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Immune Modulators Provide Some Additional Benefit to Patients with Severe COVID-19 15
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Like the studies summarized above, most earlier individual studies also have been negative.
Nevertheless, in a recent meta-analysis of 38 trials, researchers concluded that omega-3 FAs con-
ferred modest r eductions in CV-related mortality and coronary events; however, this conclusion
was driven heavily by one positive study (REDUCE-IT), which involved an EPA preparation alone
(icosapent ethyl) in a mainly secondary-prevention population of statin-treated patients with hyper-
triglyceridemia (NEJM JW Gen Med Jan 1 2019 and N Engl J Med 2019 Jan 3; 380:11). This observa-
tion led the meta-analysis authors (and other commentators) to suggest that potential benefits of
omega-3 FAs reside mainly in EPA alone and not in the EPA/DHA combination (EClinicalMedicine
Jul 8; 38:100997). Finally, both this and another recently published meta-analysis showed that
omega-3 FAs confer risk for atrial fibrillation, particularly at doses >1 g daily (NEJM JW Gen Med
Dec 15 and Circulation Oct 6; [e-pub]).
Overall, omega-3 FAs might lower CV risk modestly — especially at higher doses and using
EPA alone — but also might confer excess risk for atrial fibrillation. Given that most recent trials
have been negative, and that the most convincingly positive recent trial (REDUCE-IT) was performed
in a highly selected population, broad use of omega-3 FAs isn’t justified.
— Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
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Key points for adolescent and adult patients (based on asthma severity) are as follows:
Step 2: For adolescent and adult patients, either daily low-dose ICS plus a SABA as needed, or
as-needed ICS only when a SABA is used (i.e., no daily maintenance ICS when asymptomatic).
In the U.S., no approved device contains both ICS and albuterol, so this protocol requires two
inhalers. An example is 2 to 4 puffs of albuterol, followed by 80 to 250 µg of beclomethasone
equivalent, every 4 hours, as needed.
Step 3: Low-dose ICS plus formoterol (a quick-onset but long-acting β-agonist [LABA]) in a single
inhaler used as maintenance and rescue therapy. An example is 2 puffs twice daily of budesonide/
formoterol (80/4.5), plus an additional 2 puffs as often as 4 times daily as a reliever; an alternative
would be fluticasone/salmeterol twice daily with a SABA as needed (since salmeterol is not quick
acting).
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Key published trials for the three authorized treatments are as follows:
• In a study of the “cocktail” known as REGEN-COV (casirivimab plus imdevimab), the inci-
dence of hospitalization or death was significantly lower with REGEN-COV than with placebo
(1.0% vs. 3.2%) in the 1500-patient study arm that examined the authorized 1200-mg dose.
Nearly all these events were hospitalizations; only 1 patient died in each group (NEJM JW
Gen Med Nov 15 and N Engl J Med Dec 2; 385:81).
• In a study of bamlanivimab plus etesevimab that involved 1035 patients, the incidence of
hospitalization or death was significantly lower with this combination than with placebo
(2.1% vs. 7.0%). No deaths occurred in the antibody group, and 10 deaths occurred in the
placebo group (NEJM JW Infect Dis Sep and N Engl J Med Oct 7; 385:1382).
• In a study of sotrovimab that involved 583 patients, death or hospitalization was significantly
less likely with sotrovimab than with placebo (1% vs. 7%). As in the REGEN-COV study,
nearly all outcome events were hospitalizations and not deaths (NEJM JW Gen Med Dec 15
and N Engl J Med Nov 18; 385:1941).
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the findings raise questions about the value Guidelines from the U.S. Preventive
of frequent bone densitometry (NEJM JW Gen Services Task Force
Med Oct 1 and J Clin Endocrinol Metab Sep;
106:2718). For people at average risk for colorectal cancer,
the Task Force lowered the recommended age
for initial screening to 45; however, this recom-
Antihypertensive drugs in patients
mendation received a “B” grade, which is some-
with chronic kidney disease (CKD) what weaker than the “A” grade for screening
In an observational study of nondialyzed between ages 50 and 75 (NEJM JW Gen Med
patients with advanced CKD, those who took Jun 15 and JAMA May 18; 325:1965).
angiotensin-converting–enzyme inhibitors or
angiotensin-receptor blockers were less likely Although screening for vitamin D deficiency
to progress to end-stage renal disease than in healthy people is widespread, the Task Force
those who took calcium-channel blockers found insufficient evidence to recommend
(NEJM JW Gen Med Jun 15 and Am J Kidney this practice (NEJM JW Gen Med May 15
Dis May; 77:719). and JAMA Apr 13; 325:1436).
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