Low incidence of venous thrombosis but high incidence of arterial thrombotic complications among critically ill COVID-19 patients in Singapore.

BACKGROUND: Arterial and venous thrombosis are reported to be common in critically ill COVID-19 patients. METHOD AND RESULTS: This is a national multicenter retrospective observational study involving all consecutive adult COVID-19 patients who required intensive care units (ICU) admission between 23 January 2020 and 30 April 2020 in Singapore. One hundred eleven patients were included and the venous and arterial thrombotic rates in ICU were 1.8% (n = 2) and 9.9% (n = 11), respectively. Major bleeding rate was 14.8% (n = 16). CONCLUSIONS: Critically ill COVID-19 patients in Singapore have lower venous thromboembolism but higher arterial thrombosis rates and bleeding manifestations than other reported cohorts.

Avoidable healthcare costs of spinning-induced rhabdomyolysis: a case series.

Spinning-induced rhabdomyolysis (SIR) is a well documented cause of exertional rhabdomyolysis. We aim to raise awareness and to call for preventive action towards avoidable healthcare costs associated with SIR. To this end, we describe three cases of SIR, associated healthcare costs and possible preventive strategies. We propose that community-based preventive measures should be considered in addressing the economic consequences of SIR.

Response-Adapted Therapy for Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The development of potent novel agents has improved outcomes for patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Heterogeneity of response to therapy, an expanding arsenal of treatment options, and cost are however major challenges for physicians making treatment decisions. Response-adapted therapy is hence an attractive strategy for sequencing of therapy in MM. Despite its successful application in other haematologic malignancies, response-adapted therapy is yet to become a standard of care for MM. We provide our perspective on response-adapted therapeutic strategies evaluated thus far and how they may be implemented and improved on in treatment algorithms of the future. RECENT FINDINGS: While older studies suggested that early response based on International Myeloma Working Group response criteria could impact long-term outcomes, recent data have contradicted these findings. The advent of minimal residual disease (MRD) as a powerful prognostic factor in MM has raised the promise of MRD-adapted treatment strategies. The development of more sensitive techniques for paraprotein quantification as well as imaging modalities to detect extramedullary disease is likely to change response assessment in MM. These techniques combined with MRD assessment may provide sensitive and holistic response assessments which could be evaluated in clinical trials. Response-adapted treatment algorithms have the potential to allow an individualised treatment strategy, maximising efficacy, while minimising toxicities and cost. Standardisation of MRD methodology, incorporation of imaging into response assessment, and the optimal management of MRD positive patients are key questions to be addressed in future trials.

Venous thromboembolism in an Asian COVID-19 cohort across 3 infection waves-a retrospective observational study.

Background: A high incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in COVID-19 has led to international recommendations for thromboprophylaxis. With limited data on Asian patients with COVID-19, the role of thromboprophylaxis remains unclear. Objectives: To investigate the in-hospital incidence of VTE in an Asian COVID-19 cohort, describe the VTE trend through successive COVID-19 waves (wild-type, delta, and omicron), and characterize the risk factors for VTE. Methods: We performed a retrospective observational cohort study of hospitalized COVID-19 adults from January 2020 to February 2022. Objectively confirmed VTE were reviewed to obtain VTE incidence and trend. Subset analysis of critical (intensive care), moderate (oxygen supplementation), and mild cases hospitalized ≥5 days was performed to investigate risk factors and in-hospital hazards of VTE. Results: Sixteen VTE events occurred among 3574 patients. Overall, VTE incidence was 0.45%, or 0.21% in mild, 3.60% in moderate, and 5.38% in critical infection. The maximum cumulative risk of VTE was 1.14% at 14 days for mild, 8.13% at 21 days for moderate, and 11.55% at 35 days for critical infection. Thromboprophylaxis use in mild, moderate, and critical cases was 5.7%, 28.8%, and 81.7%, respectively. In multivariable analysis, the severity of infection remained the strongest independent predictor of VTE. Compared with mild infection, the relative risk was 8.26 (95% CI, 2.26-30.16) for critical infection and 6.29 (95% CI, 1.54-25.67) for moderate infection. Conclusion: Overall, VTE incidence in Asian patients with COVID-19 is <1% across successive waves. Patients with moderate and critical infections are at greater risk for VTE and should be considered for routine thromboprophylaxis.

Management of classical Philadelphia chromosome-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms in Asia: consensus of the Asian Myeloid Working Group.

