Search results for “COVID- 19”

RETRACTED: Association of Body Mass Index (BMI) and Severity of COVID- 19: A Multicentric Study from Maharashtra, India

This article has been retracted on 30 August 2025. VIEW THE RETRACTION NOTICE (https://doi.org/10.14302/issn.2379-7835.ijn-25-5842) Objective The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the global research efforts to identify the risk factors which would lead to severe COVID-19 disease. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods A total of 2820 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 disease in nine Government Medical Colleges, COVID hospitals or COVID care centers of Maharashtra were included in the study. Interviews were conducted on the telephone and counselling was done. Results Among 2820, 2442 (86.60%) were asymptomatic or had a mild or moderate illness. More than half of the total COVID- 19 positive cases, 1591 (56.41%), were in the normal BMI range, and of these only 183 (11.50%) had severe COVID-19 disease. On the other hand, 647 (22.94%) patients were overweight and 106 (16.38%) had Severe COVID- 19 disease. Similarly, the patients who were obese, 363 (84.03%) were asymptomatic and 69 (15.97%) had severe COVID- 19 disease. Odds ratio for this association was found as 1.5, which indicates that patients who were obese (BMI ≥ 27.5) had one and half times increased odds of progression to severity as compared to patients having normal BMI. This association was found to be statistically significant (p- value < 0.05). Conclusion Our findings highlight the significant role of BMI in clinical progression of COVID-19 disease. Patients with underweight and obesity experienced more severe outcomes than those of normal weight when being hospitalized with COVID-19 disease.

Retraction Note: Association of Body Mass Index (BMI) and Severity of COVID- 19: A Multicentric Study from Maharashtra, India

Pyrexia And Liver Injury After A Second SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination: Macrophage Activation Manifested In Liver

Vaccination against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Co V-2) has contributed to control of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). On the other side, vaccination of SARS-CoV-2 could trigger autoimmune or inflammatory diseases. We present a 50-year-old female with well-controlled optic neuromyelitis with prednisolone (PSL) maintained at a dose of 2.5 mg/day. She ran a fever and liver injury was indicated 5 weeks after a second COVID-19 vaccination (BNT162b2 mRNA/Pfizer ). Liver biopsy showed accumulation of macrophages around the central veins, identified using anti-CD68 antibodies. As the treatment, cyclosporine A improved liver injury. COVID- 19 vaccination may have triggered liver inflammation due to cytokine storm via macrophage activation in the liver.

Chirps Amidst Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) Transmission and Prevention in Ethiopia in 2020

Background Ethiopia confirmed its 1st case of COVID-19 on Friday 13th February 2020. The burden increased dramatically by August/2020. The conditions that led to this rise were not reviewed. Objective To exploreCOVID-19 related phenomena in Ethiopia during 2019-2020. Materials and Methods Review of journals, books, and letters to editors, e-sources, news, personal experiences, observations, and communications. Results The zoonotic source of SARS- CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome- Coronavirus-2) is not confirmed. The precedent events; and exact mechanism of COVID-19 is not clear. Dynamic models were required on the time line of dynamics of COVID-19; dynamics of infectiousness of COVID-19, and mechanism of transmission of COVID-19. Incubatory carriers might have been missed. Screening based on temperature had been problematic. The time spent in the development of diagnostic test for COVID-19 might have contributed to the early spread. Uninterrupted flights to China during the epidemic by Ethiopian Airlines as well as uninterrupted domestic flights; IDP (Internally Displaced People); and others put Ethiopia (and other countries) at great risk. Demographic adjustment may not be applicable for Ethiopia due to lack of census which had to be conducted every 10 year, was conducted only in 2007. This adds to the problem of error projection. The impact of HIV (Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus Disease) and war in Ethiopia before 2000 might have had affected people who would be now old age and who would be at the most risk of death. This made the impact of COVID-19 to appear low as revealed by the lower number of COVID-related deaths in Ethiopia. There were also hesitations inconsistencies in case definitions; implementations of quarantine; and burial regulations. Conclusion Even though uninhibited foreign flight to China as well as domestic flights; inconsistencies in the implementation of regulations pertaining to COVID-19 have contributed to COVID- 19 emergence in Ethiopia, the absence of census; the demographic impact of HIV and war before 2000 might have made the impact of COVID-19 to appear low as revealed by the lower number of COVID-related deaths in Ethiopia. Recommendation Accurate and current evaluation of the impact of COVID-19 in Ethiopia may require the absence of census; demographic consequences of HIV; and war before 2000 into consideration.

Redefining Coronavirus: Update on the Impacts of COVID-19 in the Rural Areas of Abia State

Public health professionals working in rural communities are aware of the health disparities which result from lack of physicians, limited services, and income during the pandemic. Also they are aware that some populations are more vulnerable than others. People in the rural areas are experiencing problems on their physical, social and economic life styles because the pandemic is exacerbating some inequities. Individuals especially women and children in the rural areas are facing barriers in accessing health care services due to lack of resources and availability of health care providers in the communities. With COVID-19, women are less likely to seek services, including sexual and reproductive health services. Such services may be postponed to limit exposure to COVID-19 infection. This is particularly disturbing because in addition to the women maintaining their own health, they are also responsible for taking care of the mental, emotional and physical health needs of their families as well as all domestic responsibilities. As such, women in rural settings face special challenges as a result of these significant roles they play. Therefore, the impacts of COVID-19 are exacerbated on women by virtue of their sex and the roles they play in the family. This is a qualitative study that reviewed the reports of the 36 health care professionals under the aegis of members of COVID-19 committee working in partnership with state government to control, prevent and cushion the effects of COVID-19 in the society. This study is therefore, a summary of the observations of the COVID-19 committee members made up of 10(27.8%) females and 26(72.2%) males. The study focused on exploring how individual lifestyles in the rural areas have been affected in the face of COVID- 19 pandemic by identifying the vulnerabilities in social, political and economic systems which can amplify the impacts of the pandemic. Findings showed that preventive measures like lockdown and social distancing rules, wearing of face mask, hand washing with soap, and environmental cleanliness were not observed. The study noted that health seeking behaviours, sexual and marital life including income, education, employment and social interactions were all negatively affected. Most hospitals were battered and health care professionals boycotted the hospitals for fear of being infected. It was found that lack of health workers in the hospitals caused a good number of individuals to engage in self-medications. Also most pregnant women delivered their babies at home and few with traditional birth attendants. Some of the women who had deliveries at home experienced complications during and after delivery. Unfortunately, the report showed that governments’ financial supports to these women and their family members were insignificant as the government was more concerned with mitigating the spread of COVID-19 than assisting women to have safe deliveries. Therefore, the vulnerable groups especially women, children, and the elderly who experienced threats to their safety and wellbeing as a result of the services that were disrupted during the pandemic, should be assisted so as not to lose their lives to preventable diseases.