Neonatal outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Richter F
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8025442 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:In December 2019, a new, severe coronavirus (COVID-19) appeared in Wuhan, China. Shortly after, the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in the United States. The emergence of this virus led many United States governors to enact executive orders in an effort to limit the person-to-person spread of the virus. One state that utilized such measures was New York, which contains New York City (NYC), the most populous city in the United States. Many reports have shown that due to the government-backed shutdowns, the air quality in major global cities improved. However, there has been only limited work on whether this same trend is seen throughout the United States, specifically within the densely populated NYC area. Thus, the focus of this study was to examine whether changes in air quality were observed in NYC resulting from New York State's COVID-19-associated shutdown measures. To do this, daily concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were obtained from 15 central monitoring stations throughout the five NYC boroughs for the first 17 weeks (January through May) of 2015-2020. Decreases in PM2.5 (36%) and NO2 (51%) concentrations were observed shortly after the shutdown took place; however, using a linear time lag model, when changes in these pollutant concentrations were compared to those measured during the same span of time in 2015-2019, no significant difference between the years was found. Therefore, we highlight the importance of considering temporal variability and long-term trends of pollutant concentrations when analyzing for short-term differences in air pollutant concentrations related to the COVID-19 shutdowns.
| S-EPMC7314691 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BACKGROUNDFrom March 2, 2020, to April 12, 2020, New York City (NYC) experienced exponential growth of the COVID-19 pandemic due to novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). Little is known regarding how physicians have been affected. We aimed to characterize the COVID-19 impact on NYC resident physicians.METHODSIRB-exempt and expedited cross-sectional analysis through survey to NYC residency program directors April 3-12, 2020, encompassing events from March 2, 2020, to April 12, 2020.RESULTSFrom an estimated 340 residency programs around NYC, recruitment yielded 91 responses, representing 24 specialties and 2306 residents. In 45.1% of programs, at least 1 resident with confirmed COVID-19 was reported. One hundred one resident physicians were confirmed COVID-19-positive, with an additional 163 residents presumed positive for COVID-19 based on symptoms but awaiting or unable to obtain testing. Two COVID-19-positive residents were hospitalized, with 1 in intensive care. Among specialties with more than 100 residents represented, negative binomial regression indicated that infection risk differed by specialty (P = 0.039). In 80% of programs, quarantining a resident was reported. Ninety of 91 programs reported reuse or extended mask use, and 43 programs reported that personal protective equipment (PPE) was suboptimal. Sixty-five programs (74.7%) redeployed residents elsewhere to support COVID-19 efforts.CONCLUSIONMany resident physicians around NYC have been affected by COVID-19 through direct infection, quarantine, or redeployment. Lack of access to testing and concern regarding suboptimal PPE are common among residency programs. Infection risk may differ by specialty.FUNDINGNational Eye Institute Core Grant P30EY019007; Research to Prevent Blindness Unrestricted Grant; Parker Family Chair; University of Pennsylvania.
| S-EPMC7456242 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundWith the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak there has been concern that patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who develop COVID-19 may be at risk of greater morbidity and mortality than patients without OSA. COVID-19 is associated with an increased mortality in the elderly and particularly those with obesity, hypertension and diabetes, features which are typically seen in patients with OSA. This article describes the COVID-19 environment in New York City in which patients were evaluated and treated for OSA.MethodsA telephone questionnaire survey of 112 OSA patients determined the occurrence of COVID-19 in the sleep apnea population and the patients' perspective on sleep apnea Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) management during the COVID-19 outbreak. The three main objectives of the survey were as follows: (1) To discover how patients were coping with COVID-19 pandemic in terms of their sleep apnea and PAP use, (2) To determine whether PAP usage changed after the onset of the outbreak in terms of adherence, and (3) To find out if patients were concerned about whether they were at greater risk of contracting COVID-19 because of their sleep apnea and, if they became infected, whether COVID-19 might result in greater complications because of the presence of sleep apnea.Results/conclusionsThe adjustment in clinical management of OSA patients is described both during the peak of the outbreak in New York State (NYS), as well as the proposed modifications that will be instituted in order to return to full sleep center activities.
