scholarly journals Evaluation of Zinc Sulfate as an Adjunctive Therapy in COVID-19 Critically Ill Patients: a Two Center Propensity-score Matched Study

Author(s):  
Khalid Al Sulaiman ◽  
Ohoud Al Juhani ◽  
Abdulrahman I Al Shaya ◽  
Abdullah Kharbosh ◽  
Raed Kensara ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Zinc is a trace element that plays a role in stimulating innate and acquired immunity. The role of zinc in critically ill patients with COVID-19 remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of zinc sulfate as adjunctive therapy in critically ill patients with COVID-19.Methods: Patients aged ≥ 18 years with a COVID-19 who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in two tertiary hospitals in Saudi Arabia were retrospectively assessed for zinc use, from 01 March 2020 until 31-December 2020. We assessed the association of zinc use as adjunctive therapy with the in-hospital and 30-day mortality after propensity score matching. Secondary outcomes included mechanical ventilation (MV) duration, ICU length of stay (LOS), hospital LOS, and complication (s) during ICU stay. Results: A total of 266 patients were included in this study after using propensity score matching. Zinc sulfate as adjunctive therapy during ICU stay was not associated with statistically significant reduction in 30-day mortality nor in-hospital mortality compared to those who did not receive zinc (HR= 0.65 CI = 0.41,1.01; p= 0.05 and HR= 0.67 CI = 0.45,1.00; p= 0.05; respectively). Moreover, MV duration (Beta coefficient 0.10 CI = -0.19,0.39; p= 0.48), ICU LOS (Beta coefficient 0.19 CI = -0.02,0.40; p=0.08) and hospital LOS (Beta coefficient 0.15 CI = -0.02,0.32; p=0.08) were not statistically significant between the two groups. Patients who received zinc have a higher odds of acute kidney injury (AKI) during ICU stay (OR= 1.80 CI = 1.08-3.0; p= 0.02). Conclusion: Zinc sulfate as adjunctive therapy in critically ill patients with COVID-19 may have survival benefit; however, was not statistically significant. Zinc use was linked with an increased risk of AKI development during ICU stay.

Critical Care ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Khalid Al Sulaiman ◽  
Ohoud Aljuhani ◽  
Abdulrahman I. Al Shaya ◽  
Abdullah Kharbosh ◽  
Raed Kensara ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Zinc is a trace element that plays a role in stimulating innate and acquired immunity. The role of zinc in critically ill patients with COVID-19 remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of zinc sulfate as adjunctive therapy in critically ill patients with COVID-19. Methods Patients aged ≥ 18 years with COVID-19 who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in two tertiary hospitals in Saudi Arabia were retrospectively assessed for zinc use from March 1, 2020 until March 31, 2021. After propensity score matching (1:1 ratio) based on the selected criteria, we assessed the association of zinc used as adjunctive therapy with the 30-day mortality. Secondary outcomes included the in-hospital mortality, ventilator free days, ICU length of stay (LOS), hospital LOS, and complication (s) during ICU stay. Results A total of 164 patients were included, 82 patients received zinc. Patients who received zinc sulfate as adjunctive therapy have a lower 30-day mortality (HR 0.52, CI 0.29, 0.92; p = 0.03). On the other hand, the in-hospital mortality was not statistically significant between the two groups (HR 0.64, CI 0.37–1.10; p = 0.11). Zinc sulfate use was associated with a lower odds of acute kidney injury development during ICU stay (OR 0.46 CI 0.19–1.06; p = 0.07); however, it did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion The use of zinc sulfate as an additional treatment in critically ill COVID-19 patients may improve survival. Furthermore, zinc supplementation may have a protective effect on the kidneys.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khalid Al Sulaiman ◽  
Ohoud Al Juhani ◽  
Hisham A. Badreldin ◽  
Khalid Bin Salah ◽  
Abdullah Al Harthi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Due to its supposed clinical efficacy, relative safety, and low cost, ascorbic acid represents an appealing option for clinicians to utilize in the context of a global health pandemic of COVID-19 patients.Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of using ascorbic acid as adjunctive therapy in critically ill patients with COVID-19. Methods: This was a multi-center, non-interventional, retrospective cohort study. All critically ill adult patients admitted to ICU with a confirmed COVID-19 between March 1st to December 31st, 2020 were included in the final analysis. The study was conducted at two large governmental tertiary hospitals in Saudi Arabia. The purpose was to investigate the association between clinical outcomes with ascorbic acid use as an adjunctive therapy in COVID-19 after propensity score matching using baseline severity scores, systemic use of corticosteroids and study centers. Results: A 739 patients were included in this study; 296 patients were included after propensity score matching. There was no association between the administration of ascorbic acid and in-hospital mortality nor 30-day ICU mortality (OR (95%CI): 0.77 (0.476, 1.234), p-value=0.2738 and OR (95%CI): 0.73 (0.438 ,1.204), p-value=0.215 respectively). Using ascorbic acid was associated with lower incidence of thrombosis compared with the non-ascorbic acid group (6.1% vs. 13% respectively); OR (95%CI): 0.42 (0.184, 0.937), p-value=0.0342).Conclusion: Ascorbic acid use as an adjunctive therapy in COVID19 critically ill patients was not associated with mortality benefits; but associated with lower incidence of thrombosis. Further studies are required to confirm these findings.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Khalid Al Sulaiman ◽  
Ohoud Aljuhani ◽  
Khalid Bin Saleh ◽  
Hisham A. Badreldin ◽  
Abdullah Al Harthi ◽  
...  

