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COVID antiviral uptake low among eligible Americans
News brief
8 minutes ago.
Stephanie Soucheray, MA
Topics
COVID-19
A new report published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases demonstrates that, despite the proven effectiveness of Paxlovid and molnupiravir against severe COVID-19 outcomes, uptake of these two antivirals remains low among Americans with COVID.
The report focused on antiviral uptake among vaccinated Americans who contracted COVID-19 between December 2021 and October 2022. Uptake of oral nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (NMV/r or Paxlovid) and molnupiravir (MOV) increased as the study period progressed, but was low overall.
Paxlovid uptake was 13.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 11.9% to 15.2%) among 1,594 participants and MOV uptake was 1.4% (95% CI, 0.8% to 2.1%) among 1,398 participants. Paxlovid use increased over time, from 1.9% during December 2021 to March 2022 to 25.3% between August and October 2022.
Over the course of the study, most participants were eligible for antiviral use (NMV/r: 85%; MOV: 84%), with uptake higher among those 65 and older. Use of Paxlovid was 30.2% (95% CI, 22.2% to 38.2%) among adults 65 and older, and was also higher among those who self-reported a history of long COVID.
There are a number of factors that may contribute to low antiviral uptake among those including low awareness of antivirals.
"There are a number of factors that may contribute to low antiviral uptake among those including low awareness of antivirals, healthcare disparities, and barriers to healthcare and prescription access," the authors said. "A population-representative study in NYC found that 44% of adults were unaware of antivirals."
Study shows COVID leaves brain injury markers in blood
News brief
5 minutes ago.
Stephanie Soucheray, MA
Topics
COVID-19
A study published in Nature Communications last week describes how markers of brain injury are present in the blood months after COVID-19 infection, despite normal inflammation blood tests.
The findings, which come from research teams at the University of Liverpool and King’s College London, add to the complicated picture of how COVID-19 can cause a range of neurologic symptoms.
During the COVID-19 pandemic it became apparent that neurological complications were occurring in a significant proportion of hospitalized patients.
"During the COVID-19 pandemic it became apparent that neurological complications were occurring in a significant proportion of hospitalized patients and even in those with mild COVID-19 infection," Benedict Michael, PhD, principal investigator, said in a study press release.
The present study looked at blood samples from 800 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 from across England and Wales, half of whom had new neurologic conditions. Researchers looked at blood levels of serum inflammatory proteins (cytokines), antibodies, and brain (neuroglial) injury proteins.
The authors found that in the early convalescent phase (less than 6 weeks post-infection), markers were elevated in participants recovering from COVID-19, with no differences between those who had or had not experienced a neurologic complication. After 6 weeks, elevated markers were seen only in participants who suffered neurologic symptoms in the acute phase of illness.
"These brain injury markers are associated with dysregulated systemic innate and adaptive immune responses in the acute phase of the disease, and suggest that these may represent targets for therapy," the authors said.
ALL BRIEFS
COVID antiviral uptake low among eligible Americans
News brief
8 minutes ago.
Stephanie Soucheray, MA
Topics
COVID-19
A new report published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases demonstrates that, despite the proven effectiveness of Paxlovid and molnupiravir against severe COVID-19 outcomes, uptake of these two antivirals remains low among Americans with COVID.
The report focused on antiviral uptake among vaccinated Americans who contracted COVID-19 between December 2021 and October 2022. Uptake of oral nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (NMV/r or Paxlovid) and molnupiravir (MOV) increased as the study period progressed, but was low overall.
Paxlovid uptake was 13.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 11.9% to 15.2%) among 1,594 participants and MOV uptake was 1.4% (95% CI, 0.8% to 2.1%) among 1,398 participants. Paxlovid use increased over time, from 1.9% during December 2021 to March 2022 to 25.3% between August and October 2022.
Over the course of the study, most participants were eligible for antiviral use (NMV/r: 85%; MOV: 84%), with uptake higher among those 65 and older. Use of Paxlovid was 30.2% (95% CI, 22.2% to 38.2%) among adults 65 and older, and was also higher among those who self-reported a history of long COVID.
There are a number of factors that may contribute to low antiviral uptake among those including low awareness of antivirals.
"There are a number of factors that may contribute to low antiviral uptake among those including low awareness of antivirals, healthcare disparities, and barriers to healthcare and prescription access," the authors said. "A population-representative study in NYC found that 44% of adults were unaware of antivirals."
Study shows COVID leaves brain injury markers in blood
News brief
5 minutes ago.
Stephanie Soucheray, MA
Topics
COVID-19
A study published in Nature Communications last week describes how markers of brain injury are present in the blood months after COVID-19 infection, despite normal inflammation blood tests.
The findings, which come from research teams at the University of Liverpool and King’s College London, add to the complicated picture of how COVID-19 can cause a range of neurologic symptoms.
During the COVID-19 pandemic it became apparent that neurological complications were occurring in a significant proportion of hospitalized patients.
"During the COVID-19 pandemic it became apparent that neurological complications were occurring in a significant proportion of hospitalized patients and even in those with mild COVID-19 infection," Benedict Michael, PhD, principal investigator, said in a study press release.
The present study looked at blood samples from 800 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 from across England and Wales, half of whom had new neurologic conditions. Researchers looked at blood levels of serum inflammatory proteins (cytokines), antibodies, and brain (neuroglial) injury proteins.
The authors found that in the early convalescent phase (less than 6 weeks post-infection), markers were elevated in participants recovering from COVID-19, with no differences between those who had or had not experienced a neurologic complication. After 6 weeks, elevated markers were seen only in participants who suffered neurologic symptoms in the acute phase of illness.
"These brain injury markers are associated with dysregulated systemic innate and adaptive immune responses in the acute phase of the disease, and suggest that these may represent targets for therapy," the authors said.
ALL BRIEFS