Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of COVID-19 Patients Hospitalized in Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Background: Meta-analysis and clinical studies suggest coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) patients in ICU have a high mortality rate of 30-45%, which has evolved as a function of criteria of admission and the management modalities.

Materials and methods: We conducted a retrospective evaluation for characteristics and outcomes in critical care set up across six months.

Results: 514 patients (74.3% males and 25.6% females) were evaluated. 9.72% (n = 50) patients expired, 78% (n = 39) were males. Mean age (years) was 57 (±14, range 64, 95% CI 55-58). 65.7% (n = 338) were of age more than 50 years, of which 71.5% (n = 242) were males. Males at 20% higher risk for death than women. (RR = 1.2, 95% CI 0.66-2.31, p = 0.61 NS). There was 18% less risk of mortality in female vs male with comorbidities (RR 0.82, 95% CI 0.67-1.12, p = 0.32 NS). Risk for mortality in diabetics was significantly increased by 116% vs nondiabetics. (RR 2.16, p = 0.0055, 95% CI 1.28-3.67). Highly significant risk of mortality in age group >50 years (3.13 times higher) vs age ≤50 years. (RR 3.18, 95% CI 1.71-8.64, p = 0.0003). 50.2% had moderate ARDS at admission. High flow nasal cannula was used in 47.2%. There is 5.79 times more likelihood to be on the ventilator with moderate to severe ARDS vs mild ARDS (RR = 5.79, 95% CI 3.10-11.05, p <0.0001). Risk for death was six times higher for patients on ventilator vs not on ventilator (RR = 6.08, 95% CI 3.49-10.59, p <0.0001). The mean number of days on ventilator for patients who underwent tracheostomy (n = 49) was 14 days as compared to 6.6 days in patients who were extubated (n = 57) (p <0.0001). P/F ratio had negative correlation with number of days of hospitalisation (Pearson r -0.391, 95% CI -0.46- -0.31, p <0.0001). 67% less chances of mortality in patients on steroids (RR = 0.33, 95% CI 0.19-60, p = 0.0012). Mean duration of ICU stay (days) was 8 (± 5, range 29, 95% CI 7.5-8.4).

Conclusions: We observed that a strict adherence to the basic principles of ARDS management resulted in a lower mortality in ICU setting.

How to cite this article: Pandit RA, Gagana BN, Vaity C, Mulakavalupil B, Choudhary JS, Jain V, et al. Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of COVID-19 Patients Hospitalized in Intensive Care Unit. Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(9):992-1000.

Keywords: COVID-19; ICU; Outcomes.

Fig. 1

Different oxygenation methods across the cohort

Fig. 2

Different oxygenation methods across the cohort with moderate-severe ARDS and mild ARDS

Fig. 3

Ventilator across diabetics and nondiabetics

Fig. 4

Comparison of the mortality based on the number of days on the ventilator

Fig. 5

Difference in ICU days of the patients on ventilator support

Fig. 6

Course among ventilated patients

Fig. 7

Difference between the number of days on ventilator and tracheostomy

Fig. 8

Difference between the mortality and the number of days in ICU

Flowchart 1

Simple linear regression of correlation between P/F ratio and ICU days