AbstractAscorbic acid represents an appealing option for clinicians to utilize in the context of the global COVID-19 pandemic due to its proposed clinical efficacy, relative safety, and low cost. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of using ascorbic acid in supplemental doses as adjunctive therapy for patients critically ill with COVID-19. This was a two-center, non-interventional, retrospective cohort study. All critically ill adult patients admitted to ICU with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis between March 1st and December 31st, 2020, were included in the final analysis. The study was conducted at two large governmental tertiary hospitals in Saudi Arabia. The purpose was to investigate the clinical outcomes of low-dose ascorbic acid as adjunctive therapy in COVID-19 after propensity score matching using baseline severity scores, systematic use of corticosteroids, and study centers. A number of 739 patients were included in this study, among whom 296 patients were included after propensity score matching. There was no association between the administration of ascorbic acid and in-hospital mortality or the 30-day mortality [OR (95% CI) 0.77 (0.47, 1.23), p value = 0.27 and OR (95% CI) 0.73 (0.43, 1.20), p value = 0.21, respectively]. Using ascorbic acid was associated with a lower incidence of thrombosis compared with the non-ascorbic-acid group [6.1% vs. 13% respectively; OR (95% CI) 0.42 (0.184, 0.937), p value = 0.03]. Low dose of ascorbic acid as an adjunctive therapy in COVID-19 critically ill patients was not associated with mortality benefits, but it was associated with a lower incidence of thrombosis. Further studies are required to confirm these findings.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aixiang Yang ◽  
Jing Yang ◽  
Biying Zhou ◽  
Jinxian Qian ◽  
Liyang Jiang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Dexmedetomidine (DEX) had organ protection effects and could decrease mortality in animal models, but its association with mortality and length of stay (LOS) in ICU and hospital in critically ill patients was conflicting. Whether acute kidney injury (AKI) subgroup of critically ill patients could benefit from DEX was unknown. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of DEX on clinical outcomes of critically ill patients with AKI. Methods Data were extracted from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care Ⅲ database (MIMIC Ⅲ). Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis (1:3), cox proportional hazards model, linear regression and logistic regression model were used to assess the effect of DEX on clinical outcomes. Results After PSM, 324 pairs of patients were matched between the patients with DEX administration and those without. DEX administration was associated with decreased in-hospital mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 0.287; 95% CI 0.151–0.542; P < 0.001] and 90-day mortality [HR 0.344; 95% CI 0.221–0.534; P < 0.001], and it was also associated with reduced length of stay (LOS) in ICU [4.54(3.13,7.72) versus 5.24(3.15,10.91), P < 0.001] and LOS in hospital [11.63(8.02,16.79) versus 12.09(7.83,20.44), P = 0.002]. Subgroup analysis showed the above associations existed only in mild and moderate AKI subgroups, but not in severe AKI subgroup. Nevertheless, DEX administration was not associated with the recovery of renal function [HR 1.199; 95% CI 0.851–1.688; P = 0.300]. Conclusions DEX administration improved outcomes in critically ill patients with mild and moderate AKI and could be a good choice of sedation.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khalid Al Sulaiman ◽  
Ohoud Al Juhani ◽  
Khalid Bin Salah ◽  
Hisham A. Badreldin ◽  
Abdullah Al Harthi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Ascorbic acid represents an appealing option for clinicians to utilize in the context of a global health pandemic of COVID-19 patients due to its proposed clinical efficacy, relative safety, and low cost.Objectives:The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of using ascorbic acid in supplemental dose as adjunctive therapy in critically ill patients with COVID-19. Methods: This was a multi-center, non-interventional, retrospective cohort study. All critically ill adult patients admitted to ICU with a confirmed COVID-19 between March 1st to December 31st, 2020 were included in the final analysis. The study was conducted at two large governmental tertiary hospitals in Saudi Arabia. The purpose was to investigate the association between clinical outcomes with ascorbic acid use as an adjunctive therapy in COVID-19 after propensity score matching using baseline severity scores, systemic use of corticosteroids and study centers. Results:A 739 patients were included in this study; 296 patients were included after propensity score matching. There was no association between the administration of ascorbic acid and in-hospital mortality nor 30-day ICU mortality (OR (95%CI): 0.77 (0.476, 1.234), p-value=0.2738 and OR (95%CI): 0.73 (0.438 ,1.204), p-value=0.215 respectively). Using ascorbic acid was associated with lower incidence of thrombosis compared with the non-ascorbic acid group (6.1% vs. 13% respectively); OR (95%CI): 0.42 (0.184, 0.937), p-value=0.0342).Conclusion:Supplemental dose of ascorbic acid as an adjunctive therapy in COVID19 critically ill patients was not associated with mortality benefits; but associated with lower incidence of thrombosis. Further studies are required to confirm these findings.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khalid Al Sulaiman ◽  
Alaa Alhubaishi ◽  
Ohoud Al Juhani ◽  
Khalid Eljaaly ◽  
Omar Al Harbi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Corticosteroids, especially dexamethasone, showed a survival benefit in critically ill COVID 19 patients. However, it is unclear whether the timing of dexamethasone initiation is associated with positive outcomes. The aim of this study is to evaluate the timing of dexamethasone initiation and 30-day ICU mortality in critically ill patients with COVID19. Methods: A multicenter, non-interventional, prospective study for all adult COVID19 admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) who received systemic dexamethasone between March 01 to December 31, 2020. Patients were divided into two groups based on the timing for dexamethasone initiation (early vs. late). Early use defined as the initiation of dexamethasone within three days of ICU admission. Multivariate logistic and generalized linear regression were used. We considered a P value of < 0.05 statistically significant. Results: A total of 475 patients were included in the study; dexamethasone was initiated early within three days of ICU admission in 433 patients. Early initiation of dexamethasone was associated with lower 30-day ICU mortality (OR [95%CI]: 0.43 [0.23, 0.81], p-value = 0.01), and acute kidney injury during ICU stay, (OR [95%CI]: 0.45 [0.21, 0.94], p-value = 0.03). Additionally, among survivors, early initiation was associated with shorter MV duration (beta coefficient [95% CI]: -0.94 [-1.477, -0.395], p-value = 0.0001), ICU length of stay (LOS) (beta coefficient [95%CI]: -0.73 [-0.9971, -0.469], p-value = 0.0001), and hospital LOS (beta coefficient [95%CI]: -0.68 [-0.913, -0.452], p-value = 0.0001). Conclusion: Early initiation of dexamethasone within three days of ICU admission in COVID-19 critically ill patients was associated with a mortality benefit. Additionally, it was associated with shorter MV duration, hospital, and ICU LOS.


