With inputs from Dr Monica Vasudev

Physician burnout increased during Covid, reveals Medscape survey 

The Covid-19 pandemic has augmented the problem of physician burnout. According to the Medscapes National Burnout and Depression Report 2022, 47% physicians reported feeling burnout compared to 42% last year. The survey included more than 13,000 physicians from 29 specialties. Expectedly, emergency physicians topped the list at 60% followed by Critical care specialists at 56%, ob/gyn at 53% and infectious disease and family medicine at 51% each. Women physicians reported more burnout than men physicians (56% vs 41%, respectively)…(Source: Medscape, Jan. 21, 2022)

Genetic factor associated with loss of smell and taste in Covid patients

A new study published in Nature Genetics has suggested that the loss of smell and taste during Covid-19 may be due to a genetic risk factor. Results of a multi-ancestry genome-wide association study show that a locus near the UGT2A1 and UGT2A2 genes, expressed in the olfactory epithelium, is associated with the loss of smell and taste. Presence of this genetic risk factor increases the chances of loss of smell and taste after Covid infection by 11%. This symptom was more commonly reported by women than men (72% vs 61%, respectively) and more than 70% of patients having this symptom were aged 26 to 35 years …(Source: Nature Genetics, Jan. 17, 2022)

Fourth dose of Covid-19 vaccine less protective against Omicron 

Preliminary results from an Israeli study show that though a fourth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine led to a small increase in the levels of antibodies, these levels were inadequate in terms of protecting from Omicron infection. In this study,  274 medical workers at Sheba Medical Center were administered the fourth vaccine dose (either Pfizer or Moderna) in December after vaccination with three doses of Pfizer vaccine… (Source: Medscape, Jan. 18, 2022)

Long COVID and Metabolic Liver Disease

A single center analysis of patients from Canada has found an association of postacute COVID syndrome (PACS) or long Covid with increased risk of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), also known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). MAFLD was defined as presence of liver steatosis plus overweight/obesity or type 2 diabetes. Published in the Open Forum Infectious Diseases, this retrospective analysis of Covid-19 patients found that 50% (103/235) patients had features of MAFLD at the time of admission for acute Covid-19, while 48% had MAFLD at the time of discharge. At follow-up for long Covid, 71% were diagnosed with MAFLD…(Source: Medscape, Jan. 21, 2022)

Women with Covid-19 more fatigued than men, finds survey

In a poll conducted by WebMD from 23rd December to 4th January among 489 readers, more women (40%) than men (34%) reported experiencing fatigue or feeling frustrated or fed up every day. Similarly, more women than men reported these symptoms few times in a week; 25% vs 18%, respectively. However, 34% of men and 23% of women did not report experiencing these symptoms. Younger participants (<45 years) reported daily fatigue vs older participants (>45 years); 46% vs 31%, respectively… (Source: Medscape, Jan. 20, 2022)

Scrub typhus coinfection in Covid patients 

Two cases of scrub typhus coinfection in Covid-19 patients has been reported in the journal Future Microbiology highlighting the need for a high index of suspicion for seasonal tropical infections in COVID-19 patients, particularly in endemic areas. The first patient was hypertensive and had lymphopenia and raised IL-6, while the second patient had leukocytosis and increased liver enzymes. Both patients had hypoalbuminemia and needed intensive care. Early diagnosis is imperative for timely management and better patient outcomes… (Source: Future Microbiology. Jan. 19, 2022).

Adverse events among placebo recipients in Covid-19 vaccine trials

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 12 clinical trials published in JAMA Network Open has found that while persons who received the Covid-19 vaccine reported much more adverse events vis-à-vis the placebo recipients, the adverse events in the placebo group were still significant. After the first dose, 46.3% of the vaccine recipients reported systemic adverse events, while 66.7% AEs after the second vaccine dose. Among the placebo recipients, 35.2% reported at least one systemic AE after the first dose and 31.8% reported an AE after the second dose. Headache and fatigue were the most commonly reported systemic AEs in the placebo group… (Source: JAMA Network Open, Jan. 18, 2022)