Prevalence of Poor Sleep Quality Among Physicians During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Sleep quality is influenced adversely or favorably by various intrinsic and extrinsic factors and sleep deprivation is a common problem facing doctors. OBJECTIVES: To assess sleep quality among physicians during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and correlate it with possible predictors. METHODS: This cross-sectional four-months study included a total of 344 physicians from different medical centers in the period between July 2020 and October 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Physicians were aged between 24 and 60 years from different specialties. Data were collected using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire and Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS). RESULTS: Among our participant physicians there was poor sleep quality in 71.2%, while good sleep quality was present in 28.8%. There were significant correlations between poor sleep quality and the following parameters in the univariate logistic regression analysis: anxiety features (P value <0.001), depressive features (P value <0.001), and past history of COVID-19 (P value 0.003). However, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that only the presence of anxiety features (P value <0.001) and depressive features (P value <0.001) could be used as significant independent predictor of poor sleep quality among physicians during COVID-19. CONCLUSION: Presence of anxiety and or depressive features among physicians are the most significant independent predictors of poor sleep quality during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Prevalence and Predictors of Post-Stroke Depression and Anxiety During COVID-19 Pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: Stroke is associated with a rise in post-stroke depression (PSD) and anxiety (PSA). In this study, we evaluated the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the rates of PSD and PSA. METHODS: All stroke admissions to two hospitals in Saudi Arabia during two months were prospectively evaluated for PSD and PSA. NIHSS and serum TSH assessed on admission. PSD and PSA were evaluated using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Post-stroke disability was assessed by mRS, while social support assessed by Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). RESULTS: Among 50 participants (28 males), clinically significant PSD was found in 36%, while PSA in 32%. PSD associated with higher NIHSS (P < 0.001); lower MSPSS (P = 0.003); higher mRS (P = 0.001); and discontinuation of rehabilitation (P = 0.02). PSA was associated with higher TSH (P = 0.01); lower MSPSS (P = 0.03); while discontinuation of rehabilitation was related to less PSA (P = 0.034). Multivariate analysis showed that NIHSS (OR: 1.58, 95% CI: 742-3.37; P = 0.01); and MSPSS score (OR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.47-0.94; P = 0.002) were associated with PSD; while PSA was related to TSH level (OR: 8.32, 95% CI:1.42-47.23; P = 0.02), and discontinuation of rehabilitation (OR: -0.96, 95% CI: -1.90-0.02; P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Our research shows that the rise in PSD is related to stroke severity and this has not changed significantly during the pandemic; however, PSA showed a noticeable peak. Social deprivation and the lacking levels of rehabilitation related significantly to both.

The Impact of Renal Tissue Procurement at Bedside on Specimen Adequacy and Best Practices.

Objectives: Renal biopsy is the gold standard for the diagnosis of both native and allograft renal diseases. We studied the impact of tissue procurement at bedside (TPB) omission on the adequacy of renal biopsies. Methods: We compared 120 renal biopsies collected during 2015 using TPB with 111 renal biopsies collected during 2016 when TPB was discontinued. Adequacy criteria were applied as follows: by light microscopy, 10 glomeruli and two arteries for allograft biopsies and seven glomeruli for native biopsies. At least one glomerulus was considered adequate for immunofluorescence and electron microscopy in both groups. Results: The rate of inadequacies in allograft biopsies increased significantly, from 12.50% to 21.61% (P < .05), when TPB was discontinued. Conclusions: Elimination of TPB service had a negative impact on allograft specimen adequacy. Repeat biopsies add cost and delay patient care. Institutions should take this into consideration when considering omission of TPB.