COVID-19 and suicides in India: A pilot study of reports in the media and scientific literature.

BACKGROUND: Our objective was to analyze reports of COVID-19 related suicides (CRS) to identify associated factors with a broader goal to inform management and prevention strategies. METHODS: We searched scientific literature, government websites and online newspaper reports in English and nine regional languages to identify relevant CRS reports. RESULTS: A total of 151 CRS reports were retrieved. CRS was more frequently reported among males (80.8%), those whose COVID status was unknown (48.0%), and those in quarantine/isolation (49.0%). CONCLUSION: The above findings may assist identification of at-risk individuals for COVID-19 related suicidal behavior.

A Study of Vitamin D Level in Critically Ill Patients and Effect of Supplementation on Clinical Outcome.

BACKGROUND: Supplementation of Vitamin-D in Vitamin-D deficient patients may reduce morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients in ICU. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to investigate serum level of Vitamin-D in critically ill patients and supplementation of vitamin-D in deficient patients and finally to compare clinical outcomes between two groups. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Randomized, prospective and comparative study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, serum vitamin-D level was investigated in recruited patients and vitamin-D deficient patients were randomly allocated into two groups viz; group-1, group-2. Vitamin-D (sachet CALCIROL 60,000 IU) supplementation was done once a week and twice a week in in group-1 and group-2 respectively, clinical outcomes between two groups were compared in terms of length of ICU stay, need for inotropic support, need for mechanical ventilation and 28 days ICU mortality. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Mean and standard deviation were calculated. Test of analysis between two groups was done by t-test and then P value was calculated. RESULTS: No significant difference was found between two groups whether vitamin D supplementation done once or twice weekly (P = 0.24) in terms of length of ICU stay. Patients of group-2 required significantly less inotropic support as compared to group-1 (P = 0.037). There was no significant difference found in duration of mechanical ventilation (P = 0.138) and 28 days ICU mortality (P = 0.284). CONCLUSION: From the above results we concluded that vitamin D supplementation in high dosages may be started in all critically ill patients, who are deficient in serum vitamin D level to get better clinical outcomes.