This study aims to assess the association between asthma and severity of COVID-19 in the Mexican population.
The data from a national database of confirmed patients diagnosed with COVID-19, who ...attended from February to June 2020, were analyzed in a retrospective cohort study. Patients with and without asthma were compared concerning hospitalization, pneumonia, endotracheal intubation, and death related to COVID-19. Other covariates (age, sex, indigenous group, and comorbidity) were included in various logistic regression models.
Asthma was associated with a lower risk of hospitalization (OR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.66 to 0.76), lower risk of pneumonia (OR = 0.75, 95% CI 0.69 to 0.81), and lower risk of endotracheal intubation (OR = 0.79, 95% CI 0.63 to 0.98). In addition, asthma decreased the risk of death from COVID-19 (OR = 0.73, 95% CI 0.65 to 0.82). In a subgroup analysis, the same association was observed in patients who required hospitalization (OR = 0.79, 95% CI 0.69 to 0.90), while in non-hospitalized patients, associations were inconsistent according to the covariates introduced in the models. There was no association between asthma and death in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), however, asthma significantly reduced the risk of death in the hospitalized patients who did not require ICU.
Our results suggest that patients with asthma are less likely to require hospitalization, develop pneumonia, need tracheal intubation or die from COVID-19 as compared to patients without asthma.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mitigation and containment strategies implemented by each country can influence the prevalence of asthma and its fatality.
To analyze the trend of asthma ...prevalence and COVID-19 fatality in children and adults with asthma.
The prevalence of asthma and fatalities were compared among the peaks of 5 pandemic waves in Mexico.
Among patients with COVID-19, the prevalence rates of asthma among children were as follows: wave I, 3.5%; wave II, 2.6%; wave III, 2.2%; wave IV, 2.4%; and wave V, 1.9% (P for trend < .001); the prevalence rates of asthma among adults were as follows: wave I, 2.5%; wave II, 1.8%; wave III, 1.5%; wave IV, 1.7%; and wave V, 1.6% (P for trend < .001). The rates of fatality because of COVID-19 among individuals with asthma were as follows: wave I, 8.9%; wave II, 7.7%; wave III, 5.0%; wave IV, 0.9%; and wave V, 0.2% (P for trend < .001).
The prevalence rates of asthma and fatalities from COVID-19 suggest a gradual reduction throughout the pandemic in Mexico.
To evaluate the role that serum vitamin D concentration plays in the number of eosinophils in peripheral blood in adults with allergic asthma.
A total of 142 patients were categorized based on ...different cutoff points for eosinophils: ≥200, ≥300, ≥400, and ≥500 cells/mL. The vitamin D concentration was stratified into <20 and ≥20 ng/mL. The association between vitamin D (independent variable) and eosinophils (dependent variable) was explored using multivariate analysis.
The average number of eosinophils in the included patients was 418 cells/mL, and 33.8% of the included patients had vita- min D concentrations ≥20 ng/mL. Asthmatic patients with vitamin D< 20 ng/mL had a higher mean concentration of eosinophils than did asthmatic patients with vitamin D ≥20 ng/mL (464 ± 377.7 eosinophils/mL vs. 327.8 ± 247.2 eosinophils/mL, P = .025). We also observed that vitamin D was inversely correlated with eosinophil count (rho = 0.244, P = .003). In the multivariate analysis, vitamin D <20 ng/mL showed a significant inverse association with each cutoff value for eosinophilia (odds ratio >1).
Vitamin D concentrations <20 ng/mL are associated with a significant increase in the number of eosinophils in blood. Studies that analyze the use of vitamin D supplements as complementary therapy for the treatment of asthma are needed.
It is unknown whether late adolescents represent a particular risk group for the development of red meat hypersensitivity (RMH) and alpha-gal syndrome (AGS). This age group's physiological changes ...and eating habits could play a determining role. This study aimed to estimate the self-reported prevalence of RMH and probable AGS among late adolescents.
A cross-sectional study analyzed a sample of 1992 Mexican adolescents between 15 and 18 years of age. The data were obtained with a previously validated questionnaire that asked about the clinical manifestations related to red meat intake. Confidence intervals at 95% (95% CI) were estimated for proportions.
In total, there were 19 adolescents with RMH, a prevalence of 1.0% (95% CI: 0.6-1.5%). The main red meats related to symptoms were pork (89.5%), beef (21.1%), lamb (10.5%), and mutton (5.1%). The most frequent manifestations of RMH were gastrointestinal (73.7%), respiratory (63.2%), and cutaneous (63.2%). Once the symptoms were grouped, there were two cases of urticaria (2/19, 10.5%) and six cases with probable anaphylaxis (6/19, 31.6%). Finally, three adolescents were considered probable cases of AGS, which represents a prevalence of 0.15% (95% CI: 0.1-0.4%).
Although the prevalence of RMH in late adolescents is low, early detection is justified because approximately one-third present with severe symptoms.
Background: Recently, inflammatory cell ratios have gained importance as useful indicators in the categorization of asthma.
Objective: We compared the concentration of white blood cells in peripheral ...blood, as well as their respective inflammatory cell ratios, between patients with asthma and a healthy control group.
Methods: We performed cross-sectional analyses of the data obtained from 53 adult patients with asthma and 109 adult controls. In our study, we estimated and compared the following inflammatory cell ratios: Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Eosinophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (ELR), Eosinophil-Neutrophil Ratio (ENR), Eosinophil-Monocyte Ratio (EMR), and Platelet-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR). The magnitude of association was quantified with the odds ratio.
