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#COVID19

62 posts41 participants7 posts today

#COVID19 denialism is strong--even among those with #LongCOVID!

A STUDY explored people with Long COVID and asked them to self-report the cause. “Only 61.4% of individuals with long COVID endorsed a germ or virus as a cause.” I mean, seriously? Over one-third of people with Long COVID don't attribute it to getting COVID?!

link.springer.com/article/10.1

SpringerLinkExploring self-reported causal attributions of long COVID: beyond viral origins - Discover Public HealthLong COVID is associated with diverse physical and mental health symptoms. The mechanisms of long COVID remain unclear, and many with long COVID face stigma, dismissal, and few treatment options. The present study aimed to identify self-reported causes of long COVID endorsed by individuals living with the condition. Adults in the United States self-reporting long COVID (N = 562) participated in an online survey. Participants were an average age of 38.6 years, with most identifying as female (49.1%), White (83.6%), and not Hispanic or Latino/a/x (77.0%). Perceived causes of long COVID were assessed, noting the proportion of individuals endorsing each cause. The most frequently endorsed causes of long COVID included germ or virus (61.4%), altered immunity (37.9%), stress or worry (35.9%), overwork (34.7%), chance or bad luck (34.2%) and aging (33.6%). Although widely acknowledged scientifically to result from COVID-19 infection, some with long COVID attribute their illness to other causes.

Masking provides so many benefits. It obviously protects against infection with #COVID19 and other viruses. But, there are other benefits. This Chinese STUDY found that the implementation of masking significantly reduced stroke morbidity and mortality.

We had the opportunity to learn something important about protecting ourselves and others. We chose to ignore and politicize that lesson, instead.

link.springer.com/article/10.1

SpringerLinkThe impacts of mask-wearing regulations on stroke morbidity and mortality: a population-based retrospective cohort study in China - BMC Public HealthBackground It is common to protect people from air pollution by wearing masks, but how much of its health effect on cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is unknown. This study aimed to determine whether the mask intervention associated with decrease in stroke morbidity and mortality. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study comprising 7.8 million residents in Weifang, China from 2016 to 2022. The primary outcome was the daily stroke morbidity and mortality. An interrupted time series analysis, adjusting for underlying secular trends, seasonal patterns, air pollution, meteorological factors, health services utilization and road lockdowns, was performed to assess the immediate and gradual changes of stroke morbidity and mortality after the implementation of mask-wearing regulations. Results During the study period, 400,245 incident cases and 64,719 deaths of stroke were identified. Findings indicated a 5.5% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.8%-10.0%) immediate and a 14.3% annual gradual (95% CI: 12.7%-15.8%) reduction were observed in stroke morbidity after the implementation of the regulations, which resulted in an overall reduction of 38.6% (95% CI: 34.1%-43.2%) within 33 months of follow-up. Similarly, there was the gradual decrease in stroke mortality. It resulted in an overall post-intervention decrease of 8.4% (95% CI, 1.6%-15.1%). The subgroup analyses indicated that overall post-regulation reductions in stroke morbidity were observed across all age groups, genders, and subtypes. However, the overall reduction in stroke mortality among male and those with hemorrhagic stroke was not statistically significant. Conclusion These findings have implications for policy makers and public health experts seeking to reduce burden of stroke morbidity and mortality at the population level through personal protection measure in regions with severe air pollution.

“Whether this is the start of a winter wave still remains unclear, but even if so, the timing is all off. Last year, the winter wave was nearing its peak at Christmas. They are time around, the wave—if there is one—is only just getting started.”

theatlantic.com/health/archive

The Atlantic · COVID’s End-of-Year SurpriseBy Yasmin Tayag

“As of Dec. 14, wastewater viral activity of #SARSCoV2 — the virus that causes #COVID19 — is ‘high’ or ‘very high’ in 21 states, according to #CDC data.

“‘There’s a good chance that a lot of people are going to get sick in the next couple of weeks and be unaware of it. Most people are not tracking CDC data, and so their only way of knowing whether we’re in a wave is if they’ve gotten sick,’ Michael Hoerger, Ph.D., associate professor at Tulane University School of Medicine and public health expert on tracking #COVID trends, tells TODAY.com.”
#health
today.com/health/coronavirus/u

TODAY · 'Silent' COVID Surge May Hit US This Holiday Season, Experts WarnBy Caroline Kee

Happy Holidays. I hope Santa delivers what you want. For me, it's more #COVID19 awareness and safety for others. Alas, Santa can't deliver something so unlikely, so I'll take world peace instead.

