Bivalent boosters and risk of post-acute sequelae following vaccine-breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infection: a cohort study.

Background: Vaccination has been shown to attenuate the risk of post-acute sequelae following SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, no prior population-based studies have evaluated if updated bivalent boosters reduce risk of post-acute sequelae following Omicron-variant infection, versus ancestral vaccines.

Methods: National databases were utilised to construct a population-based cohort of adult individuals infected during Omicron-predominant transmission.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on HTAsiaLink network members.

Objectives: This study investigates the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on HTAsiaLink members at the organizational level and provides recommendations for mitigating similar challenges in the future.

Methods: A survey was disseminated among HTAsiaLink members to assess the COVID-19 impact in three areas: (i) inputs, (ii) process, and (iii) outputs of the Health Technology Assessment organizations' (HTAOs) research operations and HTA process in general.

Results: Survey results showed that most HTAOs hired more staff and secured similar or higher funding levels during COVID-19.

Autoimmune Sequelae After Delta or Omicron Variant SARS-CoV-2 Infection in a Highly Vaccinated Cohort.

Importance: Studies have reported increased risk of autoimmune sequelae after SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, risk may potentially be attenuated by milder Omicron (B.1.

Risks of SARS-CoV-2 JN.1 Infection and COVID-19-Associated Emergency Department Visits/Hospitalizations Following Updated Boosters and Prior Infection: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background: Data on protection afforded by updated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines (bivalent/XBB 1.5 monovalent) against the emergent JN.1 variant remain limited.

Long-term cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and thrombotic complications after SARS-CoV-2-Omicron infection: a retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: Evidence suggests that some COVID-19 survivors experience a wide range of post-COVID-19 sequelae; however, the majority of studies were conducted before the emergence of the milder Omicron variant. We examined the post-acute risk of new-incident cardiovascular complications after SARS-CoV-2 infection in a multi-ethnic Asian population, during Omicron predominance.

Methods: This cohort study used national testing and healthcare claims databases in Singapore to build a cohort of individuals with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection during Omicron BA.

Cost-utility analysis of sacituzumab govitecan versus chemotherapy for the treatment of metastatic triple-negative breast cancer in Singapore.

Objective: To assess the cost-effectiveness of sacituzumab govitecan for treating relapsed or refractory metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) in Singapore.

Methods: A three-state partitioned survival model was developed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of sacituzumab govitecan from a healthcare system perspective over 5 years. Clinical inputs were obtained from the ASCENT trial.

Long-term Cardiovascular, Cerebrovascular, and Other Thrombotic Complications in COVID-19 Survivors: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Growing evidence suggests that some coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) survivors experience a wide range of long-term postacute sequelae. We examined the postacute risk and burden of new-incident cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and other thrombotic complications after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in a highly vaccinated multiethnic Southeast Asian population, during Delta predominance.

Methods: This cohort study used national testing and healthcare claims databases in Singapore to build a cohort of individuals who had a positive SARS-CoV-2 test between 1 September and 30 November 2021 when Delta predominated community transmission.

Normative reference values, determinants and regression equations for the incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT) in healthy Asian population aged 21 to 80 years.

Background: The validated Incremental Shuttle Walk Test (ISWT) is widely used for evaluating maximal exercise capacity, with the distance-walked (IWSD) as the primary outcome. However, there are no normative reference values (NRV) and reference equations to predict ISWD for the Singaporean population.

Objectives: This study aims to establish the NRV and reference equations for ISWD in healthy Singaporeans aged 21 to 80 and investigate the determining variables during ISWT.

Effectiveness of bivalent mRNA vaccines against medically attended symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19-related hospital admission among SARS-CoV-2-naive and previously infected individuals: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 omicron (B.1.1.

COVID-19 Severity and Waning Immunity After up to 4 mRNA Vaccine Doses in 73 608 Patients With Cancer and 621 475 Matched Controls in Singapore: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Importance: Despite patients with cancer being at risk of poor outcomes from COVID-19, there are few published studies for vaccine efficacy in this group, with suboptimal immunogenicity and waning vaccine efficacy described in small studies being a concern.

Objective: To assess the incidence rate of severe COVID-19 disease outcomes associated with the number of vaccine doses received and the waning of protection over time.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A prospective multicenter observational cohort study was carried out over 2 time periods (September 15, 2021, to December 20, 2021 [delta wave], and January 20, 2022, to November 11, 2022 [omicron wave]) predominated by SARS-CoV-2 delta and omicron variants, respectively.

Relationships between reading performance and regional spontaneous brain activity following surgical removal of primary left-hemisphere tumors: A resting-state fMRI study.

Left-hemisphere intraparenchymal primary brain tumor patients are at risk of developing reading difficulties that may be stable, improve or deteriorate after surgery. Previous studies examining language organization in brain tumor patients have provided insights into neural plasticity supporting recovery. Only a single study, however, has examined the role of white matter tracts in preserving reading ability post-surgery and none have examined the functional reading network.

Long-term Real-world Protection Afforded by Third mRNA Doses Against Symptomatic Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infections, Coronavirus Disease 19-related Emergency Attendances and Hospitalizations Amongst Older Singaporeans During an Omicron XBB Wave.

Background: Literature on long-term real-world vaccine effectiveness of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) booster vaccines (up to and beyond 360 days) is scarce. We report estimates of protection against symptomatic infection, emergency department (ED) attendances and hospitalizations up to and beyond 360 days post-receipt of booster messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines among Singaporeans aged ≥60 years during an Omicron XBB wave.

Methods: We conducted a population-based cohort study including all Singaporeans aged ≥60 years with no documented prior SARS-CoV-2 infection who had previously received ≥3 doses of mRNA vaccines (BNT162b2/mRNA-1273), over a 4-month period during transmission of Omicron XBB.

Protective immunity of SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccines against medically attended symptomatic omicron BA.4, BA.5, and XBB reinfections in Singapore: a national cohort study.

Background: Despite a large proportion of the population having been vaccinated and infected, Singapore had SARS-CoV-2 waves driven by the BA.5 and XBB sublineages of the omicron (B.1.

Chronic aphasias after left-hemisphere resective surgery.

Surgical resection of brain tumours is associated with an increased risk of aphasia. However, relatively little is known about outcomes in the chronic phase (i.e.

Real-world impact of a subsidy decision of sofosbuvir-velpatasvir for treatment of chronic hepatitis C on clinical practice and patient outcomes.

Background And Aim: Sofosbuvir-velpatasvir was recommended for subsidy to treat chronic hepatitis C in Singapore in 2018. We measured the impact of the subsidy decision on clinical practice and patient outcomes. Specifically, we looked at pre- and post-subsidy changes in the utilization and prescribing pattern of chronic hepatitis C treatment and the real-world clinical effectiveness.

Effectiveness of primary series and booster vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 infection and hospitalisation among adolescents aged 12-17 years in Singapore: a national cohort study.

Background: Singapore offered the BNT162b2 vaccine (tozinameran; Pfizer-BioNTech) to adolescents aged 12-17 years in May 18, 2021, and extended booster vaccines to this group in Jan 21, 2022. Literature on the effectiveness of primary series and booster vaccination among adolescents is scarce outside of Europe and North America. We aimed to determine primary series and booster vaccine effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 infection and hospitalisation among adolescents in Singapore.