Cobas h232

An NT‐proBNP POC test (Cobas h232, Roche Diagnostics Switzerland) was offered to each intervention practice. This test is reliable and easy to use.¹⁷, ¹⁸ All GPs had to follow an educational meeting on the value of NPs in HF diagnosis, the interpretation of test results, and the use of the device but were free to use the test at their own discretion. GPs were encouraged to use it to objectify uncertain HF diagnoses of the OSCAR‐HF study population, in addition to its diagnostic use in new patients. GPs had to perform a weekly quality check of the device. A POC coordinator affiliated with the clinical laboratory of Ziekenhuis Oost‐Limburg (ZOL) acted as a point of contact and supervised the qualitative use of the POC device. We advised GPs to use age‐dependent cut‐offs for referral [N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) value ≥ 125 pg/mL for patients younger than 75 years or ≥400 pg/mL for patients 75 years or older].¹⁹

This retrospective study was carried out on 118 patients (59 males, 59 females) who were diagnosed as SARS-CoV-2 positive. We retrospectively collected the data from patient records in COVID-19 isolation hospitals in Sohag governorate and the isolation department in Sohag university hospitals during the period from the start of June 2020 to the end of July 2020. The inclusion criteria were patients with positive PCR for SARS-CoV-2, while the exclusion criteria were patients with chronic hepatic disorders (liver cirrhosis, hepatitis B surface antigen-positive, or patients who were anti-HCV antibody positive and HCV RNA positive) and patients with a history of alcohol intake.
The study protocol was accepted by the Ethical Committee of Scientific Research, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University. The researchers retrospectively collected data about clinical manifestations including fever, cough, dyspnea, fatigue, and diarrhea, and laboratory investigation: complete blood count (CBC) by ABX Micros 60 (Horriba-ABX, France), total and direct bilirubin, AST, ALT, albumin, C-reactive protein (CRP) by Vitros-350 autoanalyzer (Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, USA), prothrombin time and concentration by STA-Satellite (Diagnostic STAGO, France), D-dimer by Cobas h232 from Roche Diagnostic (Germany) and serum ferritin by TOSOH AIA-360 from Tosoh Corporation, Japan.

Research personnel in each centre are responsible for the screening and selection of eligible participants. Baseline data are collected by trained researchers using a structured electronic case report form including sociodemographic and clinical data, health‐related quality of life according to the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ),²⁰ satisfaction and acceptability of SMS text messaging, HF self‐care assessed by the European Heart Failure Self‐Care Behaviour Scale,²¹, ²² and HF knowledge evaluated by the Heart Failure Knowledge Questionnaire.²³, ²⁴ All applied scales have been adequately validated for the Portuguese language.²⁰, ²², ²⁴ N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) levels are measured using point‐of‐care equipment according to the manufacturer's recommendations (Cobas® h 232, Roche Inc., Switzerland).

With the help of two junior researchers, the nursing home physicians will review residents’ history and perform a clinical examination to identify clinical signs of heart failure. They will have full access to residents’ medical records and will be able to assess multimorbidity. Trained nursing home staff will record ECG and collect blood samples for measurement of the NT-proBNP marker. NT-proBNP will be measured using a Roche Cobas h 232 point-of-care system on site. The ECG will be interpreted by a nursing home physician. A qualified cardiologist will perform the echocardiography exam using a GE Vivid 7 ultrasound system. While performing echocardiography, the cardiologist will be blinded for NT-proBNP value and will perform echocardiography on an additional 10% of NT-proBNP negative patients as a control measure. A predefined ultrasonography protocol will be followed and images and clips recorded.