SARS-CoV-2-associated fatalities within the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic: an autopsy study

Autsch, Angelina; Ihle, Hannah; Kleemann, Sandra; Sanft, Juliane; Hahnemann, Maria L.; Hubig, Michael; Philipp, Mike; Bauer, Michael; Deinhardt‐Emmer, Stefanie; Gaßler, Nikolaus; Mall, Gita; Wittschieber, Daniel

doi:10.1007/s00194-023-00636-x

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 36 publications

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“…Very recently, Autsch et al [ 7 ] summarized all published conventional autopsy results of SARS-CoV-2-associated deaths above n > 10, which were published mostly by European countries, while the highest count worldwide ( n = 283) was presented by the author’s group. However, there were also different attempts in reducing the (possible) transmission of virus-containing aerosols by using radiological, MITS-based or laboratory approaches alongside conventional autopsies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Minimally Invasive Tissue Sampling via Post Mortem Ultrasound: A Feasible Tool (Not Only) in Infectious Diseases—A Case Report

Terence Azeke,

Schädler,

Ondruschka

et al. 2023

Diagnostics

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In the past years the number of hospital autopsies have declined steadily, becoming almost excluded from medical training. Medicolegal (forensic) autopsies account for almost all autopsies, whereas hospital autopsies are becoming increasingly rare. Minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS) using post mortem ultrasound offers the opportunity to increase the number of post mortem examinations in a clinical and even forensic context. MITS is a needle-based post mortem procedure that uses (radiological) imaging techniques to examine major organs of the body, acquire tissue samples and aspirate fluid from the body cavities or hollow organs. In this study, MITS was used to determine the presence of other co-existing diseases in a deceased infected 97-year-old woman with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The examination of her body was carried out using ultrasound as an imaging tool and to gather ultrasound-guided biopsies as conventional autopsy was rejected by the next of kin. Ultrasound and histology identified an intravesical mass leading to an obstruction of the urinary outlet resulting in bilateral hydronephrosis and purulent pyelonephritis, which was unknown during her lifetime. Histopathological examination revealed the tumor mass to be a squamous cell carcinoma. This study has shown that MITS can be used to determine the cause of death and the presence of concomitant diseases in the infectious deceased.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Minimally Invasive Tissue Sampling via Post Mortem Ultrasound: A Feasible Tool (Not Only) in Infectious Diseases—A Case Report

Terence Azeke,

Schädler,

Ondruschka

et al. 2023

Diagnostics

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Low‐Temperature Adaptive Single‐Atom Iron Nanozymes against Viruses in the Cold Chain

Qin,

Chen,

Miao

et al. 2024

Advanced Materials

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Outbreaks of viral infectious diseases, such as the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) and influenza A virus (IAV), pose a great threat to human health. Viral spread has been accelerated worldwide by the development of cold chain logistics, therefore, an effective antiviral approach is required. In this study, we aimed to develop a distinct antiviral strategy using nanozymes with low‐temperature adaptability, suitable for cold chain logistics. Phosphorus (P) atoms were added to the remote counter position of Fe‐N‐C center to prepare FeN4P2‐single‐atom nanozymes (SAzymes), exhibiting lipid oxidase (OXD)‐like activity at cold chain temperatures (−20, and 4 °C). This feature enables FeN4P2‐SAzymes to disrupt multiple enveloped viruses (human, swine, and avian coronaviruses, and H1‐H11 subtypes of IAV) by catalyzing lipid peroxidation of the viral lipid envelope. Under the simulated conditions of cold chain logistics, FeN4P2‐SAzymes were successfully applied as antiviral coatings on outer packaging and personal protective equipment. Therefore, FeN4P2‐SAzymes with low‐temperature adaptability and broad‐spectrum antiviral properties may serve as key materials for developing specific antiviral approaches to interrupt viral transmission through the cold chain.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

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Comparison of fatalities due to COVID-19 and other nonexternal causes during the first five pandemic waves

Buschner,

Katz,

Beyerlein

2024

Bundesgesundheitsbl

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Background Older age is a risk factor for a fatal course of SARS-CoV‑2 infection, possibly due to comorbidities whose exact role in this context, however, is not yet well understood. In this paper, the characteristics and comorbidities of persons who had died of COVID-19 in Bavaria by July 2022 are shown and compared with the characteristics of other fatalities during the pandemic. Methods Based on data from multiple cause of death statistics, odds ratios for dying from COVID-19 (compared to dying from other nonexternal causes of death) were calculated by using logistic regression models, stratified by age, sex, and pandemic waves. Results In Bavaria, a total of 24,479 persons (6.5% of all deaths) officially died from COVID-19 between March 2020 and July 2022. In addition to increasing age and male sex, preexisting diseases and comorbidities such as obesity, degenerative diseases of the nervous system, dementia, renal insufficiency, chronic lower respiratory diseases, and diabetes mellitus were significantly associated with COVID-19–related deaths. Dementia was mainly associated with increased COVID-19 mortality during the first and second waves, while obesity was strongly associated during the fourth wave. Discussion The frequency of specific comorbidities in COVID-19 deaths varied over the course of the pandemic. This suggests that wave-specific results also need to be interpreted against the background of circulating virus variants, changing immunisation levels, and nonpharmaceutical interventions in place at the time.

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SARS-CoV-2-associated fatalities within the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic: an autopsy study

Cited by 4 publications

References 36 publications

Minimally Invasive Tissue Sampling via Post Mortem Ultrasound: A Feasible Tool (Not Only) in Infectious Diseases—A Case Report

Minimally Invasive Tissue Sampling via Post Mortem Ultrasound: A Feasible Tool (Not Only) in Infectious Diseases—A Case Report

Low‐Temperature Adaptive Single‐Atom Iron Nanozymes against Viruses in the Cold Chain

Comparison of fatalities due to COVID-19 and other nonexternal causes during the first five pandemic waves

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