Physician’s Briefing Weekly Coronavirus Roundup

Here is what the editors at Physician's Briefing chose as the most important COVID-19 developments for you and your practice for the week of March 14 to 18, 2022. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal studies and other trusted sources that is most likely to affect clinical practice.

Moderna Asks FDA to Approve Second Booster for All Adults

FRIDAY, March 18, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Moderna said late Thursday that it has asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve the emergency use of a second booster of its COVID-19 vaccine for all adults. In a statement, the company noted its request is based partly on recent data from the United States and Israel showing how well its vaccine protects against the omicron variant.

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Sotrovimab May Prevent Progression to Severe COVID-19

FRIDAY, March 18, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- For nonhospitalized patients with symptomatic mild-to-moderate COVID-19 and a high risk for progression, risk for all-cause hospitalization or death is reduced with sotrovimab versus placebo, according to a study published online March 14 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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ACC Offers Guidance on Cardiovascular Sequelae of COVID-19

FRIDAY, March 18, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- In a 2022 Expert Consensus Decision Pathway issued by the American College of Cardiology and published online March 16 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, guidance is provided for the evaluation and management of adults exhibiting cardiovascular sequelae of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection.

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Ashish Jha Named New White House COVID-19 Coordinator

THURSDAY, March 17, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- President Joe Biden announced Thursday that he has named Ashish Jha, M.D., the dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, to replace Jeff Zients as the country's COVID-19 coordinator when Zients leaves his post next month.

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COVID-19 Vaccines Do Not Impact IVF Success

THURSDAY, March 17, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Receipt of a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine does not affect the ovarian response or pregnancy rates in in vitro fertilization treatment, according to a study published online Feb. 25 in Fertility and Sterility.

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Hospitalization of Infants, Children Aged 0 to 4 Up During Omicron

WEDNESDAY, March 16, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. infants and children aged 0 to 4 years were hospitalized at a much higher rate during omicron variant predominance than during delta variant predominance, according to research published in the March 15 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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Pfizer Asks FDA to Approve Second Booster for Seniors

WEDNESDAY, March 16, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Pfizer Inc. said Tuesday that it has asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve the emergency use of a second COVID-19 booster shot for Americans 65 and older.

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Losartan Does Not Reduce Lung Injury in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients

WEDNESDAY, March 16, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Administration of losartan to hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and acute lung injury is not efficacious for reducing lung injury, according to a study published online March 16 in JAMA Network Open.

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Low Dengue Incidence in 2020 Due to COVID-19-Related Disruption

WEDNESDAY, March 16, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Dengue incidence was low in 2020, which was attributable to COVID-19-related disruption, according to a study published online March 2 in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

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Rise in U.K. COVID-19 Cases Closely Watched by U.S. Health Officials

TUESDAY, March 15, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- The United States is keeping a close eye on rising COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Britain, Anthony Fauci, M.D., the director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said Tuesday.

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Prevalence of Depression Up Among Those Diagnosed With COVID-19

TUESDAY, March 15, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 have a higher prevalence of depression symptoms and poorer sleep quality, although the overall prevalence of depression and COVID-19-related distress attenuates over time, according to a study published online March 14 in The Lancet Public Health.

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'Deltacron' Variant Rare and Not a Major Concern

MONDAY, March 14, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- A recently identified hybrid of the omicron and delta coronavirus variants is unlikely to become a serious threat, scientists say.

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Peripheral Neuropathy Observed in Patients With 'Long COVID'

MONDAY, March 14, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Some patients with "long COVID" have incident neuropathy, according to a study published online March 1 in Neurology: Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation.

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