The union survey shows a recent growth of the disease, but without impact on hospitalizations. Experts stress the importance of stepping up vaccination
Assistance to suspected cases of COVID-19 increased by eight out of ten private hospitals from São Paulo in recent days, but most of the patients did not need to be hospitalized. This is what a survey published on Wednesday 23 by the Union of Hospitals, Clinics and Laboratories of the State of São Paulo (SindHosp) indicates.
Medical specialists point out that, so far, the progress of cases has been marked by mild conditions, but they reinforce the importance of completing the vaccination program and adopting measures such as wearing a mask in closed and crowded places. The country has experienced a new wave of covid, led by Subvariants of Omicron🇧🇷
In all, 90 private hospitals across the state were consulted by SindHosp between the 11th and 21st of this month. Of these, 77% are in the countryside and 23% in the capital. According to the survey, 84% of hospitals reported an increase in visits to people suspected of covid in recent days.
Among these hospitals, the majority (39%) reported a discharge of 21% to 30% in caring for patients with this profile. In 31% this growth was between 11% and 20%. Another 21% of these institutions saw growth of up to 20%, while in 9% the change was more than 31%.
Despite the increase in attendance, the majority of hospitals (73%) report that the increase in hospitalized patients has been less than 5% in both intensive care and clinical beds. In the 18% this increase is between 6% and 10%. Only in 9% of them did the growth exceed 11%.
The scenario requires more attention, stresses the doctor
The president of SindHosp, the doctor Francisco Balestrin, says that the greatest circulation of the coronavirus is actually happening right now, which requires attention for health care. “However, the volume of hospitalizations is still low,” he reflects.
“We assessed that the cases evolve without seriousness, not requiring hospitalization,” underlines Balestrin. “But we ratify the need for the population to wear a mask in places with agglomerations and maintain the health safety protocol with hand washing and respect the vaccination program”.
infectious disease specialist Syrian-Lebanese hospitalMirian Dal Ben points out that, especially in the last two weeks, the institute has observed a “significant increase in the number of cases”.
“The expectation is to reach the peak (of cases) in the first week of December,” he underlines. According to her, the number of hospitalizations has not increased in the same proportion, but still requires a reorganization of hospitals.
“Hospitals have to retool to be able to meet this demand for patients who need to be admitted,” he says.
There are currently 50 hospitalized patients diagnosed with covid in Sírio-Libanês, 32% of whom are in intensive care beds. It’s up fivefold since the first week of November. “Although that’s a lot less demand than other waves, it’s a significant demand.”
“Many patients are hospitalized without the booster dose, especially the elderly”, points out the doctor, who reiterates the need for the population to take additional doses. He also warns that other groups are also interested.
“Another population that has sought emergency room a lot and is also hospitalized is that of children, especially those not yet vaccinated,” he adds. Immunization of the target audience aged 6 months to 2 years began just last week in the country.
The infectious disease specialist Hcor Daniela Bergamasco explains that since the end of October the positivity to covid tests and the number of patients suspected of having the disease have been increasing in the hospital. “We have also noticed an increase in the number of hospitalizations, but although the trend was traced, until last week, towards a more exponential increase, there has been some stabilization since the weekend,” she points out.
The number of patients admitted practically doubled in HCor in a 10-day period, but there was no fluctuation in the same proportion in the intensive care units. On the last day 11, patients admitted to the hospital were 22 (2 in intensive care). On the 15th there were 35 (4 in intensive care). There are now 40 patients (3 in intensive care).
“Looks like a less serious scenario”
“It seems like a less serious scenario than what we had already seen with Ômicron (in January), but we don’t know if it will be even milder than the last few waves”, points out Daniela, who recalls that, in other waves, the increase in cases came before hospitalizations surged in other waves.
For her, the reasons that help explain the most severe hospitalizations are not increasing so much could range from the effects of higher vaccination coverage to other factors, such as the still unknown characteristics of the new subvariants of Ômicron, such as BQ.1.
According to Alexandre Naime Barbosa, a professor at the State University of São Paulo (Unesp) and vice president of the Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases (SBI), there has been a recent increase, especially in mild flu syndromes. “And many cases hospitalized not for covid, but with covid,” he says.
“Because the virus circulates a lot, people who end up needing hospitalization for other reasons end up being hospitalized with covid and then also needing to be isolated.”
According to him, cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in vaccinated patients are “quite rare”. For this reason, the doctor asks the population to take additional doses.
“A fully vaccinated individual with a booster dose has approximately 95% to 97%, or even 99%, depending on age group, individual risk reduction for progression of a difficult outcome, which is what which we call shelter and death. That’s just with the new strains.”
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Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
