Clinical features and risk predictor markers in COVID-19 patients in correlation with disease severity and comorbidities- A data-based retrospective study

Background: COVID-19 infection displays a highly heterogeneous spectrum of severities. Laboratory findings are pivotal cues to assess disease severity and aid in retarding/ reversing disease progression. This study aims to identify the haematological, biochemical, and immunological specifics of COVID-19 patients with varying severity and associated comorbidities. Methods: This retrospective study recruited a total of 192 RT PCR confirmed COVID-19 patients. Data on laboratory findings, clinical characteristics, treatment, and hospital stay were obtained and analysed. Results: The patients were grouped into mild, moderate, and severe categories based on disease severity. 96 patients had mild disease, 31 were classified as having moderate COVID-19, and 67 patients had severe COVID-19. 39.58% of the patients were females. The overall death rate among admitted COVID-19 patients is observed to be 19.02%, sepsis and multi-organ failure as the most common cause. The variation in laboratory variables and comorbidities as CAD, CKD, HTN, DM strongly correlate with the severity and increases with the age factor. Pre-existing chronic liver disease emerged to be a comorbidity of significance for acquiring severe COVID-19. Conclusion: Presence of comorbidities, advanced age and male sex emerged as important risk factors while derangements in thrombo-inflammatory markers and haematological indices might be crucial predictors of disease progression. Thromboembolism or superinfection induced sepsis, and multi-organ failure emerged as leading contributors to mortality. High-risk patterns in thrombo inflammatory and immunohematological markers allow for early detection of the disease progression and aid in the institution of personalized intensive therapeutic interventions and monitoring to avoid further deaths. © 2022 University of Stockholm. All rights reserved.

The three “R”s-rights, roles and responsibilities of healthcare workers during COVID-19 outbreak in India

This article addresses the rights, roles and responsibilities of Healthcare Workers (HCW) who are front line warriors in any pandemic outbreak. Coronaviruses 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has emerged as international public health emergency in March 2020, and exposed the weak/failed health care system preparedness to respond to the pandemic threat and controlling the community spread. In India, huge population, poor economic growth and unacceptable doctor to patient ratio, swiftly responding to emergence of pandemic, safeguarding HCWs, ability to provide care without mental and physical burn out was challenging. This review emphasises the need for safety of HCW and patients, infection control, security to the family, psychosocial and mental well-being, proper allocation of medical supplies, medical ethics and communication.