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) are a heterogeneous group of clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorders characterized clinically by the proliferation of one or more hematopoietic lineage(s). The classical Philadelphia-chromosome (Ph)-negative MPNs include polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET) and primary myelofibrosis (PMF). The Asian Myeloid Working Group (AMWG) comprises representatives from fifteen Asian centers experienced in the management of MPN. This consensus from the AMWG aims to review the current evidence in the risk stratification and treatment of Ph-negative MPN, to identify management gaps for future improvement, and to offer pragmatic approaches for treatment commensurate with different levels of resources, drug availabilities and reimbursement policies in its constituent regions. The management of MPN should be patient-specific and based on accurate diagnostic and prognostic tools. In patients with PV, ET and early/prefibrotic PMF, symptoms and risk stratification will guide the need for early cytoreduction. In younger patients requiring cytoreduction and in those experiencing resistance or intolerance to hydroxyurea, recombinant interferon-α preparations (pegylated interferon-α 2A or ropeginterferon-α 2b) should be considered. In myelofibrosis, continuous risk assessment and symptom burden assessment are essential in guiding treatment selection. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in MF should always be based on accurate risk stratification for disease-risk and post-HSCT outcome. Management of classical Ph-negative MPN entails accurate diagnosis, cytogenetic and molecular evaluation, risk stratification, and treatment strategies that are outcome-oriented (curative, disease modification, improvement of quality-of-life).

Equitable and Holistic Public Health Measures During the Singaporean COVID-19 Pandemic.

This Covid-19 pandemic has been a trying time for all countries, governments, societies, and individuals. The physical, social, and organizational infrastructure of healthcare systems across the world is being stressed. This pandemic has highlighted that the healthcare of the country is as strong as its weakest link and that no aspect of life, be it social or economic, is spared from this pandemic. The authors would like to highlight some of the lessons learned from Singapores management of the Covid-19 pandemic. During the Singaporean Covid-19 pandemic, public health policy planning was all encompassing in its coverage, involving various stakeholders in government and society. The important role of individuals, governments, industry, and primary healthcare practitioners when tackling COVID-19 are highlighted. Singapores management of the Covid-19 pandemic involved an approach that involved the whole of society, with a particular focus on supporting the vulnerable foreign worker population, which formed the majority of Covid-19 cases in the country. Hopefully amidst the trying times, valuable lessons are learnt that will be etched into medical history and collective memory. We hope to highlight these lessons for future generations, both for members of the public and fellow healthcare practitioners.

The psychological impact of COVID-19 on 'hidden' frontline healthcare workers.

BACKGROUND: The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has led to rising death tolls and stressed healthcare systems, resulting in an unprecedented psychological stress on healthcare workers worldwide. However, the majority of studies only accounted for frontline healthcare workers with direct patient exposure. AIM: This study aims to look at the psychological impact of COVID-19 in a specific, vulnerable and yet hidden group of healthcare workers, namely laboratory healthcare workers who are at high risk exposure to SARS-CoV-2 virus from handling infected patients' blood samples, in addition to a marked increase in workload. METHOD: A multicentre study was conducted in Singapore via online questionnaire looking at psychological and physical impact of COVID-19 on laboratory healthcare workers. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale, Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and Numeric rating scale on fear (NRS) were validated scores used in this study. Data analysis was performed using SPSS statistical software version 23 (IBM Corp). RESULTS: A total of 122 staffs participated and more than half of the cohort experienced mild to severe fear, anxiety and depression. Increase in depression score was also found to be associated with increased physical exhaustion (OR = 6.1, 95% CI 1.4-29.1, p = .02), loss of appetite (OR = 2.7, 95% CI 1.2-6.0, p = .02), poor sleep quality (OR = 7.5, 95% CI 2.9-19.4, p = .005), and the use of sedative (OR = 3.9, 95% CI 1.1-13.5, p = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Hence, it is imperative that prompt action needs to be taken to address the psychological needs of this vulnerable group of healthcare workers as the pandemic continues.

Haematological profile of COVID-19 patients from a centre in Singapore.

BACKGROUND: Haematological markers such as absolute lymphopenia have been associated with severe COVID-19 infection. However, in the literature to date, the cohorts described have typically included patients who were moderate to severely unwell with pneumonia and who required intensive care stay. It is uncertain if these markers apply to a population with less severe illness. We sought to describe the haematological profile of patients with mild disease with COVID-19 admitted to a single centre in Singapore. METHODS: We examined 554 consecutive PCR positive SARS-COV-2 patients admitted to a single tertiary healthcare institution from Feb 2020 to April 2020. In all patients a full blood count was obtained within 24 h of presentation. RESULTS: Patients with pneumonia had higher neutrophil percentages (66.5 ± 11.6 vs 55.2 ± 12.6%, p < 0.001), lower absolute lymphocyte count (1.5 ± 1.1 vs 1.9 ± 2.1 x109/L, p < 0.011) and absolute eosinophil count (0.2 ± 0.9 vs 0.7 ± 1.8 × 109/L, p = 0.002). Platelet counts (210 ± 56 vs 230 ± 61, p = 0.020) were slightly lower in the group with pneumonia. We did not demonstrate significant differences in the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, monocyte-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-lymphocyte ratio in patients with or without pneumonia. Sixty-eight patients (12.3%) had peripheral eosinophilia. This was more common in migrant workers living in dormitories. CONCLUSION: Neutrophilia and lymphopenia were found to be markers associated with severe COVID-19 illness. We did not find that combined haematological parameters: neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, monocyte-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-lymphocyte ratio, had any association with disease severity in our cohort of patients with mild-moderate disease. Migrant workers living in dormitories had eosinophilia which may reflect concurrent chronic parasitic infection.