied part of Long Covid
[ FULL ARTICLE IS LOCKED]
DEFINITIONS:
eGFR: estimated glomerular filtration rate.
Proteinuria: presence of abnormal levels of protein in the urine.
SUMMARY:
Long-term COVID patients experienced substantial decline in their kidney function within one year from the infection date.
The prevalence of proteinuria appeared to be high.
Close monitoring of kidney function is prudent among patients with persistent COVID-19 symptoms.
DEFINITIONS:
Cardiomyopathy: a disease of the heart muscle.
SUMMARY:
Post-acute sequelae of CoV-2 (PASC) including cardiovascular manifestations have emerged as a new health threat.
This study aims to study whether the Spike protein plus obesity can exacerbate PASC-related cardiomyopathy.
The Spike protein could induce long-term transcriptional suppression of mitochondria metabolic genes and cause cardiac fibrosis and myocardial contractile impairment in obese mice.
LDL-c enhances viral entry into host cells
Obese condition causes selective cardiac viral accumulations.
Our data has demonstrated direct viral attack to heart is one of the mechanisms underlying PASC
indicates a perturbance of mitochondria energy production as a long-term cardiac sequala upon Spp viral burden under obese conditions.
Hope
[ FULL ARTICLE IS LOCKED]
DEFINITIONS:
Molecular docking: a computational method that predicts the preferred orientation of two molecules when bound to each other to form a stable complex.
Molecular dynamics: a computer simulation technique that predicts the movement of atoms and molecules over time.
SUMMARY:
The research aimed to identify herbal remedies that can potentially suppress the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, which causes COVID-19.
Achyrodimer A, Cinchonain Ib, Symphonone F, and Lupeol acetate are herbal substances that performed well in the study and have the highest binding affinities with the 6LU7.
The studies suggest that bioactive substances from herbal medicines could work as a therapeutic agent for COVID-19.
However, additional wet lab research is necessary to confirm their potential, efficacy, and pharmacological capacity against the condition.
My Take:
The use of computational methods like molecular docking and molecular dynamics can speed up the screening process in discovering potential drugs to combat new epidemics.
DEFINITIONS:
Protocol development: the process of creating a detailed plan for conducting a scientific study or experiment.
SUMMARY:
The objectives of the Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) Multi-site Observational Study of PASC in Adults (RECOVER-Adult) are to: (1) characterize PASC prevalence; (2) characterize the symptoms, organ dysfunction, natural history, and distinct phenotypes of PASC; (3) identify demographic, social and clinical risk factors for PASC onset and recovery; and (4) define the biological mechanisms underlying PASC pathogenesis.
The RECOVER-Adult schedule of assessments includes: surveys, collection of biologic specimens, physical examinations, laboratory tests, radiologic studies, and invasive procedures to measure study outcomes. The schedule starts at the time of first infection or at the negative test date (“index date”); follow-up visits are conducted at 90-day intervals for a maximum of 4 years.
The primary endpoints of this study are the presence of composite incident or prevalent PASC symptoms and progression of PASC; since there is not yet an agreed-upon definition of PASC, a working definition will be developed as part of the study (see statistical analysis)
Just wanted to show you this.
Promising treatment being developed in Australia 🇦🇺
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-28/new-drug-could-herald-breakthrough-in-fight-against-long-covid/102534002?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=mail&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web
It’s a YouTube link..... hopefully you can see it.
Great work as always Brandon!!