In-depth analysis of laboratory parameters reveals the interplay between sex, age, and systemic inflammation in individuals with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: The progression and severity of COVID-19 vary significantly in the population. While the hallmarks of SARS-CoV-2 and severe COVID-19 within routine laboratory parameters are emerging, the impact of sex and age on these profiles is still unknown. METHODS: A multidimensional analysis was performed involving millions of records of laboratory parameters and diagnostic tests for 178 887 individuals from Brazil, of whom 33 266 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Analyzed data included those relating to complete blood cell count, electrolytes, metabolites, arterial blood gases, enzymes, hormones, cancer biomarkers, and others. FINDINGS: COVID-19 induced similar alterations in laboratory parameters in males and females. CRP and ferritin were increased, especially in older men with COVID-19, whereas abnormal liver function tests were common across several age groups, except for young women. Low peripheral blood basophils and eosinophils were more common in the elderly with COVID-19. Both male and female COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care units displayed alterations in the coagulation system, and higher values for neutrophils, CRP, and lactate dehydrogenase. CONCLUSIONS: Our study uncovered the laboratory profiles of a large cohort of COVID-19 patients, which formed the basis of discrepancies influenced by aging and biological sex. These profiles directly linked COVID-19 disease presentation to an intricate interplay between sex, age, and immune activation.

Análise do conteúdo do sumário de alta obstétrica em maternidade de referência. Uma oportunidade para repensar a estratégia da continuidade do cuidado materno e neonatal / Analysis of contents in obstetric discharge summary of a reference maternity. Opportunity to think about the strategy for continuity of maternal and neonatal care

Objetivo: analisar criticamente dados sobre o nascimento e intercorrências clínico-obstétricas dos sumários de alta obstétrica, visando à troca de informações para continuidade do cuidado materno e neonatal. Pacientes e métodos: estudo observacional retrospectivo em base de dados secundários. Foram consultados 102 sumários de alta obstétrica da maternidade do Hospital das Clínicas da UFMG, entre julho e dezembro de 2013. Para se avaliar a pertinência da proposição de um modelo estruturado para o documento eletrônico, as situações de alta obstétrica e os conteúdos clínicos documentados pelos médicos foram comparados entre internações anteparto e pós-parto, empregando-se o teste qui-quadrado de Pearson. Resultados: em 48 (49,5%) dos 97 documentos selecionados, a condição gestacional era de elevado risco. Os campos já estruturados no formulário em uso tiveram alta frequência de preenchimento. Observou-se semelhança entre o conteúdo dos registros clínicos das altas anteparto e pós-parto, a não ser pelos resultadosde exames, mais frequentes no primeiro e pelos dados sobre o nascimento, no segundo. Dados sobre o concepto e orientações para após a alta tiveram frequência aquém do esperado. Conclusões: o sumário de alta obstétrica em um discurso livre sobre os fatos ocorridos durante o nascimento pode falhar em prover dados de qualidade para a continuidadedo cuidado na rede de atenção materno-infantil. Acredita-se que a proposição de um padrão estruturado, contendo um conjunto mínimo de dados possa oferecer subsídios para aprimorar a troca de informações maternas e neonatais.

Objective: to critically analyze data on birth, and clinical and obstetric complications in the content of obstetric discharge reports aiming at exchanging information for the continuity of maternal and neonatal care. Patients and methods: this was a retrospective observational study in a database of secondary data. A total of 102 obstetric discharge reports were consulted from the UFMG General Hospital maternity between July and December of 2013. The obstetric discharge situations and clinical contents documented by physicians were compared between antepartum and postpartum hospitalizations using the chi-square test of Pearson to evaluate the relevance of the proposition of a structuredmodel for electronic documentation. Results: in 48 (49.5%) out of the 97 selected documents, the gestational condition was of high risk. The s already structured in the form in use were filled in high frequency. The similarity between the content of antepartum and postpartum clinical records was observed, except for results of tests, which were morefrequent in the first, and birth data in the second. Data on the newborn and guidance after discharge were often lower than expected. Conclusions:the content in the obstetric discharge report about the events that occurred during birth may fail to provide quality data for the continuity of care in the maternal and child care. It is believed that the proposition of a structured pattern, containing a minimum set of data can provide subsidies to improve the exchange of maternal and neonatal information.