Clinical characteristics and outcomes of incident cases of COVID-19 in unvaccinated adult cystic fibrosis patients in southern Brazil: a prospective cohort study conducted during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: There is still limited information on the clinical characteristics and outcomes of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with COVID-19 in Brazil. The objective of this study was to describe the cumulative incidence of COVID-19 in CF patients, as well as their clinical characteristics and outcomes. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study involving unvaccinated adult CF patients and conducted during the first year of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in the city of Porto Alegre, in southern Brazil. The clinical course of the disease was rated on the WHO Ordinal Scale for Clinical Improvement. The primary outcome was the number of incident cases of COVID-19. RESULTS: Between April 30, 2020 and April 29, 2021, 98 CF patients were included in the study. Seventeen patients were diagnosed with COVID-19. For the CF patients, the annual cumulative incidence of COVID-19 was 17.3%, similar to that for the general population, adjusted for age (18.5%). The most common symptoms at diagnosis of COVID-19 were cough (in 59%), dyspnea (in 53%), fatigue (in 53%), and fever (in 47%). Only 6 (35%) of the patients required hospitalization, and 3 (17.6%) required oxygen support. Only 1 patient required mechanical ventilation, having subsequently died. CONCLUSIONS: During the first year of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in southern Brazil, the cumulative incidence rate of COVID-19 was similar between CF patients and the general population. More than 50% of the CF patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection had a mild clinical presentation, without the need for hospital admission, and almost the entire sample recovered completely from the infection, the exception being 1 patient who had advanced lung disease and who died.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of incident cases of COVID-19 in unvaccinated adult cystic fibrosis patients in southern Brazil: a prospective cohort study conducted during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic / Características clínicas e desfechos de casos incidentes de COVID-19 em adultos não vacinados com fibrose cística no sul do Brasil: estudo prospectivo de coorte realizado durante o primeiro ano da pandemia de COVID-19

ABSTRACT Objective: There is still limited information on the clinical characteristics and outcomes of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with COVID-19 in Brazil. The objective of this study was to describe the cumulative incidence of COVID-19 in CF patients, as well as their clinical characteristics and outcomes. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study involving unvaccinated adult CF patients and conducted during the first year of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in the city of Porto Alegre, in southern Brazil. The clinical course of the disease was rated on the WHO Ordinal Scale for Clinical Improvement. The primary outcome was the number of incident cases of COVID-19. Results: Between April 30, 2020 and April 29, 2021, 98 CF patients were included in the study. Seventeen patients were diagnosed with COVID-19. For the CF patients, the annual cumulative incidence of COVID-19 was 17.3%, similar to that for the general population, adjusted for age (18.5%). The most common symptoms at diagnosis of COVID-19 were cough (in 59%), dyspnea (in 53%), fatigue (in 53%), and fever (in 47%). Only 6 (35%) of the patients required hospitalization, and 3 (17.6%) required oxygen support. Only 1 patient required mechanical ventilation, having subsequently died. Conclusions: During the first year of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in southern Brazil, the cumulative incidence rate of COVID-19 was similar between CF patients and the general population. More than 50% of the CF patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection had a mild clinical presentation, without the need for hospital admission, and almost the entire sample recovered completely from the infection, the exception being 1 patient who had advanced lung disease and who died.

