Large variations in disease severity, death and ICU admission of 2993 patients infected with SARS-CoV-2: The potential impact of genetic vulnerability.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has had an immeasurable impact, affecting healthcare systems, the global economy, and society. Exploration of trends within the existing COVID-19 data may guide directions for further study and novel treatment development. As the world faces COVID-19 disease, it is essential to study its epidemiological and clinical characteristics further to better understand and aid in its detection and containment. METHODS: We aimed to study the clinical characteristics of patients infected with COVID-19 in Dubai, a multi-national Society. RESULTS: Our findings demonstrate that during the first wave of the COVID-19 epidemic, age, gender, and country of origin were associated with more severe cases of COVID-19, higher risk for hospitalization and death. Male individuals between 41 and 60 years of age from India had the most significant hospitalization and death predictor (p=.0001). The predictors for COVID-19 related deaths were slightly less than UAE Nationals by individuals from GCC (p=.02) that were followed closely behind by Pilipino (p=.02) and Arabs (p=.001). CONCLUSION: The vulnerability of individuals to infection and in the spectrum of COVID-19 symptoms remains to be understood. There are large variations in disease severity, one component of which may be genetic variability in responding to the virus. Genomics of susceptibility to COVID-19 infection and the wide variation in clinical response to COVID-19 in patients should become active investigation areas.

Pattern and determinants of contraceptive usage among women of reproductive age in the United Arab Emirates.

INTRODUCTION: Women in the UAE and Muslim countries are a largely understudied population with significant disparities in knowledge to most basic health concerns and family planning. Our objective was to identify UAE contraceptive knowledge similarities and variances to other world regions, and to inform efforts to improve contraceptive care at Arab world and Muslim countries. METHODS: Structured questionnaire consisting of socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, beliefs and attitudes related to contraception methods. RESULTS: The use of effective contraception methods was associated with higher educational levels of UAE national women who desired to conceive. These women had knowledge of contraception that was associated with an identified impact of their spouse on their choice of contraception. Religion plays an essential role in knowledge on the risk of contraception and safe type of contraceptive methods in the UAE. Statistically significant predictors of having knowledge on different methods of contraception were nationality, P < 0.002; education level, P < 0.03; number of marriages P < 0.002; monthly income, P < 0.04; and the number of children, P < 0.015. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that higher education and communication of the benefits and risks of different types of contraceptive methods are needed to improve the use of contraception in the UAE population. We recommend additional training in this area for healthcare providers. The involvement of the spouse in the mutual understanding of contraception and its choice coupled with third party insurance coverage may decrease knowledge and utilization gaps further assisting in providing a best contraceptive method.