BA.5 sub-lineages associated with higher severity of COVID-19 infection: A cross-sectional study in Indonesia.

Objectives: We aimed to compare the clinical severity and outcome among laboratory-confirmed Omicron variant cases admitted between January and December 2022. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in Hasan Sadikin General Hospital between January and December 2022. We enrolled patients aged ≥18 years with laboratory-confirmed Omicron infection. Data were collected from clinical records and a whole genome sequencing database. We compared the risk of severe symptoms and mortality using a logistic regression analysis adjusted for sex, age, comorbidities, and vaccination status. Results: We enrolled 255 patients and the main sub-lineages were BA.1 (16.1%), BA.2 (11.4%), BA.5 (35.7%), XBB (22.7%), and BQ.1 (14.1%). Compared with BA.1/BA.2, BA.5 sub-lineages were associated with severe symptoms (adjusted odds ratio of 2.9, 95% confidence interval 1.1-8.2, P <0.05). The highest risk of severe symptoms and mortality was linked with a high number of comorbidities (adjusted odds ratio of 7.8, 95% confidence interval 1.7-22.4, P <0.05). Booster vaccination was protective of severity and mortality. Conclusions: Disease severity was associated with BA.5 sub-lineages and multiple comorbidities. Good management is particularly important for people with comorbidities. Furthermore, booster vaccination is also required to reduce severity and mortality.

Factors associated with treatment outcome of MDR/RR-TB patients treated with shorter injectable based regimen in West Java Indonesia.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Multi drug or rifampicin resistant tuberculosis (MDR/RR-TB) is a major burden to TB prevention and eradication globally. Since 2016, WHO guidelines have included options for treating MDR/RR-TB with a standard regimen of 9 to 11 months duration (the 'shorter regimen') rather than an individual regimen of at least 20 months. This regimen has been introduced in Indonesia since September 2017. Therefore, we aimed to determine the success rate and factors associated with the treatment outcome of shorter injectable based regimen in West Java province, Indonesia. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of MDR/RR-TB patients aged over 18 years old who received the shorter injectable based regimen between September 2017 and December 2020. We defined successful outcomes as the combined proportion of patients who were cured or had complete treatment. While, unsuccessful outcomes were defined as the combined proportion of patients who died from any causes, failure, and loss to follow-up (LTFU). RESULTS: A total of 315 patients were included in this study. The success rate was 64.5%. Multivariate analysis showed male gender (aRR = 1.18, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.34) increased the chance of successful outcome, while malnutrition (aRR = 0.78, 95% CI 0.68 to 0.89), history of previous TB treatment (aRR = 0.80%CI 0.68 to 0.94), and time of culture conversion >2 months (aRR = 0.72 (95% CI 0.59 to 0.87) decreased the chance of successful outcome. CONCLUSION: History of previous TB treatment, time of culture conversion >2 months, and malnutrition were independent factors that decrease the chance for success rate, while male gender increase the likelihood for success rate of patients treated by the shorter injectable based regimen.

Effect of increased BMI and obesity on the outcome of COVID-19 adult patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Corona virus diseases 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic spread rapidly. Growing evidences that overweight and obesity which extent nearly a third of the world population were associated with severe COVID-19. This study aimed to explore the association and risk of increased BMI and obesity with composite poor outcome in COVID-19 adult patients. METHODS: We conducted a systematic literature search from PubMed and Embase database. We included all original research articles in COVID-19 adult patients and obesity based on classification of Body Mass Index (BMI) and composite poor outcome which consist of ICU admission, ARDS, severe COVID-19, use of mechanical ventilation, hospital admission, and mortality. RESULTS: Sixteen studies were included in meta-analysis with 9 studies presented BMI as continuous outcome and 10 studies presented BMI as dichotomous outcome (cut-off ≥30 kg/m2). COVID-19 patients with composite poor outcome had higher BMI with mean difference 1.12 (95% CI, 0.67-1.57, P < 0.001). Meanwhile, obesity was associated with composite poor outcome with odds ratio (OR) = 1.78 (95% CI, 1.25-2.54, P < 0.001) Multivariate meta-regression showed the association between BMI and obesity on composite poor outcome were affected by age, gender, DM type 2, and hypertension. CONCLUSION: Obesity is a risk factor of composite poor outcome of COVID-19. On the other hand, COVID-19 patients with composite poor outcome have higher BMI. BMI is an important routine procedure that should always be assessed in the management of COVID-19 patients and special attention should be given to patients with obesity.

Report of Two COVID-19 ARDS (CARDS) Cases Who Survived without Intubation and Mechanical Ventilation.

The most severe clinical feature of COVID-19 is Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) which requires intubation and mechanical ventilation and it occurs in approximately 2.3% of cases. About 94% of of these cases end in death. This case series report two confirmed COVID-19 patients who had met criteria of intubation and mechanical ventilation, but not performed to them. Both patients experienced clinical improvement and recovery. Probably this is due to differences of COVID-19 ARDS (CARDS) with typical or classic ARDS.  CARDS is divided into two phenotypes of type L (Low Elastance) and type H (High Elastance). These different phenotypic also distinguish subsequent pathophysiology and clinical management. These phenotype can be differentiate by chest CT scan. This case series emphasizes the importance of understanding this phenotype so that clinicians can provide more appropriate treatment management and also availability of CT scans in health facilities that manage COVID -19.