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COVID-19

COVID-19 Roundup: Death Rates, Diet, Monoclonal Antibodies

Death Rates

Rates of COVID-19 incidence, hospitalizations, and death have declined significantly in older adults since December 2020, according to a recent report from CDC.

In order to evaluate changes in trends of COVID-19-related death and hospitalizations, CDC examined data by age group from November 29-December 12, 2020, and April 18-May 1, 2021. 

Overall, they found that rate ratios for COVID-19 cases, emergency department visits, hospital admissions, and deaths comparing the oldest age groups (≥70 years for hospital admissions; ≥65 years for other measures) with adults aged 18 to 49 years were 40%, 59%, 65%, and 66% lower, respectively. They attribute this, in part, to higher vaccine coverage among older adults.

Diet and Disease Severity

Plant-based or pescatarian diets were associated with lower risk of moderate to severe COVID-19, according to the results of a recent study.

The researchers examined data from healthcare workers in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, and the United States who completed web-based surveys from July to September 2020. Overall, 568 cases of COVID-19 occurred, of which, 138 were moderate to severe.

Participants who followed plant-based and pescatarian diets had 73% and 59% lower risk of moderate to severe COVID-19 severity, respectively, compared to other participants.

Monoclonal Antibodies

Treatment of transplant patients with mild to moderate cases of COVID-19 with monoclonal antibodies is safe and effective, according to a recent study.

The researchers conducted a study of 73 organ transplant patients who were given monoclonal antibody infusion between November 2020 and January 2021. None of the patients required mechanical ventilation, 11 visited the emergency department, and 9 were hospitalized.

"While we expected monoclonal antibody therapy would be beneficial for patients, we were pleasantly surprised by the results. Only one patient required care in the ICU for non-COVID-19 indication, and, most importantly, there were no deaths," the researchers wrote.

References:

  1. Christie A, Henley SJ, Mattocks L, et al. Decreases in COVID-19 Cases, Emergency Department Visits, Hospital Admissions, and Deaths Among Older Adults Following the Introduction of COVID-19 Vaccine — United States, September 6, 2020–May 1, 2021. Published online June 8, 2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7023e2
  2. Kim H, Rebholz CM, Hegde S, et al. Plant-based diets, pescatarian diets and COVID-19 severity: a population-based case–control study in six countries. Published online June 7, 2021. BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health. doi: 10.1136/bmjnph-2021-000272
  3. Yetmar ZA, Beam E, O’Horo JC, et al. Monoclonal antibody therapy for COVID-19 in solid organ transplant recipients. Published online June 10, 2021. Open Forum Infectious Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofab255