Clinical features of critically ill patients with COVID-19 infection in China

Abstract Importance: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections outbreak in China is now a global issue. There is only a limited understanding of the clinical characteristics of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infections is available.Objective:To describe the characteristics, management strategies, and outcomes of critically ill patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.Design, Setting, and Patients: This is aretrospective, multi-center case series of 50 critically ill patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection who were admitted at Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University and Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital in Wuhan, China, from January 8 to February 9, 2020.Exposures:Documented Corona Virus Disease, 2019 (COVID-19).Main Outcome Measures: Demographic, clinical, laboratory, imaging data were collected along with management strategies, complications and outcomes of enrolled individuals. Results Fifty critically ill patients with SARS-CoV-2 infections were enrolled. Their median age was 62 (range, 29-92) [IQR,49.5-69.0] years, 68% were male, and 28 (56%) patients had comorbidities, the most common being hypertension. In this cohort, 20(40%) patients survived ,16(32%) patients died, and the rest remained hospitalized. The invasive mechanical ventilator was used in 36(72%) patients with 15(30%) of them requiring prone positioning, and 17(34%) switched to ECMO. The compliance scores of lungs (Cstat)on the day of ICU admission among survivors were higher than those in non-survivors [42.0(18.0-47.0), vs. 19.5(14.0-24.2), p=0.038].The blood IL-6 levels and neutrophils counts at the first day of ICU admission were significantly higher in non-survivors compared to survivors [123.7(85.3-228.8), vs. 20.2(6.8-67.2) ng/ml, p=0.025 for IL-6, and 20.2(6.8-67.2) vs. 4.01(1.99-7.05) × 10⁹/L, p=0.02 for neutrophils counts].The heart rates, PaCO2, lung injury scale (LIS), and positive end-expiratory pressure levels were constantly higher for 10 days in non-survivors than those who survived (p<0.05). The frequency of vasopressor uses and neuromuscular blockers was higher in non-survivors from day 1 to day 10 compared to survivors (p<0.05). In the whole cohort, the most common complications were ARDS (97%), shock (44%), arrhythmia (38%), acute cardiac injury (26%), and acute kidney injury (22%). A secondary bacterial infection was noted in 17(34%) patients. Univariate analysis indicated that lower lung complianceand higher neutrophil counts at the day of ICU admission were related to higher mortality (p-0.03, and 0.04, respectively)ConclusionWe demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 infection-related critical illness predominantly affected old individuals with comorbidities and characterized by severe hypoxemic respiratory failure, often requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation and rescue therapies. Low lung compliance and persistently elevated PaCO2 indicated poor outcomes.

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The dose - response association between fluid overload and hospital mortality in critically ill patients: a multicenter, prospective, observational cohort study

10.21203/rs.2.20792/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Meiping Wang ◽

Bo Zhu ◽

Li Jiang ◽

Ying Wen ◽

Bin Du ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hospital Mortality ◽

Critically Ill ◽

Dose Response ◽

Fluid Balance ◽

Critically Ill Patients ◽

Fluid Overload ◽

Fluid Management ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Icu Admission ◽

Increased Risk

Abstract Background Fluid management is important for ensuring hemodynamic stability in critically ill patients but easily leads to fluid overload. However, the optimal fluid balance plot or range for critically ill patients is unknown. This study aimed to explore the dose-response relationship between fluid overload (FO) and hospital mortality in critically ill patients.Methods Data were derived from the China Critical Care Sepsis Trial (CCCST). Patients with sequential fluid data for the first 3 days of admission to the ICU were included. FO was expressed as the ratio of the cumulative fluid balance (L) and initial body weight (kg) at ICU admission as a percentage. Maximum fluid overload (MFO) was defined as the peak FO value during the first 3 days of ICU admission. We used logistic regression models with restricted cubic splines to assess the relationship between MFO and the risk of hospital mortality.ResultsIn total, 3850 patients were included, 929 (24.1%) of whom died in hospital. For each 1% L/kg increase in the FO, the risk of hospital mortality increased by 4% (HR 1.04, 95% CI 1.03 - 1.05, P < 0.001). FO greater than 10% was associated with a 44% increased HR of hospital mortality compared with FO less than 5% (HR 1.44, 95% CI 1.27 - 1.67). Notably, we also found a non-linear dose-response association between MFO and hospital mortality.Conclusions Both higher and lower fluid balance were associated with an increased risk of hospital mortality. Further studies should explore this relationship and seek for the optimal fluid management strategies for critically ill patients.