Replied to Augie Ray

#COVID19 in US wastewater shows a somewhat more significant spike compared to the Walgreen's positive rate. Still, COVID is far below our summer highs. I am taking precautions. You should, too. But, we can also appreciate that this is the lowest surge of COVID we've seen during a holiday season since the start of the pandemic. It is unlikely we'll exceed even the summer surge, making this the first holiday with lower numbers than in summer.

Replied to Augie Ray

Here is the Walgreen's #COVID19 positive rate over the last six months. Yes, it's up in the past month, but I don't think anyone seeing this chart would legitimately feel that the positive rate is currently "spiking."

While still urging you to take sane precautions because #COVID19 is surging, I also want to advocate that we NOT inflate the situation. I saw someone post how the Walgreens positive rate "spiked to 15.5%!"

Yes, it is up from 12.5% a month ago.

But, put this into perspective. In the last 32 months, the positive rate reported by Walgreens has been higher than this for 28 months. This past summer, it peaked at 40.5%!

Be careful, but don't panic. This still appears a moderate, not severe, surge.

STUDY: "#COVID19 has become a significant respiratory infection and a major cause of cardiac-related symptoms, posing a complex public health dilemma... It is advised to stay alert for JN.1 lineages of Omicron, as cardiovascular problems may arise from viral invasion, inflammatory reactions, and drug use. Despite COVID-19 vaccinations, cardiovascular problems remain a concern. "

frontiersin.org/journals/cardi

FrontiersFrontiers | JN. 1 and cardiac-related clinical manifestations: a current public health concernThe current COVID-19 pandemic is a worldwide emergency because of its rapid spread and high mortality rate, resulting in considerable disruptions. The virus ...

Sometimes, I see irony in consecutive posts. The first post declares "wonderful dogs" because research finds some dogs can smell #COVID19. The very next post notes that "Pet dogs represent a risk for the spread of antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella!" Dogs giveth and they taketh away. (I am a pet fan, btw--no hate intended for man's best friend.)

So maddeningly frustrating--each time a health agency provides weak and inadequate advice, it harms the very people they supposedly wish to help.

Facing a surge of #COVID19 and other respiratory viruses, the UK Health Security agency tells people to wash their hands and catch their sneezes in tissues, not to wear a mask or consider avoiding crowded indoor situations.

Here's a fascinating program I've been monitoring for a while now: Vaccine Injury Support Program vaccineinjurysupport.ca/en/pro

...updated claims data, with new eligible claims and an increase in the total amount to $16,574,972...

vaccineinjurysupport.caVaccine Injury Support ProgramA program for people in Canada who have experienced a severe and permanent injury as a result of receiving a Health Canada authorized vaccine.

In this 5th year of Covid my wife will once again be nurse double shifting both Christmas and New Years due to staff illness & disease breakout among residents requiring more nurses to adequately care. All the while her employer restricting PPE AND demanding less overtime due to 'costs'

The disconnect is staggering

You are having Christmas at your house. You live with your 4 year old child and your mother (who has an autoimmune disease).

If one of your relatives tested positive for RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and was supposed to be visiting for Christmas dinner, would you expect them to stay home?

#covid#covid19#rsv

#PostCOVID19 Vaccination & #LongCOVID : Insights from Patient-Reported Data

mdpi.com/2076-393X/12/12/1427

"This study analyzed 2 independent #PASC cohorts found most individuals with PASC did not report a subjective change in their PASC symptoms after receiving post-COVID-19 vaccination(s)”

@longcovid
#PwLC #PostCovidSyndrome #LC #postcovid
#CovidBrain
@covid19 #COVIDー19 #COVID19 #COVID #COVID_19 #SARSCoV2 #novid @novid #CovidIsNotOver #auscovid19

