Daily curated COVID-19 literature
WP11 - The objective of this work package is to respond to requests concerning the current scientific knowledge on SARS-CoV-2. Based on the latest scientific literature the team will compile findings and give advice when needed
10 publications
Journal
2020-05-29
Clinical impact of COVID-19 on patients with cancer (CCC19): a cohort study
Expert Summary: This study investigated the outcomes of cancer patients with COVID-19 and examined whether cancer-associated and non-associated factors are related with mortality and severe illness. They found that independent factors associated with increased 30-day mortality, after partial adjustment, were: increased age (per 10 years), male sex, smoking status, number of comorbidities, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 2 or higher, active cancer, and receipt of azithromycin plus hydroxychloroquine (vs treatment with neither). Cancer patients show an increased 30-day all cause mortality.
2020-05-15
Use of renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system inhibitors and risk of COVID-19 requiring admission to hospital: a case-population study
Expert Summary: The authors collected data for 1139 cases and 11 390 population controls. RAAS inhibitors do not increase the risk of COVID-19 requiring admission to hospital, including fatal cases and those admitted to intensive care units, and should not be discontinued to prevent a severe case of COVID-19.
2020-05-14
An outbreak of severe Kawasaki-like disease at the Italian epicentre of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic: an observational cohort study
Expert Summary: The Bergamo province, which is extensively affected by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic, is a natural observatory of virus manifestations in the general population. In the past month, an outbreak of Kawasaki disease was recorded.
2020-05-11
Triple combination of interferon beta-1b, lopinavir–ritonavir, and ribavirin in the treatment of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19: an open-label, randomised, phase 2 trial
Expert Summary: The authors describe the findings of a prospective, open-label, randomised, phase 2 trial in adults with COVID-19 to assess the efficacy and safety of combined interferon beta-1b, lopinavir–ritonavir, and ribavirin. Early triple antiviral therapy was safe and superior to lopinavir–ritonavir alone in alleviating symptoms and shortening the duration of viral shedding and hospital stay in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19.
2020-05-07
COVID-19-associated nephritis: early warning for disease severity and complications?
Expert Summary: In this article, the authors propose and algorithm for early detection of COVID-19-associated nephritis and capillary leak syndrome through a simple and inexpensive urine sample analysis. Following this algorithm could help for predicting which patients should be allocated in the ICU.
2020-05-06
SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus co-infection
Expert Summary: This article describes four cases of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza co-infection diagnosed simultaneously, however the clinical and analytical courses in these patients was not different to other COVID-19 cases. The authors comment that there is a need for more studies to assess the clinical outcomes of co-infection of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza and that the medical community should be aware that SARS-CoV-2 could be a potential diagnostic even in patients with other viral causes.
2020-04-30
Remdesivir in adults with severe COVID-19: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial
Expert Summary: This study reports the outcome of randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multi-centered clinical trial testing the efficacy of Remdesivir, which was shown effective against human and animal-borne coronaviruses including SARS-COV2 in vitro. Remdisivr did not lead to significant clinical benefit and numerically shorter survival.
2020-04-28
What policy makers need to know about COVID-19 protective immunity
Expert Summary: This comment discusses the importance of acquiring herd immunity whilst raising current questions on how some immune status may protect against Covid-19 and how such immunity could be developed naturally. The comment also describes the valuable impact of vaccine development which is central for long-term protection against Covid-19 and suppression of the pandemic.
