Hospital Readmissions – COVID-19

Angie SzumlinskiStudies

Evidence suggests that potential health complications after COVID-19 illness might require ongoing clinical care. After discharge from an initial COVID-19 hospitalization, 9% of patients were readmitted to the same hospital within 2 months of discharge. Multiple readmissions occurred in 1.6% of patients. Understanding the frequency of and potential reasons for readmission after a COVID-19 hospitalization can inform clinical practice discharge …

Senior Depression – Not Seeking Care

Angie SzumlinskiHealth, Studies

Can you believe that 1 in 3 respondents age 65+ think they can just “snap out of it” when asked about their symptoms of depression? A new nationwide poll, the GeneSight Mental Health Monitor, shows that nearly two-thirds (61%) of Americans age 65 or older who have concerns about having depression will not seek treatment! “The ‘pull yourself up by …

It Is In The Air – Mask Up!

Angie SzumlinskiFeatured, Health

An interesting El Pais article discusses how the coronavirus may be spreading and statistically putting everyone at risk, especially with the holidays upon us! Here are a few facts that I found interesting! Social Gathering in a living room: Six people get together in a private home, one is infected. Some 31% of coronavirus outbreaks recorded in Spain are caused …

SARS – CoV-2 Exposure and Infection – HCP Minnesota

Angie SzumlinskiHealth, Studies

Health Care Personnel (HCP) are at increased risk for COVID-19 from workplace exposures. A report published by the CDC revealed that among 21,406 Minnesota SARS-CoV-2 HCP exposures, 5,374 (25%) were higher-risk (within 6 feet ≥15 minutes, or during an aerosol-generating procedure); exposures involved patient care (66%) and non-patient contacts (34%). Compared with HCP working in acute care settings, those working …

Antibiotic capsules

Antidepressants and COVID-19

Angie SzumlinskiStudies

COVID-19 can result in serious illness leading to hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, and death. Clinical deterioration typically occurs during the second week of illness. Early studies of COVID-19 found that hospitalization most often occurs within 8 to 10 days of initially mild to moderate symptoms. Further evidence suggested that lung damage from COVID-19 was related to an excessive inflammatory …

Vaccine – Prevent Symptoms, Not Virus?

Angie SzumlinskiFeatured, Health

As we eagerly await new updates about potential coronavirus vaccines, questions remain about how well they will work and if they will stem the pandemic. Importantly, the initial COVID-19 vaccines will prevent symptoms in those who become infected with the coronavirus rather than kill the virus itself, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious …

Delirium – COVID-19

Angie SzumlinskiStudies

Patients with COVID-19 who present with delirium, either as the main symptom or as one of the presenting symptoms or signs, have worse outcomes, including ICU stay and in-hospital death, than those without delirium. One recent study demonstrated that it is critical to recognize that older adults with COVID-19 may present with delirium as the primary or sole symptom. In …

CDC Says….

Angie SzumlinskiStudies

A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published November 24 2020, shows that most of the U.S. population may still be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The study focuses on CDC’s collaboration with commercial laboratories to conduct and publish results from large-scale geographic seroprevalence surveys to estimate the percentage of people in …

Hypo What?

Angie SzumlinskiFeatured, Health

Old news, older adults are more susceptible to the Coronavirus. In fact, eight out of 10 COVID-19-related deaths reported in the United States have been among adults aged 65 years and older. The virus’ high contagion rate among at-risk populations has businesses who cater to older adults concerned that if one patron contracts it, it will quickly spread. Hearth Management, …

mother and sad child

Transmission of SARS in Households

Angie SzumlinskiStudies

Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 occurs within households; however, transmission estimates vary widely and the data on transmission from children are limited. Findings from a prospective household study with intensive daily observation for ≥ 7 consecutive days indicate that transmission of SARS-CoV-2 among household members was frequent from either children or adults. Household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is common and occurs early after …