ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, caused by the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), led to a devastating pandemic that hit majority of the countries globally in a wave-like pattern. The characteristics of the disease varied in different geographical areas and different populations. This study highlights the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 during two major waves in North India. Materials and Methods: Clinical characteristics and outcomes of all COVID-19-reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction-positive patients, admitted from March 2020 to June 2021, to a tertiary care center in North India, were studied retrospectively. Results: During this period, total of 5652 patients were diagnosed having COVID. Patients who were incidentally diagnosed as COVID-positive (n=667) with other unrelated comorbid conditions and patients admitted under level 1 facility (n=1655; 1219 from first and 436 from second wave) were excluded from final analysis. Males were most commonly affected in both waves, with male to female ratio 4:1 in first and 3:1 in second wave. First wave had significantly more people with co-morbidities like diabetes mellitus and hypertension (P=0.001), whereas younger age group (age <40 years) were significantly more affected in second wave (P= 0.000). Fever was the most common presenting complaint in both waves, followed by cough and breathlessness. Patients during first wave had more severe disease at presentation and high mortality compared to the second wave. Conclusion: Majority of the patients with COVID-19 infection presenting to our hospital were young during the second wave. Fever was noted as presenting manifestation. Mortality was low during the second wave as compared to the first wave, likely to be due to proper protocol-based treatment resulting in better outcomes.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: India recently encountered fierce second wave of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and scarcity of novel medications added to the management challenges. Various studies have highlighted the effectiveness of tocilizumab and high-dose steroids in severe COVIDs, but none has compared their efficacy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective multi-centric analysis compares intravenous tocilizumab (8 mg/kg/day, maximum dose-800 mg), and intravenous Methylprednisolone Pulse (MPS-1 g/day for 3 days) in severe COVID-19. Both the groups had additionally received the standard of care COVID treatment as per protocol. Outcomes were assessed at 30 days. RESULTS: A total of 336 patients, with 249 receiving MPS and 87 receiving tocilizumab were compared. Majority of these were males (72.9%) with a mean age of 57.4 ± 13.6 years. Diabetes was the most common comorbidity. Patients in both groups had comparable age distribution, comorbidities, presenting mean-arterial pressures, d-Dimer levels, serum ferritin, serum leukocyte-dehydrogenase, and procalcitonin. However, the tocilizumab group had more number of males, higher incidence of coronary artery disease, more tachypnea and leukocytosis, more number of patients with severe acute respiratory disease syndrome (PaO2/FiO2 ratio <100), and higher C-reactive protein levels at presentation. Both groups had comparable adverse events' profile. Tocilizumab group had lesser requirement of invasive ventilation than MPS group (17% vs. 29%, P = 0.038), however mortality at the end of 30 days follow-up was similar (36% vs. 34% respectively; P = 0.678). CONCLUSIONS: Tocilizumab decreased the need for invasive ventilation in severe COVID-19; however, it did not translate to improved survival. A planned prospective randomized study is recommended in this respect to compare their efficacy.