Mohammed Dhamin Mahdi Alareedh

Background and aims: There are gaps in knowledge regarding the association between the ABO blood group and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) immediate and long-term outcomes. We aimed to investigate the association of ABO blood group with COVID-19 in-hospital adverse outcomes and to determine whether ABO blood group is associated with post-COVID-19 persistent symptoms. Methods: This was a single-center longitudinal observational study that included patients who presented with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 infection and a positive test for COVID-19 and were able to attend the out-patient clinic after 6 months following acute COVID-19. The main outcomes were intensive care unit admission, the requirement for respiratory support, in-hospital death, and persistent symptoms. χ 2 test and regression analysis were used to analyze the collected data. Results: A total of 169 patients were enrolled for the assessment of in-hospital adverse outcomes of whom 86 patients were included for the assessment of persistent symptoms after the exclusion of deceased patients or patients not attended the out-patient clinic. Patients with blood group B had higher prevalence of in-hospital death compared to blood group O (39% vs. 13%, p = 0.01) and this persisted after adjusting for sex (odds ratio, OR [confidence interval, CI] = 1.4 [1.1-2.1], p = 0.04), while patients with blood group AB had higher prevalence of requiring respiratory support than blood group O (54% vs. 10%, p = 0.02) and this persisted after adjusting for age (OR [CI] = 1.5 [1.1-2.3], p = 0.02). Concerning the association of ABO blood group and long-term symptoms, blood group AB showed a higher prevalence of palpitation (p < 0.001) and dizziness (p = 0.02) than other blood groups. Conclusions: Blood groups AB and B are significantly associated with respiratory support use and in-hospital death, respectively, compared to blood group O. Blood group AB is significantly associated with persistent palpitation and dizziness compared to other blood groups.

Abstract Background: ECG abnormalities associated with COVID-19 pneumonia and adverse outcome are undefined and poorly described in prior studies. Objectives: To assess the predictive role of baseline ECG markers of increased risk of malignant arrhythmias and cardiac death for adverse in-hospital outcomes. Patients and methods: A retrospective study included 93 patients of newly diag- nosed COVID-19 with features consistent with pneumonia who were admitted to the hospital from August 20 to September 20, 2020. The main outcomes were defined as receiving mechanical ventilation, in-hospital cardiac arrest, length of ICU stay, and degree of lung damage according to computed tomography (CT) score. Results: Increased QTc (QT corrected) interval, Tp-e (T from peak to end) interval, and transmural dispersion of repolarization (TDR) were independent predictors of prolonged ICU stay (P < .0001) after adjustment for baseline clinical characteristics. Increasing age (P < .0001) followed by increased QTc interval (P = .02) and history of chronic lung disease (P = .04) were independent predictors of extensive lung dam- age. The independent predictors for in-hospital cardiac arrest were increased QTc (P = .02) followed by increasing age (P = .04) and increased Tp-e interval (P = .04). Conclusion: Repolarization abnormalities on baseline ECG may be useful prognostic markers in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.KEYWORDS COVID-19, ECG, outcome, pneumonia, QTc

Abstract Background and aims: There is limited data about the prognosis and impact of COVID-19 pneumonia on patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). We aimed to assess blood indices, ECG markers of sudden death and malignant arrhythmias on admission, and diabetes lowering drugs as possible predictors of adverse in-hospital outcome and COVID-19 pneumonia recovery status. Methods: A retrospective study included patients with newly diagnosed COVID-19 pneumonia from August 20, to October 5, 2020. Results: A total of 192 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia were included in the present study, of whom 67 patients had DM. Low lymphocytes % [0.4(0.1-0.9), P = .011] and QTc interval prolongation [0.4(0.1-0.8), P = .022] were associated with increased length of ICU stay. On the other hand, metformin use [0.3(0.2-4), P = .032] and DPP-4 inhibitors use [0.3(0.2-3), P = .040] were associated with decreased length of ICU stay. QTc interval prolongation [0.4(0.1-0.9), P = .017] was associated with increased length of hospital stay, while using metformin [0.4(0.2-3), P = .022] was associated with decreased length of hospital stay. Low lymphocytes % [0.5(0.4-1.6), P = .001], insulin use [0.4(0.3-5), P = .003], and old age [0.5(0.1-2.3), P = .025] were associated with extensive lung injury. The risk for in-hospital death was associated with high neutrophil% [1(1-1.4), P = .045], while metformin use was associated with decreased risk for in-hospital death [0.1(0.1-0.6), P = .025]. Insulin use [0.3(0.2-4), P = .013] was associated with partial recovery following acute COVID pneumonia. Conclusions: Metformin and DPP-4 inhibitors use were associated with favorable in-hospital outcomes, while insulin use was associated with extensive lung injury and post-acute COVID-19 pneumonia partial recovery. Keywords: COVID-19; Diabetes mellitus; Outcome; Pneumonia; Predictor.

Background Little is known about the role of ECG markers of increased risk of sudden cardiac death during the acute period of coronavirus disease 2019 ( COVID‐19) pneumonia. KEYWORDS COVID-19, ECG, markers, pneumonia, sudden death

At december 2019 an opening ceremony of the Najaf lipid clinic in Al-Sader teaching hospital to offer medical care for the homozygous familial hypercholestrolemia patients