2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam M. Blevins ◽  
Jennifer N. Lashinsky ◽  
Craig McCammon ◽  
Marin Kollef ◽  
Scott Micek ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Critically ill patients are frequently treated with empirical antibiotic therapy, including vancomycin and β-lactams. Recent evidence suggests an increased risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients who received a combination of vancomycin and piperacillin-tazobactam (VPT) compared with patients who received vancomycin alone or vancomycin in combination with cefepime (VC) or meropenem (VM), but most studies were conducted predominately in the non-critically ill population. A retrospective cohort study that included 2,492 patients was conducted in the intensive care units of a large university hospital with the primary outcome being the development of any AKI. The rates of any AKI, as defined by the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines, were 39.3% for VPT patients, 24.2% for VC patients, and 23.5% for VM patients (P < 0.0001 for both comparisons). Similarly, the incidences of stage 2 and stage 3 AKI were also significantly higher for VPT patients than for the patients in the other groups. The rates of stage 2 and stage 3 AKI, respectively, were 15% and 6.6% for VPT patients, 5.8% and 1.8% for VC patients, and 6.6% and 1.3% for VM patients (P < 0.0001 for both comparisons). In multivariate analysis, the use of vancomycin in combination with piperacillin-tazobactam was found to be an independent predictor of AKI (odds ratio [OR], 2.161; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.620 to 2.883). In conclusion, critically ill patients receiving the combination of VPT had the highest incidence of AKI compared to critically ill patients receiving either VC or VM.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Khalid Al Sulaiman ◽  
Ohoud Aljuhani ◽  
Khalid Bin Saleh ◽  
Hisham A. Badreldin ◽  
Abdullah Al Harthi ◽  
...  

