Background: Due to the unpredictable nature of COVID-19, there is a need to identify patients at high risk of severe course of the disease and a higher mortality rate. Objective: This study aims to find the correlation between frailty and mortality in adult, hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Methods: Clinical records of 201 patients who suffered from COVID-19 and were hospitalized between October 2020 and February 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic, clinical, and biochemical data were collected. Patients were assessed using Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) and were divided into three groups: CFS 1–3 fit; CFS 4–6 vulnerable and with mild to moderate frailty; CSF 7–9, severe frailty. The association between frailty and in-hospital mortality was the primary outcome. Results: Severe frailty or terminal illness was observed in 26 patients (12.94%) from a cohort of 201 patients. Those patients were older (median age 80.73, p < 0.001) and had more comorbidities. Frailty was also associated with higher requirement for oxygen supplementation, greater risk of in-hospital complications and worse biochemical laboratory results. An increase in CFS score also correlated with higher mortality (OR = 1.727, p < 0.001). The Conclusions: Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) can be used as a potentially useful tool in predicting mortality in patients with COVID-19.

The possibility of using a smartwatch as a rehabilitation tool to monitor patients’ heart rates during exercise has gained the attention of many researchers. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy and precision of the HR measurement performed by two wrist monitors: the Fitbit Charge 4 and the Xiaomi Mi Band 5. Thirty-one healthy volunteers were asked to perform a stress test on a treadmill. Their heart rates were recorded simultaneously by the wristbands and an electrocardiogram (ECG) at 1 min intervals. The mean absolute error percentage (MAPE), Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient (LCCC), and Bland–Altman analysis were calculated to compare the precision and accuracy of heart rate measurements. The estimated validation criteria were MAPE < 10% and LCCC < 0.8. The overall MAPE and LCCC of the Fitbit were 10.19% (±11.79%) and 0.753 (95% CI: 0.717–0.785), respectively. The MAPE and LCCC of the Xiaomi were 6.89% (±9.75) and 0.903 (0.886–0.917), respectively. The precision and accuracy of both devices decreased with the increased exercise intensity. The accuracy of wearable wrist-worn heart rate monitors varies and depends on the intensity of training. Therefore, the decision to use such a device as a heart rate monitor during in-home rehabilitation should be made with caution.

Advances in antiretroviral therapy have resulted in a significant increase in life expectancy and quality of life of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PLWH). However, long-term observation of this population revealed an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Moreover, development of atherosclerosis may be secondary to numerous factors. Traditional risk factors of ischemic heart disease, such as hypertension, diabetes, and cigarette smoking, are more common in HIV-infected population than in non-HIV-infected one. Many antiretroviral drugs have an unfavorable metabolic profile, leading to dyslipidemia, lipodystrophy, and impaired glucose metabolism. Markers of immuno-activation, coagulation, and endothelium dysfunction, may remain elevated despite an effective antiretroviral treatment (ART). Inflammation affects arterial endothelium, leading to an increased deposition of lipids in the arterial wall. HIV infection may also affect blood pro-thrombotic activity. All these factors lead to more rapid atherosclerosis formation and increased risk of myocardial infarction. In order to lower cardiovascular risk in PLWH, traditional risk factors should be modified, and ART with less impact on patients' metabolisms should be used. If necessary, a lipid-lowering treatment should be introduced. Treatment with statins brings an additional benefit of reducing inflammatory markers associated with an increased CVD risk. When selecting a statin, possible interactions with ART need to be considered.

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BACKGROUND Recent advances in mobile sensor technology have led to increased popularity of wrist-worn fitness trackers. The possibility to use a smartwatch as a rehabilitation tool to monitor patients’ heart rate during exercise has won the attention of many researchers. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to evaluate the accuracy and precision of HR measurement performed by two wrist monitors: Fitbit Charge 4 (Fitbit) and Xiaomi Mi Band 5 (Xiaomi). METHODS 31 healthy volunteers were asked to perform a stress test on a treadmill. During the test their heart rate was recorded simultaneously by both wristbands and ECG at 1minute intervals. The mean absolute error percentage (MAPE), Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient (LCCC) and Bland-Altman were calculated to compare precision and accuracy of heart rate measurements. The estimated validation criteria were MAPE < 10% and LCCC < .8 RESULTS The overall MAPE of the Fitbit device was 10.19% (±11.79%) and the MAPE of Xiaomi was (6.89 % ± 9.75). LCCC of Fitbit HR measurements was .753 (95% CI:0.717-0.785) and of Xiaomi – .903 (0.886-0.917). In both devices the precision and accuracy were decreasing with the increasing exercise intensity. Age, sex, height, weight, BMI did not influence the accuracy of both devices. CONCLUSIONS The accuracy of a wearable wrist-worn heart rate monitor varies and depends on the intensity of training. The decision concerning the application of such a device as a monitor during in-home rehabilitation should be taken with caution, as it may prove not reliable enough.