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Epidemiology, clinical characteristics and treatment of critically ill patients with COVID-19): a protocol for a living systematic review

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-042008 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. e042008

Author(s):

Lazar Milovanovic ◽

Erin Hessey ◽

Meghan Sebastianski ◽

Diana Keto-Lambert ◽

Ben Vandermeer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Critically Ill ◽

Critically Ill Patients ◽

Search Strategy ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Case Series ◽

Case Fatality ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Icu Admission ◽

Epidemiological Characteristics

IntroductionIn December 2019, the first cases of COVID-19 associated with SARS-CoV-2 viral infection were described in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Since then, it has spread rapidly affecting 188 countries and was declared a pandemic by the WHO on 11 March 2020. Preliminary reports suggest up to 30% of patients require intensive care unit (ICU) admission and case fatality rate estimate is 2.3%–7.2%. The primary reason for ICU admission is hypoxaemic respiratory failure, while factors associated with ICU admission include increased age, presence of comorbidities and cytokine storm. Case series and retrospective trials initially assessed proposed treatments with randomised controlled trials now reporting early outcomes. We conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify epidemiological factors, treatments and complications that predict mortality among critically ill patients with COVID-19.Methods and analysisOur comprehensive search strategy was developed in consultation with a research librarian. We will search electronic databases: Ovid Medline, Ovid Embase, Ovid Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and Wiley Cochrane Library. The search strategy combines concepts from COVID-19, validated COVID-19 search filters and geographical locations of large outbreaks. Citation screening, selection, quality assessment and data abstraction will be performed in duplicate. Clinically homogenous epidemiological characteristics, interventions and complications will be pooled in statistical meta-analysis. Within the framework of a living systematic review, the search and data analysis will be updated every 6 months.Ethics and disseminationOur systematic review will synthesise literature on risk factors and interventions associated with mortality in critically ill patients with COVID-19. Results will be presented at national and international conferences and submitted for peer-reviewed publication. The pooled analysis can provide guidance to inform clinical guidelines for care of critically ill patients with COVID-19. Iterative updates will be made public through open access. Research ethics approval is not required.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020176672.

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Elevated Modified Shock Index Within 24 Hours of ICU Admission Is an Early Indicator of Mortality in the Critically Ill

Journal of Intensive Care Medicine ◽

10.1177/0885066616679606 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 33 (10) ◽

pp. 582-588 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Nathan J. Smischney ◽

Mohamed O. Seisa ◽

Katherine J. Heise ◽

Darrell R. Schroeder ◽

Timothy J. Weister ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Critically Ill ◽

Critically Ill Patients ◽

Univariate Analysis ◽

Admission Diagnosis ◽

Shock Index ◽

Icu Admission ◽

Apache Iii ◽

Optimal Cutoff Point ◽

Stage Renal Disease ◽

End Stage

Purpose: To assess whether exposure to modified shock index (MSI) in the first 24 hours of intensive care unit (ICU) admission is associated with increased in-hospital mortality. Methods: Adult critically ill patients were included in a case–control design with 1:2 matching. Cases (death) and controls (alive) were abstracted by a reviewer blinded to exposure status (MSI). Cases were matched to controls on 3 factors—age, end-stage renal disease, and ICU admission diagnosis. Results: Eighty-three cases and 159 controls were included. On univariate analysis, lorazepam administration (odds ratio [OR]: 5.75, confidence interval [CI] = 2.28-14.47; P ≤ .01), shock requiring vasopressors (OR: 3.62, CI = 1.77-7.40; P ≤ .01), maximum MSI (OR: 2.77 per unit, CI = 1.63-4.71; P ≤ .001), and elevated acute physiologic and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) III score at 1 hour (OR: 1.41 per 10 units, CI = 1.19-1.66; P ≤ .001) were associated with mortality. Maximum MSI (OR: 1.93 per unit, CI = 1.07-3.48, P = .03) and APACHE III score at 1 hour (OR: 1.29 per 10 units, CI = 1.09-1.53; P = .003) remained significant with mortality in the multivariate analysis. The optimal cutoff point for high MSI and mortality was 1.8. Conclusion: Critically ill patients who demonstrate an elevated MSI within the first 24 hours of ICU admission have a significant mortality risk. Given that MSI is easily calculated at the bedside, clinicians may institute interventions earlier which could improve survival.

