ABSTRACT
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.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/complications , COVID-19/mortality , Respiratory Insufficiency/mortality , Respiratory Insufficiency/virology , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , COVID-19/diagnosis , COVID-19/therapy , Critical Care , Critical Illness , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Intensive Care Units , Male , Middle Aged , Prognosis , Respiratory Insufficiency/diagnosis , Respiratory Insufficiency/therapy , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Survival Analysis , Turkey/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Nearly 5% of patients with COVID-19 need intensive care unit (ICU) admission due to the severity of disease progress. These patients generally have pneumonia induced acute respiratory disease syndrome (ARDS) and mostly need invasive mechanic ventilation. ARDS is a specific disease state that needs a long and complex treatment period. Since critical patients with COVID-19 have high viral loads and require a long therapy period, the risk of disease transmission from patients to medical staffs is high. Therefore, healthcare personnel should wear personal protective equipment (gloves, respirators, full bodysuits, bonnet, safety glasses, and full shield in the case of contact with airway) during the invasive procedures and therapies. In this article, we wanted to share our own experience of caring for critically ill patients with COVID-19-pandemia.