Highlights Fatality due to COVID-19 does not alter the time under oncological palliative care. The retrospective design of this pioneering study allows causal inference. Access to oncological palliative care frequently approaches terminality of life. ABSTRACT Objective: This study aimed at investigating the extent to which COVID-19-induced fatalities affect the duration of palliative care among patients with advanced cancer. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Palliative Care Unit of the Brazilian Instituto Nacional de Câncer in Rio de […]

ABSTRACT Highlights Renal involvement was frequent in patients with COVID-19 and related to worse outcomes. Diuretic use, mechanical ventilation, proteinuria, hematuria, age, and creatine phosphokinase and D-dimer levels were risk factors for acute kidney injury. Acute kidney injury, mechanical ventilation, elevated SOFA Score, and elevated ATN-ISS were associated with mortality. The second wave was associated with greater severity; however, the mortality rates were similar between the two periods. This may reflect the effectiveness of vaccines and the constant learning that […]

Highlights A  single-center study evaluated the prevalence and risk factors for Burnout syndrome in intensive care unit teams. The study revealed a high prevalence of Burnout syndrome in at least one dimension. Factors such as profession and having two or more jobs were associated with severe burnout symptoms. The study highlighted the need for interventions and support to address burnout among intensive care unit teams. ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of burnout among the intensive care unit team of […]

Highlights Acute respiratory distress syndrome is a severe presentation of COVID-19 without effective treatment despite intensive research. Inhaled nitric oxide is a vasodilator that has been studied in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome COVID-19 yielding contradictory results. The use of inhaled nitric oxide rescue therapy in critically ill patients with COVID-19 experiencing moderate-to-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome was significantly associated with an improvement in oxygenation parameters with no difference in mortality. ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the responsiveness of COVID-19 […]

Highlights Previous influenza vaccination was associated with a reduced need for hospitalization after COVID-19 diagnosis. In 60 days of outpatient setting, four deaths occurred (three in the hospitalized and one in the non-hospitalized group). The persistence of more than two symptoms in 60 days was observed in 31.9% of patients. ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate deaths, hospitalizations, and persistence of symptoms in patients with COVID-19 after infection in an outpatient setting during the first COVID-19 wave in Brazil. Methods: This prospective […]

Highlights Up to 75% of COVID-19 telemedicine patients receive unnecessary drugs; this highlights the need for research. This study assessed the effect of guideline training and feedback on 200,000 telemedicine visits in Brazil. Under 2% of patients with COVID-19 received non-guideline recommended antimicrobials, reflecting high adherence rates. Targeted interventions significantly enhance guideline compliance for safer telemedicine prescriptions. ABSTRACT Objective: The quality of care and safety for Telemedicine-discharged patients with suspected respiratory infections are closely related to low rates of prescriptions […]

Highlights Approximately one in five respondents adhered to measures of social distancing. Adherence to social distancing was more prevalent in women, older adults with low educational levels, and those affected by multiple chronic diseases. Less than 5% of the population left home normally, whereas the vast majority only went out to carry out essential activities. ABSTRACT Objective: We aimed to analyze the frequency of adherence to social distancing and individual protection measures of adult and older populations in two cities […]

Highlights COVID-19 infection among healthcare personnel has impacted the workforce in hospitals. Knowledge of the risk factors for COVID-19 infection is important for disease prevention measures. Failure to train healthcare personnel is an important risk factor for acquiring COVID-19. ABSTRACT Objective: To verify the rate of COVID-19 infection among healthcare personnel at high and low risk of COVID-19 infection and identify the underlying risk factors. Methods: This crosssectional study was conducted between December 1, 2020 and February 28, 2021. Associations […]

Highlights Lung ultrasound enables precise diagnosis and ongoing monitoring of the disease. Ultrasound is an effective tool for assessing pulmonary findings in COVID-19. Structured reports enhance communication and are easily reproducible. ABSTRACT Objective: We aimed to share our experience in implementing a structured system for COVID-19 lung findings, elucidating key aspects of the lung ultrasound score to facilitate its standardized clinical use beyond the pandemic scenario. Methods: Using a scoring system to classify the extent of lung involvement, we retrospectively […]

Highlights Developed models to forecast bed occupancy for up to 14 days and monitored errors for 365 days. Telemedicine calls from COVID-19 patients correlated withthe number of patients hospitalized in the next 8 days. ABSTRACT Objective: To develop and validate predictive models to estimate the number of COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the intensive care units and general wards of a private not-for-profit hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. Methods: Two main models were developed. The first model calculated hospital occupation as […]