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Epidemiology, outcomes, and utilization of intensive care unit resources for critically ill COVID-19 patients in Libya: A prospective multi-center cohort study

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0251085 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. e0251085

Author(s):

Muhammed Elhadi ◽

Ahmed Alsoufi ◽

Abdurraouf Abusalama ◽

Akram Alkaseek ◽

Saedah Abdeewi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intensive Care Unit ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Mortality Rate ◽

Critically Ill ◽

Sofa Score ◽

Critically Ill Patients ◽

Univariate Analysis ◽

The Body ◽

Icu Admission ◽

Risk Of Mortality

Background The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has severely affected African countries, specifically the countries, such as Libya, that are in constant conflict. Clinical and laboratory information, including mortality and associated risk factors in relation to hospital settings and available resources, about critically ill patients with COVID-19 in Africa is not available. This study aimed to determine the mortality and morbidity of COVID-19 patients in intensive care units (ICU) following 60 days after ICU admission, and explore the factors that influence in‐ICU mortality rate. Methods This is a multicenter prospective observational study among COVID-19 critical care patients in 11 ICUs in Libya from May 29th to December 30th 2020. Basic demographic data, clinical characteristics, laboratory values, admission Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, quick SOFA, and clinical management were analyzed. Result We included 465 consecutive COVID-19 critically ill patients. The majority (67.1%) of the patients were older than 60 years, with a median (IQR) age of 69 (56.5–75); 240 (51.6%) were male. At 60 days of follow-up, 184 (39.6%) were discharged alive, while 281 (60.4%) died in the intensive care unit. The median (IQR) ICU length of stay was 7 days (4–10) and non-survivors had significantly shorter stay, 6 (3–10) days. The body mass index was 27.9 (24.1–31.6) kg/m2. At admission to the intensive care unit, quick SOFA median (IQR) score was 1 (1–2), whereas total SOFA score was 6 (4–7). In univariate analysis, the following parameters were significantly associated with increased/decreased hazard of mortality: increased age, BMI, white cell count, neutrophils, procalcitonin, cardiac troponin, C-reactive protein, ferritin, fibrinogen, prothrombin, and d-dimer levels were associated with higher risk of mortality. Decreased lymphocytes, and platelet count were associated with higher risk of mortality. Quick SOFA and total SOFA scores increase, emergency intubation, inotrope use, stress myocardiopathy, acute kidney injury, arrythmia, and seizure were associated with higher mortality. Conclusion Our study reported the highest mortality rate (60.4%) among critically ill patients with COVID-19 60 days post-ICU admission. Several factors were found to be predictive of mortality, which may help to identify patients at risk of mortality during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

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Corona Virus Disease 2019 in situ arterial and venous thrombosis in critically ill patients: a case series

European Heart Journal - Case Reports ◽

10.1093/ehjcr/ytaa470 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Mireya Castro-Verdes ◽

Antonia Gkouma ◽

John Wort ◽

Carole Ridge ◽

Saeed Mirsadraee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Critically Ill ◽

Critically Ill Patients ◽

Virus Disease ◽

Case Series ◽

Bleeding Risk ◽

Conventional Mechanical Ventilation ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Cardiorespiratory Failure ◽

Corona Virus

Abstract Background Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonitis associated with severe respiratory failure carries a high mortality. Coagulopathy has emerged as a significant contributor to thrombotic complications. Case summary We describe two cases of severe COVID-19 pneumonitis refractory to conventional mechanical ventilation and proning position, transferred to our specialist centre for cardiorespiratory failure. Cross-sectional imaging demonstrated concurrent venous and aortic thrombosis with end-organ ischaemic changes. One patient received thrombolysis with a partial response. This could not be offered to the other patient due to a recent haemorrhagic event. Both patients died of multi-organ failure in the hospital. Discussion Concurrent aortic and venous thromboses are rare. This finding in COVID-19 cases, who were both critically ill patients, likely reflects the strongly thrombogenic nature of this illness which ultimately contributed to poor outcomes. The absence of deep vein thrombosis or a potential systemic source of embolism suggests in situ thrombosis. Further, the management of anticoagulation and thrombolysis is challenging in patients where an attendant bleeding risk exists.