MDPIPost-COVID-19 Vaccination and Long COVID: Insights from Patient-Reported DataIntroduction: COVID-19 vaccinations reduce the severity and number of symptoms for acute SARS-CoV-2 infections and may reduce the risk of developing Long COVID, also known as post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC). Limited and heterogenous data exist on how these vaccinations received after COVID-19 infection might impact the symptoms and trajectory of PASC, once persistent symptoms have developed. Methods: We investigated the association of post-COVID-19 vaccination with any SARS-CoV-2 vaccine(s) on PASC symptoms in two independent cohorts: a retrospective chart review of self-reported data from patients (n = 128) with PASC seen in the Stanford PASC Clinic between May 2021 and May 2022 and a 2023 multinational survey assessment of individuals with PASC (n = 484). Findings: Within the PASC Clinic patient cohort (n = 128), 58.6% (n = 75) were female, and 41.4% (n = 53) were male; 50% (n = 64) were white, and 38.3% (n = 49) were non-white. A total of 60.2% (n = 77) of PASC Clinic patients reported no change in their PASC symptoms after vaccination, 17.2% (n = 22) reported improved symptoms, and 22.7% (n = 29) reported worsened symptoms. In the multinational survey cohort (n = 484), 380 were from the U.S., and 104 were from outside the U.S.; 88.4% (n = 428) were female, and 11.6% (n = 56) were male; and 88.8% (n = 430) were white, and 11.2% (n = 54) were non-white. The distribution of survey self-reported vaccine effects on PASC symptoms was 20.2% worsened (n = 98), 60.5% no effect (n = 293), and 19.2% improved (n = 93). In both cohorts, demographic features, including age, sex, and race/ethnicity, were not significantly associated with post-vaccination PASC symptom changes. There was also a non-significant difference in the median dates of COVID-19 infection among the different outcomes. BMI was significant for symptom improvement (p = 0.026) in the PASC Clinic cohort, while a history of booster doses was significant for symptom improvement (p < 0.001) in the survey cohort. Conclusions: Most individuals with PASC did not report significant changes in their overall PASC symptoms following COVID-19 vaccinations received after PASC onset. Further research is needed to better understand the relationship between COVID-19 vaccinations and PASC.

My spreadsheet of studies that find #COVID19 causes Long COVID, damages hearts and brains, and causes chronic health impairments has reached 1,400. Sections (tabs) are included for pregnancy, reinfection, cardiac, neuro, cancer, immune system and other.

Fun fact: If you spent just 15 seconds reading the brief citations included for each study, it'd take almost 6 hours to review the entire spreadsheet.

docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d

Another irritating study.

It concludes, "Children with and without previous infections did not differ in most PCS-associated symptoms."

Next sentence: "Exceptions included physical performance and cognitive problems."

There was no difference in the health of kids with and without #COVID19--except for their physical and mental health?! Seems like THAT should've been the lead sentence in the conclusion! Kids w/ COVID were 8x more likely to have concentration disorders!

link.springer.com/article/10.1

SpringerLinkPost-coronavirus disease 2019–associated symptoms among children and adolescents in the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron era - European Journal of PediatricsPurpose Lack of a control group(s) and selection bias were the main criticisms of previous studies investigating the prevalence of post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) syndrome (PCS). There are insufficient data regarding paediatric PCS, particularly in the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron era. As such, our study investigated PCS-associated symptoms in a representative control-matched cohort. Methods This multicentre, cross-sectional, cohort study within the “Immunebridge” project of the German Network University Medicine (NUM) recruited children and adolescents (five to 17 years old) between July and October 2022. Children with polymerase chain reaction-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in 2022 (COVID-19 group) were compared with those without history of SARS-CoV-2 infection and negative for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Queries included vaccinations, quality of life (QoL), and mental and physical symptoms potentially associated with PCS in the previous three months. An additional composite item, “physical performance”, was created from the responses. Results The number of children with ≥ 1 PCS symptom(s) was comparable between the COVID-19 (n = 114 [62.1%]) and control (n = 66 [64.9%]) groups. Concentration disorders were reported more frequently in the COVID-19 group (12.3% versus 1.5%; p = 0.012) and “physical performance” was significantly impaired (p = 0.016) regardless of age, sex, and SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. The frequencies of other symptoms were similar in both groups. The COVID-19 group rated their fitness as worse, with otherwise equal QoL ratings regarding general and mental health. Conclusion Children with and without previous infections did not differ in most PCS-associated symptoms. Exceptions included physical performance and cognitive problems, which appeared to be more impaired after Omicron infection than in controls. What is Known: • Mainly due to too few controlled studies, knowledge about the prevalence of individual symptoms in paediatric post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) for the Omicron era is poor. What is New: • In a representative control-matched cohort most parent-reported PCS-associated symptoms and quality of life scores in children and adolescents with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection did not differ from those without infection. • Exceptions were physical performance and cognitive problems, which were apparently more severely impaired after SARS-CoV-2-Omicron infection than in the control subjects.

My latest update on #COVID19 risks in the US. Summary:

COVID risks are lower this holiday season than past pandemic holidays.
But, infection risks are still rising quickly, not only for COVID but also RSV, flu, and norovirus.
New research confirms COVID reinfections are more dangerous, COVID can damage hearts and brains, and COVID during pregnancy can harm babies.

My five-minute update:

medium.com/@augieray_66704/202

Medium · 2024’s Moderate Holiday COVID Surge Continues in the US: Update for December 20, 2024By Augie Ray