Results: In both groups, the average age was 33 years. In asthmatic patients, we obtained the following results: eosinophils ≥ 400 cells/µl, accounted for 37.7%; basophils ≥ 110 cells/µl, comprised 37.7%; and monocytes < 320 cells/µl, reached 11.3%. In the control group, the results were as follows: 4.6%, 9.2% and 0.9%, respectively. When compared to the control group, asthmatic patients had higher odds of eosinophils ≥ 400 cells/µl (OR = 12.61, p < 0.0001); higher odds of basophils ≥ 110 cells/µl (OR = 6.00, p < 0.0001); and increased odds of monocytes < 320 cells/µl (OR = 13.79, p = 0.017). NLR did not differ between our two groups; however, ELR, ENR, EMR and PLR were significantly higher in the asthma group.
Conclusions: Overall, patients with asthma have a higher concentration of eosinophils and basophils, fewer monocytes in their blood, and higher ratios of increased chronic inflammation.
To determine the frequency of anxiety and depression in adult patients with asthma and to identify factors associated with them.
This cross-sectional study included 164 consecutively recruited ...patients with asthma aged ≥ 18 years. Participants were clinically assessed and the mental state was analyzed through of the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II); the Asthma Control Test (ACT) was measured, and allergic sensitization and respiratory function were also evaluated. Binary logistic regression models to identify the factors related to anxiety or depression were carried out. Complementary, 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated.
Anxiety was present in 54.3% of patients (95% CI: 46.6%-61.7%) while depression was found in 50.6% (95% CI: 43.0%-58.2%). Depression increased the odds of anxiety in patients with asthma (OR: 26.00, p < 0.0001), whereas an ACT score ≥ 20 points and allergic asthma were associated with a lower odds than the reference group (OR: 0.29; p = 0.007 and OR: 0.29; p = 0.024, respectively). Depression was associated with anxiety and obesity (OR: 25.33, p < 0.0001 and OR: 3.66; p = 0.014, respectively).
Overall, more than half of all asthmatic patients suffer from anxiety and depression. Well-controlled asthma and allergic sensitization decreased the likelihood of anxiety, while depression was associated with both obesity and anxiety.
Objective: To characterize the scientific production of the Revista Alergia México from a bibliometric perspective. Methods: Descriptive study, carried out from the bibliometric information of the ...Revista Alergia México, hosted in the PubMed (MEDLINE) and Scopus repositories. Results: According to Pubmed, the total number of articles published between 1991 and 2021 was 1115 (annual mean; 37.2 ± 12.3); For its part, Scopus earned 1,541 articles during 1972 and 2021 (annual mean: 30.8 ± 14.9). In both repositories, original articles (49 and 78%, respectively) and review articles (21 and 12%, respectively) were the most frequently published documents. The most prominent themes include: asthma (32%), allergic rhinitis (16%) and drug allergy (9%). Public institutions in Mexico were the ones that published the largest number of articles. The country with the highest number of published documents was Mexico (54%), followed by Colombia (5%) and Spain (4%). According to Scopus, the 2020 citation index was 0.9; H-index of 15 and an impact factor of 0.150. During the 2016-2020 period, the annual rejection rate was 7 to 30%. Conclusions: The main needs of Revista Alergia México consist of promoting its internationalization, publishing articles in English and achieving a higher impact factor in the coming years. Keywords: Bibliometrics; scientific production; citation index; index-H; impact factor.
Objetivo: Caracterizar la producción científica de la Revista Alergia México desde una perspectiva bibliométrica. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo, llevado a cabo a partir de la información bibliométrica de la Revista Alergia México, alojada en los repositorios PubMed (MEDLINE) y Scopus. Resultados: De acuerdo con Pubmed, la cantidad total de artículos publicados entre 1991 y 2021 fueron 1115 (media anual; 37.2 ± 12.3); por su parte, Scopus registró 1541 artículos durante 1972 y 2021 (media anual: 30.8 ± 14.9). En ambos repositorios, los artículos originales (49 y 78%, respectivamente) y de revisión (21 y 12%, respectivamente) fueron los documentos publicados con mayor frecuencia. La temática más relevante incluyó: asma (32%), rinitis alérgica (16%) y alergia a medicamentos (9%). Las instituciones públicas de México fueron las que publicaron mayor cantidad de artículos. El país con mayor cantidad de documentos publicados fue México (54%), seguido de Colombia (5%) y España (4%). Según Scopus, el índice de citación de 2020 fue de 0.9; índice-H de 15 y factor de impacto de 0.150. Durante el periodo 2016-2020, el índice de rechazo anual fue del 7 al 30%. Conclusiones: Las principales necesidades de Revista Alergia México consisten en promover su internacionalización, publicar artículos en idioma inglés y conseguir un factor de impacto más alto en los próximos años. Palabra clave: Bibliometría; producción científica; índice de citación; índice-H; factor de impacto.
: An association between pneumorrhachis and asthma exacerbation is uncommon. However, we present a clinical case involving a patient with exacerbated asthma, subcutaneous emphysema, spontaneous ...pneumomediastinum (SPM), and pneumorrhachis.
: The patient was an 18-year-old male with asthma since childhood who only relied on salbutamol to control his asthma symptoms.
: The patient suddenly experienced dyspnea, chest tightness, and paroxysmal coughing, which prompted him to visit the emergency department. Upon arrival, subcutaneous emphysema was detected on the face, neck, thorax, and left forearm. Chest X-ray showed air in the mediastinum, neck, left supraclavicular region, and chest, all of which were verified by a computed tomography scan that also revealed air in the epidural region. At the hospital, his treatment focused on preventing asthma exacerbation and managing associated symptoms.
: When a patient has asthma exacerbation that is accompanied by SPM and extensive emphysema, the presence of epidural pneumorrhachis should not be overlooked.
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