| S-EPMC7368649 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted the practice of endoscopy, but characteristics of COVID patients undergoing endoscopy have not been adequately described.AimsTo compare findings, clinical outcomes, and patient characteristics of endoscopies performed during the pandemic in patients with and without COVID-19.MethodsThis was a retrospective multicenter study of adult endoscopies at six academic hospitals in New York between March 16 and April 30, 2020. Patient and procedure characteristics including age, sex, indication, findings, interventions, and outcomes were compared in patients testing positive, negative, or untested for COVID-19.ResultsSix hundred and five endoscopies were performed on 545 patients during the study period. There were 84 (13.9%), 255 (42.2%), and 266 (44.0%) procedures on COVID-positive, negative, and untested patients, respectively. COVID patients were more likely to undergo endoscopy for gastrointestinal bleeding or gastrostomy tube placement, and COVID patients with gastrointestinal bleeding more often required hemostatic interventions on multivariable logistic regression. COVID patients had increased length of stay, intensive care unit admission, and intubation rate. Twenty-seven of 521 patients (5.2%) with no or negative COVID testing prior to endoscopy later tested positive, a median of 13.5 days post-procedure.ConclusionsEndoscopies in COVID patients were more likely to require interventions, due either to more severe illness or a higher threshold to perform endoscopy. A significant number of patients endoscoped without testing were subsequently found to be COVID-positive. Gastroenterologists in areas affected by the pandemic must adapt to changing patterns of endoscopy practice and ensure pre-endoscopy COVID testing.
| S-EPMC7490780 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The COVID-19 pandemic has yielded disproportionate impacts on communities of color in New York City (NYC). Researchers have noted that social disadvantage may result in limited capacity to socially distance, and consequent disparities. We investigate the association between neighborhood social disadvantage and the ability to socially distance, infections, and mortality in Spring 2020. We combine Census Bureau and NYC open data with SARS-CoV-2 testing data using supervised dimensionality-reduction with Bayesian Weighted Quantile Sums regression. The result is a ZIP code-level index with weighted social factors associated with infection risk. We find a positive association between neighborhood social disadvantage and infections, adjusting for the number of tests administered. Neighborhood disadvantage is also associated with a proxy of the capacity to socially isolate, NYC subway usage data. Finally, our index is associated with COVID-19-related mortality.
| S-EPMC8211826 | biostudies-literature
Project description: Not available
| S-EPMC7377796 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundHealthcare resources have been greatly limited by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic halting non-essential surgical cases without clear service expansion protocols.Questions/purposesWe sought to compare the peri-operative outcomes of patients undergoing spine surgery during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic to a matched cohort prior to the pandemic.MethodsWe identified a consecutive sample of 127 adult patients undergoing spine surgery between March 9, 2020, and April 10, 2020, corresponding with the state of emergency declared in New York and the latest possible time for 1-month surgical follow-up. The study group was matched one-to-one based on age, gender, and body mass index with eligible control patients who underwent similar spine procedures prior to the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. Surgeries performed for infectious or oncologic indications were excluded. Intra- and post-operative complication rates, re-operations, hospital length of stay, re-admissions, post-operative visit format, development of post-operative fever and/or respiratory symptoms, and SAR-CoV2 testing.ResultsA total of 254 patients (127 SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, 127 matched controls) were included. One hundred fifty-eight were male (62%), and 96 were female (38%). The mean age in the pandemic group was 59.8 ± 13.4 years; that of the matched controls was 60.3 ± 12.3. All patients underwent general anesthesia and did not require re-intubation. There were no significant differences in 1-month post-operative complication rates (16.5% pandemic vs. 12.6% control). There was one death in the pandemic group. No patients tested positive for the virus.ConclusionThis study represents the first report of post-operative outcomes in a large group of spine surgical patients in an area heavily affected by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
