Real-life evaluation of incidence and clinical outcomes of COVID-19 among healthcare workers during pre-vaccination and post-vaccination periods: A cross-sectional impact study.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to evaluate the prevalence and clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in healthcare workers (HCWs) in the pre-vaccination and post-vaccination periods. In addition, we determined factors associated with the development of COVID-19 after vaccination. METHODOLOGY: In this analytical cross-sectional epidemiological study, HCWs who were vaccinated between January 14, 2021, and March 21, 2021, were included. HCWs were followed up for 105 days after the 2 doses of CoronaVac. Pre-vaccination and post-vaccination periods were compared. RESULTS: A total of 1,000 HCWs were included, 576 patients (57.6%) were male, and the mean age was 33.2 ± 9.6 years. In the last 3 months during the pre-vaccination period, 187 patients had COVID-19, and the cumulative incidence of COVID-19 was 18.7%. Six of these patients were hospitalized. Severe disease was observed in three patients. In the first 3 months post-vaccination period, COVID-19 was detected in 50 patients, and the cumulative incidence of the disease was determined to be 6.1%. Hospitalization and severe disease were not detected. Age (p = 0.29), sex (OR = 1.5, p = 0.16), smoking (OR = 1.29, p = 0.43), and underlying diseases (OR = 1.6, p = 0.26) were not associated with post-vaccination COVID-19. A history of COVID-19 significantly reduced the likelihood of the development of post-vaccination COVID-19 in multivariate analysis (p = 0.002, OR = 0.16, 95% CI = 0.05-0.51). CONCLUSIONS: CoronaVac significantly reduces the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and alleviates the severity of COVID-19 in the early period. Additionally, HCWs who have been infected and vaccinated with CoronaVac are less likely to be reinfected with COVID-19.

Long-term follow-up of treatment-naïve HBeAg-negative patients with chronic hepatitis B.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We aimed to explore long-term results of oral antiviral agents in treatment-naïve "HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B (CHB)" and determine the factors affecting the complete virological response. METHOD: Patients with HBeAg-negative CHB who used oral antiviral agents for at least 3 years were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: A total of 173 patients were recorded. The mean duration of treatment was 62.2 ± 28.9 months. Complete virological responses (CVR) were 82.8% (n = 53/64) in tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), 84.4% (n = 49/58) in lamivudine (LAM), 83.9% (n = 26/31) in entecavir (ETV), 95% in telbivudine (LdT) (n = 19/20) (p = 0.290). Multivariate analysis revealed age ≤ 40 (p = 0.012, 95%CI = 1.38-13.76, OR = 4.36) and baseline HBV DNA value (p = 0.003, 95%CI = 1.23-2.63, OR = 1.78) as independent factors for CVR. Virological breakthrough was detected in 29 (50%) patients on LAM therapy, two (6.4%) patients on ETV therapy, and two (10%) patients on LdT therapy. Treatment was switched to another antiviral agent due to osteoporosis in four patients in the TDF group, muscle pain in nine patients in the LDT group, and headache in one patient in the ETV group. Hepatocelluler cancer was detected in five patients. HBsAg seroclearance developed in two patients. Anti-HBs seroconversion was not detected. CONCLUSION: CVR was achieved at similar rates with all four antiviral agents, while younger age (≤ 40) and low baseline viral load were the main factors for virological response. However, drug resistance and virological breakthrough in the LAM group and side effects in the LdT group were detected during the long-term follow-up. Moreover, HBsAg seroclearance was achieved at very low rates with oral antiviral agents.

[Clinical Characteristics of Mild-Moderate COVID-19 Patients and Risk Factors for the Development of Pneumonia]. / Hafif-Orta Klinik Seyirli COVID-19 Hastalarinin Genel Özellikleri ve Pnömoni Gelisimi için Risk Faktörler.

Limited data exists to date on the predictors for the development of pneumonia in patients with mild and moderate coronavirus (COVID-19). In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the demographic characteristics and clinical findings of mild and moderate COVID-19 and to determine the risk factors for the development of COVID-19 pneumonia in patients admitted to the pandemic outpatient clinic of a university hospital. A total of 414 patients with laboratory confirmed COVID-19 were included. Of these, 220 (53.1%) were male, the mean age was 38.3 ± 12.7. Median duration of hospital admission from the onset of symptoms was three days (0-11). Of the confirmed COVID-19 cases, 154 (37.2%) had a history of family contact and the most common symptoms were weakness (68.4%), myalgia (61.8%), headache (56.5%), loss of smell (45.2%), loss of taste (43.2%) and anorexia (42.8%). Among females, weakness (p= 0.016), headache (p= 0.008), sore throat (p= 0.032), nausea (p= 0.003), anorexia (p= 0.045), loss of taste (p= 0.005) and loss of smell (p<0.001) were more common. Loss of taste (47.6% vs. 25%, p<0.001) and loss of smell (50% vs. 26.3%, p<0.001) were more common in patients with under the age of 50 and cough (43.4% vs. 29.3%, p= 0.003) was more common in patients with above the age of 40. Among 46 (11.1%) patients with asymptomatic COVID-19, there was no significant difference (p= 0.500) between the genders. Pneumonia was detected in 150 (43.8%) of 339 patients who underwent thorax computed tomography. In the univariate analysis; advanced age (p<0.001, odds ratio (OR)= 1.44), obesity (p<0.001 OR= 2.5), not being actively smoking (p<0.001, OR= 6.19), fever at first admission (p= 0.002, OR= 2.02), cough (p<0.001, OR= 3.26), shortness of breath (p<0.001, OR= 23.37), weakness (p= 0.042, OR= 1.63), anorexia (p= 0.009, OR= 1.79) and elevation of D-dimer (p= 0.014, OR= 1.92) were associated with the development of pneumonia. In multivariate analysis, obesity (p= 0.005, OR= 2.69), not being actively smoking (p<0.001, OR= 5.43), cough at first admission p= 0.017, OR= 2.16) and shortness of breath (p= 0.008, OR= 16.22) was determined as an independent risk factor for the development of pneumonia. CRP (p<0.001), D-dimer (p<0.001), ferritin (p<0.001) values among 108 (26.1%) patients with a body-mass index(BMI) >30 were high, and 60.9% of the patients had pneumonia (p<0.001) . CRP (p<0.001), D-dimer (p= 0.010) values were low, lymphocyte count (p= 0.001) was high among 106 (25.6%) active smokers, and 15.6% of the patients had pneumonia (p<0.001). Of the patients reported with persistent symptoms, 25.9% had loss of smell, 25% had weakness, and 23.1% had loss of taste on the seventh day; 21.1% had loss of smell, 21.1% had myalgia, and 19.7% had loss of taste on the 14th day. During their follow-up, the COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test was studied in 286 patients for control purposes. The median time of being negative for COVID-19 PCR test was eight days (3-56). In conclusion, symptoms may last longer than 14 days in 20- 30% of patients presenting with mild-moderate clinical findings. In addition, obesity should be considered as an important risk factor for COVID-19 pneumonia.