Which Body Composition Parameters on Computed Tomography Are More Successful in Predicting the Prognosis of COVID-19 Patients?

OBJECTIVES: The aims of the study are to compare the body composition parameters (BCPs), which have been reported to have a prognostic impact, in COVID-19 patients, and to determine the most influential BCP(s) on the prognosis. METHODS: Unenhanced chest computed tomography examinations of COVID-19 cases were assessed regarding the severity of pneumonia, pectoralis muscle area and density (PMA, PMD), visceral adipose tissue area (VAA), waist circumference, waist to paravertebral muscle circumference ratio, coronary artery calcification severity, and paravertebral muscle area at the T5 vertebral level. A second observer repeated measurements and an intraclass correlation coefficient score were used for interobserver agreement. The relationship between data and patient outcomes (intubation, death) was investigated using multivariable logistic regression analysis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the performance of BCPs in predicting outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 238 (121 males, median age, 48 years [interquartile range, 36-63 years]) consecutive COVID-19 patients with chest computed tomography were investigated. Twenty-four patients (10.08%) were intubated, and 15 patients (6.3%) died during at least 1 month of follow-up. Waist to paravertebral muscle circumference ratio, PMA, PMD, and T5 vertebral level were significantly associated with intubation in the multivariable analysis. Pectoralis muscle density and PMA were significantly associated with death. Pectoralis muscle density showed the highest AUC for the prediction of intubation and death (AUC of 0.814 and 0.871, respectively). There was a good to excellent agreement between observers (intraclass correlation coefficient range, 0.899-0.998). CONCLUSIONS: Pectoralis muscle density is the most influential BCP in predicting intubation and death in COVID-19 patients.

Clinical Outcomes and Independent Risk Factors for 90-Day Mortality in Critically Ill Patients with Respiratory Failure Infected with SARS-CoV-2: A Multicenter Study in Turkish Intensive Care Units.

BACKGROUND: There are limited data on the long-term outcomes of COVID-19 from different parts of the world. AIMS: To determine risk factors of 90-day mortality in critically ill patients in Turkish intensive care units (ICUs), with respiratory failure. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective, observational cohort. METHODS: Patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 and who had been followed up in the ICUs with respiratory failure for more than 24 hours were included in the study. Their demographics, clinical characteristics, laboratory variables, treatment protocols, and survival data were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 421 patients were included. The median age was 67 (IQR: 57-76) years, and 251 patients (59.6%) were men. The 90-day mortality rate was 55.1%. The factors independently associated with 90-day mortality were invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) (HR 4.09 [95% CI: [2.20-7.63], P < .001), lactate level >2 mmol/L (2.78 [1.93-4.01], P < .001), age ≥60 years (2.45 [1.48-4.06)], P < .001), cardiac arrhythmia during ICU stay (2.01 [1.27-3.20], P = .003), vasopressor treatment (1.94 [1.32-2.84], P = .001), positive fluid balance of ≥600 mL/day (1.68 [1.21-2.34], P = .002), PaO2/FiO2 ratio of ≤150 mmHg (1.66 [1.18-2.32], P = .003), and ECOG score ≥1 (1.42 [1.00-2.02], P = .050). CONCLUSION: Long-term mortality was high in critically ill patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in intensive care units in Turkey. Invasive mechanical ventilation, lactate level, age, cardiac arrhythmia, vasopressor therapy, positive fluid balance, severe hypoxemia and ECOG score were the independent risk factors for 90-day mortality.

Recurrent and More Severe COVID-19 Infection: Two Elderly Case Reports.

Although the sensitivity of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is low in the diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), it is the gold standard. Clinical improvement is prioritized in the follow-up of patients with COVID-19 who are followed as possible or definitive cases. Although the priority in the discharge decision is the resolution of complaints, it is also important to see radiological improvement and RT-PCR negativity. A total of 2 of our patients who were hospitalized and treated in our clinic with a diagnosis of COVID-19 were discharged after their complaints were resolved and their treatment was completed. The patients had 2 negative RT-PCR results at discharge. Both of them presented to the hospital with symptoms such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath after the discharge, and both showed positive RT-PCR results. Considering recurrent COVID-19 infection, we aimed to present treatment and the 2 cases we followed.

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the tears and conjunctival secretions of Coronavirus disease 2019 patients.

INTRODUCTION: Current studies suggest that tears and conjunctival secretions may be an important transmission route in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The study aims to evaluate the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus in tears and conjunctival secretion of patients with COVID-19. METHODOLOGY: A prospective interventional case series study was performed, and 32 patients with COVID-19 were selected at the Pamukkale University Hospital from 15 to 22 May 2020. The tear and conjunctival samples were collected by a conjunctival swab. Each specimen was sent to the laboratory for reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyses. To avoid cross-infection, gloves and personal protective equipment were changed after collecting each sample. RESULTS: 32 patients (18 male, 14 female) with Covid-19 were included in this cross-sectional study. The average age of the patients was 52.81 ± 16.76 years. By the time of the first collection of conjunctival-tear samples, the mean time of the onset of complaints was 6.84 ± 6.81 (1-35) days. Tear-conjunctival samples from 5 patients (16%) without conjunctivitis yielded positive PCR results, 3 of whom had positive and 2 negative nasopharyngeal PCR results. CONCLUSIONS: Five of 32 patients (16 %) without conjunctivitis or any eye symptoms had viral RNA in their tear-conjunctival samples. The possibility of transmission via tears and conjunctival secretions should be recognized even in the absence of conjunctivitis or other ocular manifestations.

The prognostic value of pneumonia severity score and pectoralis muscle Area on chest CT in adult COVID-19 patients.

PURPOSE: To assess the prognostic value of pneumonia severity score (PSS), pectoralis muscle area (PMA), and index (PMI) on chest computed tomography (CT) in adult coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. METHOD: The chest CT images of COVID-19 patients were evaluated for the PSS as the ratio of the volume of involved lung parenchyma to the total lung volume. The cross-sectional areas of the pectoralis muscles (PMA, cm2) were also measured automatically on axial CT images, and PMI was calculated as the following formula: PMI = PMA / patient's height square (m2). The relationship between clinical variables, PSS, PMA, sex-specific PMI values, and patient outcomes (intubation, prolonged hospital stay, and death) were investigated using multivariable logistic regression analysis. All patients were followed for more than a month. RESULTS: One-hundred thirty patients (76 males, 58.46 %) were included in the study. Fifteen patients (11.54 %) were intubated, 24 patients (18.46 %) had prolonged hospital stay, and eight patients (6.15 %) died during follow-up. Patients with comorbidity had a higher mean of PSS (6.3 + 4.5 vs 3.9 + 3.8; p = 0.001). After adjusting the confounders, PSS was an independent predictor of intubation (adjusted Odds Ratio [OR]: 1.73, 95 % CI 1.31-2.28, p < 0.001), prolonged hospital stay (OR: 1.20, 95 % CI 1.09-1.33, p < 0.001), and death (OR: 2.13, 95 % CI 1.1-4.13, p = 0.026. PMI value was a predictor of prolonged hospital stay (OR: 0.83, 95 % CI 0.72-0.96, p = 0.038) and death (OR: 0.53, 95 % CI 0.29-0.96, p = 0.036). Incrementally increasing PMA value was a predictor of prolonged hospital stay (OR: 0.93, 95 % CI 0.89-0.98, p = 0.01) and intubation (OR: 0.98, 95 % CI 0.96-1, p = 0.036). CONCLUSION: PSS, PMA, and PMI values have prognostic value in adult COVID-19 patients and can be easily assessed on chest CT images.