Indicators that determine disease course in COVID-19 patients.

BACKGROUND: In this study, it was tried to determine the factors affecting the clinical process in patients who were followed up in hospital for coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: The study, which was designed as a single-center and retrospective cohort, included 658 patients admitted to the service due to COVID-19. The patients were grouped and compared as the patients followed up in the wards (Group 1) and those admitted to ICU (Group 2), between those who were intubated (Group I) in the ICU and those who were not (Group NI), and between patient groups who died (Group M) and survived (Group NM) among those who were intubated. RESULTS: Of the 658 patients hospitalized in the wards, 566 (86%) were discharged and 99 (14%) were later admitted to the ICU. The mortality rate for the 658 patients that were followed up was found to be 7.75%. When Groups 1 and 2 were compared, it was observed that the patients in Group 2 had more comorbidity and higher KDIGO stages (p<0.001). In addition, patients in Group 2 had older age, higher APACHE II and SOFA scores, high WBC counts, neutrophil counts, lymphocyte counts, N/L ratio, CRP, LDH, CK, PTZ, D-dimer, procalcitonin, and ferritin values (all values p<0.001, for CK p=0.034). When the patients in Group I and Group NI were compared, it was observed that the patients in Group I had more comorbidities and higher mortality rate (p<0.001). In addition, patients in Group I had older age, high D-dimer, and ferritin levels (p=0.008; 0.011, and 0.043, respectively). When the patients in Group M and Group NM were compared, it was observed that the patients in Group M were mostly males (p=0.017) and were mostly in KDIGO Stages 1 and 2 (p=0.005). In addition, it was found that the CRP and LDH levels of patients in Group M were significantly higher than those in Group NM (p=0.018 and 0.023, respectively). CONCLUSION: Comorbidity, clinical features, and laboratory findings are parameters that can help in predicting the clinical course of hospitalized patients due to COVID-19.

Liver function as a predictor of mortality in COVID-19: A retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: In many studies, varying degrees of liver damage have been reported in more than half of the COVID-19 patients. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of liver biochemical parameters abnormality on mortality in critical COVID-19 patients who have been followed in the ICU since the beginning of the pandemic process. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study 533 critical patients who admitted to the ICU due to COVID-19 were included. The patients were divided into three groups according to their ALT, AST, and total bilirubin levels at their admission to the ICU. Group 1 was formed of patients with normal liver biochemical parameters values; Group 2 was formed of patients with liver biochemical parameters abnormality; Group 3 was formed of patients with liver injury. RESULTS: 353 (66.2%) of all patients died. Neutrophil, aPTT, CRP, LDH, CK, ALT, AST, bilirubin, procalcitonin and ferritin values in Group 2 and Group 3 were found to be statistically significantly higher than Group 1. It was detected that the days of stay in ICU of the patients in Group 1 was statistically significantly longer than others group. It was found that the patients in Groups 2 and 3 had higher total, 7-day, and 28-day mortality rates than expected. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that liver disfunction was associated with higher mortality and shorter ICU occupation time.