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Hemoglobin As A Predictor For Covid-19 Disease Severity, Nicholas Sarcia, Dan Thai, Andrea M. Bodine Md

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

Background: The dilemma of who is at highest risk for COVID-19 severe disease and death persists. Hemoglobin levels may be an indicator of COVID-19 disease severity. There is inconsistent data on Emergency Department (ED) hemoglobin levels and severity of disease. Our objective was to examine if COVID-19 patients presenting with abnormal hemoglobin levels have an increased risk of severe disease and in-hospital mortality.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, MA to investigate the relationship of COVID-19 disease severity with hemoglobin level. Inclusion criteria consisted of ED patients over 18 years with …

Disease Severity In Covid-19 Breakthrough Cases, Dan Thai, Nicholas Sarcia, Andrea M. Bodine Md

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

Background

Vaccine breakthrough is a phenomenon wherein vaccinated individuals become infected with disease despite adequate protection. During this study period, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported 66.6% of US people have been fully vaccinated. Any measures to improve trust would increase vaccination rates. This study aims to understand vaccine breakthrough cases in COVID-19 by comparing their severity to unvaccinated cases. Our objective is to compare disease severity based on the worst initial vital signs (temperature, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation), length of stay (LOS), and age between vaccinated and unvaccinated COVID-19 cases.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study at …

“Hiccups” With Covid-19 Management, Yong W. Lee, Jacob Psomiadis, Sarah Akbani, Marvin Lopez-Medal, Aisha Miller

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

Hiccups, medically referred as singultus, is a condition that results from involuntary contraction of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles. Singultus is usually a self-limiting condition which typically lasts less than 48 hours but in rare cases, can persist greater than 48 hours. This is a case of a 48 year-old male who was prescribed dexamethasone for COVID-19 but developed intractable singultus for two weeks. Patient was unable to tolerate diet due to intractable singultus leading to vomiting. He underwent various non-pharmacological maneuvers and pharmacotherapy without resolution. Dexamethasone- induced hiccups have been reported as an under recognized side effect of dexamethasone. …