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The Use of Transbronchial Cryobiopsy for Diffuse Parenchymal Lung Disease in Critically Ill Patients with Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure – A Case Series

The Clinical Respiratory Journal ◽

10.1111/crj.13362 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Atul Matta ◽

Ena Gupta ◽

Zulma Swank ◽

Alejandro Aragaki‐Nakahodo ◽

Joseph Cooley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Respiratory Failure ◽

Lung Disease ◽

Critically Ill ◽

Critically Ill Patients ◽

Case Series ◽

Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure ◽

Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure ◽

Diffuse Parenchymal Lung Disease ◽

Parenchymal Lung Disease ◽

Parenchymal Lung

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Effect of timing of intubation on clinical outcomes of critically ill patients with COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis of non-randomized cohort studies

Critical Care ◽

10.1186/s13054-021-03540-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Eleni Papoutsi ◽

Vassilis G. Giannakoulis ◽

Eleni Xourgia ◽

Christina Routsi ◽

Anastasia Kotanidou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Mechanical Ventilation ◽

Clinical Outcomes ◽

Critically Ill ◽

Critically Ill Patients ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Mortality And Morbidity ◽

Icu Admission ◽

All Cause Mortality ◽

Detectable Difference

Abstract Background Although several international guidelines recommend early over late intubation of patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), this issue is still controversial. We aimed to investigate the effect (if any) of timing of intubation on clinical outcomes of critically ill patients with COVID-19 by carrying out a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods PubMed and Scopus were systematically searched, while references and preprint servers were explored, for relevant articles up to December 26, 2020, to identify studies which reported on mortality and/or morbidity of patients with COVID-19 undergoing early versus late intubation. “Early” was defined as intubation within 24 h from intensive care unit (ICU) admission, while “late” as intubation at any time after 24 h of ICU admission. All-cause mortality and duration of mechanical ventilation (MV) were the primary outcomes of the meta-analysis. Pooled risk ratio (RR), pooled mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a random effects model. The meta-analysis was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020222147). Results A total of 12 studies, involving 8944 critically ill patients with COVID-19, were included. There was no statistically detectable difference on all-cause mortality between patients undergoing early versus late intubation (3981 deaths; 45.4% versus 39.1%; RR 1.07, 95% CI 0.99–1.15, p = 0.08). This was also the case for duration of MV (1892 patients; MD − 0.58 days, 95% CI − 3.06 to 1.89 days, p = 0.65). In a sensitivity analysis using an alternate definition of early/late intubation, intubation without versus with a prior trial of high-flow nasal cannula or noninvasive mechanical ventilation was still not associated with a statistically detectable difference on all-cause mortality (1128 deaths; 48.9% versus 42.5%; RR 1.11, 95% CI 0.99–1.25, p = 0.08). Conclusions The synthesized evidence suggests that timing of intubation may have no effect on mortality and morbidity of critically ill patients with COVID-19. These results might justify a wait-and-see approach, which may lead to fewer intubations. Relevant guidelines may therefore need to be updated.

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Prognostic impact of elevated lactate levels on mortality in critically ill patients with and without preadmission metformin treatment: a Danish registry-based cohort study

Annals of Intensive Care ◽

10.1186/s13613-020-00652-0 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Rene A. Posma ◽

Trine Frøslev ◽

Bente Jespersen ◽

Iwan C. C. van der Horst ◽

Daan J. Touw ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Mortality Rate ◽

Critically Ill ◽

Critically Ill Patients ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Lower Mortality ◽

Prognostic Impact ◽

Icu Admission ◽

Lactate Levels ◽

Restricted Cubic Splines

Abstract Background Lactate is a robust prognostic marker for the outcome of critically ill patients. Several small studies reported that metformin users have higher lactate levels at ICU admission without a concomitant increase in mortality. However, this has not been investigated in a larger cohort. We aimed to determine whether the association between lactate levels around ICU admission and mortality is different in metformin users compared to metformin nonusers. Methods This cohort study included patients admitted to ICUs in northern Denmark between January 2010 and August 2017 with any circulating lactate measured around ICU admission, which was defined as 12 h before until 6 h after admission. The association between the mean of the lactate levels measured during this period and 30-day mortality was determined for metformin users and nonusers by modelling restricted cubic splines obtained from a Cox regression model. Results Of 37,293 included patients, 3183 (9%) used metformin. The median (interquartile range) lactate level was 1.8 (1.2–3.2) in metformin users and 1.6 (1.0–2.7) mmol/L in metformin nonusers. Lactate levels were strongly associated with mortality for both metformin users and nonusers. However, the association of lactate with mortality was different for metformin users, with a lower mortality rate in metformin users than in nonusers when admitted with similar lactate levels. This was observed over the whole range of lactate levels, and consequently, the relation of lactate with mortality was shifted rightwards for metformin users. Conclusion In this large observational cohort of critically ill patients, early lactate levels were strongly associated with mortality. Irrespective of the degree of hyperlactataemia, similar lactate levels were associated with a lower mortality rate in metformin users compared with metformin nonusers. Therefore, lactate levels around ICU admission should be interpreted according to metformin use.

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