Respiratory

After a second lockdown was announced in the UK in October 2020, Iain Beardsell spoke with Liz Crowe about coping with the months ahead. The conversation focuses on simple, practical ways to keep going through the continuing strain of the pandemic, whether working in healthcare or not.

Dan Horner revisits the evidence on venous thromboembolism in COVID-19 as it stood in October 2020. The review examines how screening and case selection affect reported clot rates, the distinction between different thrombotic findings, and uncertainty around risk prediction and higher-dose anticoagulation.

An October 2020 appraisal of RECOVERY's hydroxychloroquine results in hospitalised patients with COVID-19. It reviews the lack of demonstrated benefit, concerns about harm and the arguments about timing and dosage, alongside an explanation of how the platform trial was organised.

A September 2020 appraisal of the ISARIC 4C mortality score for hospitalised patients with COVID-19. It explains model development and internal validation, then examines methodological concerns, access to required tests and the limits of applying a UK inpatient score in other settings.

A September 2020 appraisal of REMAP-CAP's hydrocortisone results in critically ill patients with COVID-19. Dan Horner and Simon Carley explain adaptive trials, Bayesian analysis and organ support outcomes, weighing the findings against early stopping, treatment crossover and the wider corticosteroid evidence.

A selection of COVID-19 papers reviewed for emergency clinicians in August 2020. The Leicester team examines aerosol transmission, CPAP, surgical and cardiac complications, thromboprophylaxis, staff mental health and frailty, distinguishing early signals and expert consensus from stronger evidence.