| S-EPMC7491022 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectiveNew York City (NYC) is home to the largest public healthcare system in the United States and was an early epicenter of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections. This system serves as the safety net for underserved and marginalized communities disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Prior studies reported substantial declines in pediatric emergency department (ED) volume during the initial pandemic surge, but few describe the ongoing impact of COVID-19 throughout the year. We evaluated the characteristics of pediatric ED visits to NYC public hospitals during the pandemic lockdown and reopening periods of 2020 compared to the prior year.MethodsRetrospective cross-sectional analysis of pediatric ED visits from 11 NYC public hospitals from January 2019-December 2020. Visit demographics, throughput times, and diagnosis information during the early (3/7/20-6/7/20) and late (6/8/20-12/31/20) pandemic periods coinciding with the New York State of emergency declaration (3/7/20) and the first reopening date (6/7/20) were compared to similar time periods in 2019. Findings were correlated with key pandemic shutdown and reopening events.ResultsThere was a 47% decrease in ED volume in 2020 compared to 2019 (125,649 versus 238,024 visits). After reopening orders began in June 2020, volumes increased but peaked at <60% of 2019 volumes. Admission rates, triage acuity, and risk of presenting with a serious medical illness were significantly higher in 2020 versus 2019 (P < 0.001). Time-to-provider times decreased however provider-to-disposition times increased during the pandemic (P < 0.001). Infectious and asthma diagnoses declined >70% during the pandemic in contrast to the year prior. After reopening periods began, penetrating traumatic injuries significantly increased compared to 2019 [+34%, Relative Risk: 3.2 (2.6, 3.8)].ConclusionsNYC public hospitals experienced a sharp decrease in pediatric volume but an increase in patient acuity during both the initial pandemic surge and through the reopening periods. As COVID-19 variants emerge, the threat of the current pandemic expanding remains. Understanding its influence on pediatric ED utilization can optimize resource allocation and ensure equitable care for future surge events.
| S-EPMC8966116 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Background: Acute appendicitis (AA) is the most common abdominal surgical emergency in children and adolescents. In the year immediately following the declaration of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), there was a precipitous decline in emergency department (ED) visits especially for surgical conditions and infectious diseases. Fear of exposure to severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 infection resulted in delay in presentation and time to surgery, and a shift toward more conservative management. Objective: Our goal was to compare the incidence and severity of AA before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Patients aged 2-18 years admitted with the diagnosis of AA to Flushing Hospital Medical Center or Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in Queens, New York, were selected for chart review. Data extracted from electronic health records included demographics, clinical findings, imaging studies, and operative and pathological findings. We calculated the Alvarado score (AS) for incidence and the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) grade for severity. We compared patients admitted between March 1, 2018-February 29, 2020 (pre-pandemic) to patients admitted between March 1, 2020-February 28, 2021 (pandemic). We then compared pre-pandemic and pandemic groups to determine differences in pediatric AA incidence and severity. Results: Of 239 patients diagnosed with AA, 184 (77%) were in the pre-pandemic group and 55 (23%) in the pandemic group. Incidence (number per year) of AA declined by 40%. The pandemic group had significantly greater overall AS of ≥7, indicating increased likelihood to require surgery, (P = 0.04) and higher AAST grade demonstrating increased severity (P = 0.02). Conclusion: There was a decline in the number of AA cases seen in our pediatric EDs and admitted during the first year of the pandemic. Clinicians need to be aware of increased severity of AA at time of presentation during public health emergencies such as a pandemic, possibly due to modified patient behavior.
| S-EPMC10527842 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Research suggest prenatal vaccination against coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is safe. However, previous studies utilized retrospectively collected data or examined late pregnancy vaccinations. We investigated the associations of COVID-19 vaccination throughout pregnancy with delivery and neonatal outcomes. We included 1,794 mother-neonate dyads enrolled in the Generation C Study with known prenatal COVID-19 vaccination status and complete covariate and outcome data. We used multivariable quantile regressions to estimate the effect of prenatal COVID-19 vaccination on birthweight, delivery gestational age, and blood loss at delivery; and Poisson generalized linear models for Caesarean delivery (CD) and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admission. Using the above methods, we estimated effects of trimester of vaccine initiation on these outcomes. In our sample, 13.7% (n = 250) received at least one prenatal dose of any COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccination was not associated with birthweight (β = 12.42 g [-90.5, 114.8]), gestational age (β = 0.2 days [-1.1, 1.5]), blood loss (β = -50.6 ml [-107.0, 5.8]), the risks of CD (RR = 0.8; [0.6, 1.1]) or NICU admission (RR = 0.9 [0.5, 1.7]). Trimester of vaccine initiation was also not associated with these outcomes. Our findings suggest that there is no associated risk between prenatal COVID-19 vaccination and adverse delivery and neonatal outcomes in a cohort sample from NYC.
| S-EPMC9749885 | biostudies-literature