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BackgroundCoronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) can have a myriad of symptoms. However, it is now known that most patients recovered from COVID-19 have symptoms related to COVID-19. There is a paucity of literature on post-COVID-19 symptoms from India. Hence we aimed to assess the incidence of post-COVID-19 symptoms in patients recovered from COVID-19. Methods: An online Microsoft forms survey was conducted through multiple social media platforms.ResultsOf the 5,347 individuals who received and clicked the link, a total of 2038 infected patients responded (Supplementary figure). Approximately 48% (967/2038) had recovered from COVID-19 within 1-3 months (short-term recovered), 34.2% (375/2038) had recovered from COVID-19 >3 months ago (long recovered), and 18.4% (375) were recovered within the last one month (recently recovered). Nearly 38% (770/2038) had a history of hospitalization for COVID-19. Of them, 34.28% (264/770) required oxygen therapy during the hospital stay. Most patients were discharged within 5-10 days of hospital stay (54%, 415/770). Only 5.58% (43/770) required a stay of more than 20 days. Seventy-five percent (575/770) of the hospitalized patients received steroid therapy. Of those who received steroid therapy, 56.5% (325/575) had not required oxygen therapy. Forty percent (233/575) of patients received steroid therapy for two weeks, 24% (138/575) for one week, 33.73% received steroids only during the hospital stay, and 1.73% were still on steroid therapy during the survey.Most importantly, of the 2038 respondents, 41.8% (851/2038) still had persistent symptoms related to COVID-Most common symptom was fatigue (64.15%), followed by body pain (31%) and gastrointestinal symptoms (25%) (Figure). Six percent (49/851) of them required hospitalization for post-COVID-19 symptoms. Forty-six percent (449/967) in the short term recovered group (1-3 months), 40.1% (279/696) in the long-recovered group, and 32.8% (123/375) in the recently recovered group had persistent symptoms related to COVID-19 (P=0.001). Forty-eight percent (374/770) of the hospitalized patients developed post-COVID-19 symptoms, while only 37.6% (477/1268) developed post-COVID-19 symptoms among the non-hospitalized patients (PConclusionsPost-COVID-19 symptoms are common in patients who recovered from COVID-19. These symptoms are more often noted in patients who received steroid therapy. Post-COVID-19 symptomatology is present in a significant number of patients and requires to be addressed seriously.

Objective: Diagnostic pericardiocentesis is traditionally carried out via transthoracic route under ultrasound or echocardiogram guidance. The aim of the current report is to highlight the feasibility of doing concurrent diagnostic pericardiocentesis along with EBUS TBNA of subcarinal mediastinal node. Methods: A 55 year old female was evaluated for CT findings of left upper lobe lung mass, subcarinal lymph node and pericardial effusion extending upto subcarinal area. Echocardiogram showed mild pericardial effusion not easily amenable for diagnostic aspiration. Subcarinal lymph node and the pericardial fluid recess in the subcarinal area were well visualised by EBUS. Doppler examination of pericardium and pericardial effusion did not show any vascularity. Four needle passes were taken from subcarinal lymph node under EBUS guidance and sent for cytology. Subsequently EBUS needle was slowly advanced into the pericardial cavity through subcarinal area. 20 ml of straw coloured pericardial fluid aspirated which revealed transudate without malignant cells. Cytology from subcarinal lymph node showed evidence of metastatic adenocarcinoma. Whole body FDG-PET CT scan did not show any evidence of distant metastasis. Results: EBUS TBNA guided pericardiocentesis is feasible. Tumour was downstaged from possible Stage IV to Stage IIIA as the pericardial fluid was transudative and negative for malignant cells. Patient underwent concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Conclusion: This is the first report in literature showing that EBUS TBNA could be a safe alternative for diagnostic pericardiocentesis in selected patients. It is especially useful when it can lead to change in management strategy.

The incidence of aplastic anemia (AA) is common in Asia than in western countries.In a case-control study conducted at a tertiary care hematology center in northern India, 102 patients of AA and 201 controls of other blood disorders (OBD) were included. Sociodemographic data and exposure to drugs, toxins and radiation were collected from the study population using a standard questionnaire. Socioeconomic status (SES) was classified based on a calculated standard of living (SL) score. Univariate and multivariate analyses were carried out to delineate the factors associated with incidence of AA.Patients with AA were significantly younger than those in control groups (mean age 27.5 ± 12.3 years, P0.01). The mean SL score was significantly lower in AA group (26.76 ± 12.88, P0.01) than in the controls. The mean monthly family income was significantly lower in AA group than in the controls (83.3% with monthly income8000 INR, P0.01). On univariate analysis, AA group with lower SL score had3 times higher odds of having the disease (odds ratio 3.41, 95% confidence interval 1.72-6.79, P0.0001) compared with the controls. On multivariate analysis, young age and low SES were found to be significantly associated with AA.Lower SES is associated with higher incidence of AA in Indian population.