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. e0257558
Author(s):  
Ruey-Hsing Chou ◽  
Chuan-Tsai Tsai ◽  
Ya-Wen Lu ◽  
Jiun-Yu Guo ◽  
Chi-Ting Lu ◽  
...  

Background Galectin-1 (Gal-1), a member of the β-galactoside binding protein family, is associated with inflammation and chronic kidney disease. However, the effect of Gal-1 on mortality and acute kidney injury (AKI) in critically-ill patients remain unclear. Methods From May 2018 to March 2020, 350 patients admitted to the medical intensive care unit (ICU) of Taipei Veterans General Hospital, a tertiary medical center, were enrolled in this study. Forty-one patients receiving long-term renal replacement therapy were excluded. Serum Gal-1 levels were determined within 24 h of ICU admission. The patients were divided into tertiles according to their serum Gal-1 levels (low, serum Gal-1 < 39 ng/ml; median, 39–70 ng/ml; high, ≥71 ng/ml). All patients were followed for 90 days or until death. Results Mortality in the ICU and at 90 days was greater among patients with elevated serum Gal-1 levels. In analyses adjusted for the body mass index, malignancy, sepsis, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, and serum lactate level, the serum Gal-1 level remained an independent predictor of 90-day mortality [median vs. low: adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 2.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.24–3.60, p = 0.006; high vs. low: aHR 3.21, 95% CI 1.90–5.42, p < 0.001]. Higher serum Gal-1 levels were also associated with a higher incidence of AKI within 48 h after ICU admission, independent of the SOFA score and renal function (median vs. low: aHR 2.77, 95% CI 1.21–6.34, p = 0.016; high vs. low: aHR 2.88, 95% CI 1.20–6.88, p = 0.017). The results were consistent among different subgroups with high and low Gal-1 levels. Conclusion Serum Gal-1 elevation at the time of ICU admission were associated with an increased risk of mortality at 90 days, and an increased incidence of AKI within 48 h after ICU admission.


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