RESUMO Objetivo: Ainda não há informações suficientes sobre as características clínicas e desfechos de pacientes com fibrose cística (FC) e COVID-19 no Brasil. O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever a incidência cumulativa de COVID-19 em pacientes com FC, bem como suas características clínicas e desfechos. Métodos: Estudo prospectivo de coorte com adultos com FC não vacinados, realizado na cidade de Porto Alegre, no sul do Brasil, durante o primeiro ano da pandemia de SARS-CoV-2. A evolução clínica da COVID-19 foi avaliada por meio da WHO Ordinal Scale for Clinical Improvement (escala ordinal de evolução clínica, elaborada pela OMS). O desfecho primário foi o número de casos incidentes de COVID-19. Resultados: Entre 30 de abril de 2020 e 29 de abril de 2021, 98 pacientes com FC foram incluídos no estudo. Dezessete pacientes receberam diagnóstico de COVID-19. Nos pacientes com FC, a incidência cumulativa anual de COVID-19 foi de 17,3%, semelhante à observada na população geral, ajustada pela idade (18,5%). Os sintomas mais comuns no momento do diagnóstico de COVID-19 foram tosse (em 59%), dispneia (em 53%), fadiga (em 53%) e febre (em 47%). Apenas 6 (35%) dos pacientes necessitaram de hospitalização, e 3 (17,6%) necessitaram de suporte de oxigênio. Apenas 1 paciente necessitou de ventilação mecânica e, posteriormente, morreu. Conclusões: Durante o primeiro ano da pandemia de SARS-CoV-2 no sul do Brasil, a taxa de incidência cumulativa de COVID-19 foi semelhante nos pacientes com FC e na população geral. Mais de 50% dos pacientes com FC e infecção por SARS-CoV-2 apresentaram manifestações clínicas leves, sem necessidade de internação hospitalar, e quase toda a amostra se recuperou completamente da infecção, à exceção de 1 paciente, que apresentava doença pulmonar avançada e morreu.

Atuação da psicologia em um centro de terapia intensiva dedicado para COVID-19: relato de experiência / The psychologist's work within a COVID intensive care unit: an experience report

As reestruturações necessárias nos serviços de saúde em decorrência da pandemia da COVID-19 geraram impactos na assistência aos pacientes hospitalizados, em especial àqueles gravemente afetados pela doença. A atuação da psicologia em Unidades de Terapia Intensiva dedicadas a esses pacientes requer a ampliação de ferramentas clínicas que possibilitem o atendimento às demandas psicológicas nesse contexto. Esse artigo discute, a partir de um relato de experiência, as atividades desenvolvidas pela equipe de psicologia em um Centro de Terapia Intensiva voltado ao tratamento da COVID-19: atendimento remoto a familiares, atendimento aos pacientes, visitas virtuais e presenciais. As intervenções realizadas, em consonância com o referencial teórico utilizado, indicam os seguintes benefícios: fortalecimento das conexões entre paciente, família e equipe; atenuação do sofrimento provocado pela situação de isolamento; prevenção de agravos em saúde mental relacionados ao luto complicado e à vivência de experiências traumáticas. Espera-se que as inovações nas práticas desenvolvidas sigam contribuindo para qualificar a atenção a pacientes críticos após a pandemia.(AU)

The reorganization needed in health care services due to the COVID-19 pandemic generated a substantial impact on the assistance of hospital patients, especially those who are severely affected by the disease. The psychologist's work in Intensive Care Units, dedicated to these specific patients, requires the amplification of clinical tools that enable the assistance of the psychological demands in this context. In an experience report format, this article discusses the activities developed by the psychological team in an Intensive Care Unit dedicated to the treatment of COVID-19 patients such as: families' remote support, direct patient´s psychological care and virtual and face to face visits. The interventions, in accordance with the theoretical background used, indicate the following benefits: strengthening of the connection between patient, family and health care teams, attenuation of suffering provoked by isolation, the prevention of the aggravation of mental health problems related to complicated mourning processes and the experience of traumatic situations. It is hoped that the innovative developed practices can continue to contribute to qualify the assistance of critically ill patients after the pandemic.(AU)

La necesaria reestructuración de los servicios de salud como consecuencia de la pandemia COVID-19 ha repercutido en la atención de los pacientes hospitalarios, especialmente en los afectados gravemente por la enfermedad. El trabajo de la psicología en las Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos dedicadas a estos pacientes requiere la ampliación de herramientas clínicas que permitan atender las demandas psicológicas de este contexto. Este artículo analiza, a partir de un relato de experiencia, las actividades desarrolladas por el equipo de psicología en un Centro de Cuidados Intensivos enfocado al tratamiento del COVID-19: atención remota a familiares, atención a pacientes, visitas virtuales y presenciales. Las intervenciones realizadas, en consonancia con el referencial teórico utilizado, señalan los siguientes beneficios: fortalecimiento de las conexiones entre paciente, familia y equipo; mitigación del sufrimiento causado por la situación de aislamiento; prevención de agravios en salud mental relacionados al duelo complicado y experiencias traumáticas. Se espera que las innovaciones en las prácticas desarrolladas continúen contribuyendo para calificar la atención de los pacientes críticos pasada la pandemia.(AU)