ABSTRACT
Background: Current information is not enough to recognize the risk factors of clinical deterioration and to make medical decisions in COVID-19 patients. Methods: A retrospective study was performed, with collecting data from medical records of COVID-19 patients in three designated hospitals from January 8, 2020 to May 6, 2020. Clinical data were analyzed between the deteriorated and the non-deteriorated patients, which was defined as either a increase of 2 categories on the modified 6-category ordinal scale, or a decline of PaO2-to-FIO2 ratio more than 100mmHg. Results: Total 238 patients with COVID-19 were selected, where 31 were deteriorated and 207 were non-deteriorated. In the deterioration group, the case fatality rate was up to 41.9%. Compared with non-deteriorated patients, the deteriorated were older (65.8[IQR 54.3-72.3] vs 54.4[41.0-66.1], p=0.004) and were more likely to have chronic medical illnesses (17[54.8%]) vs 92[44.4%]). Multivariable regression showed that three variables, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR)≥3.66 (OR, 9.85; 95% CI, 1.68-57.57), hyponatremia (OR, 8.35; 95% CI, 1.74-40.16), and presence of ground-glass opacities with consolidation (OR, 5.84; 95% CI, 1.24-27.49) were associated with increased odds of clinical deterioration. The variable that inspiring air or traditional oxygen therapy only within 72 hours after admission, indicated a decreased odd of illness progression (OR, 0.075; 95% CI, 0.012–0.465).Conclusions: COVID-19 patients with clinical deterioration had more common extra-pulmonary organ impair in early stage and high case fatality rate. Three factors, NLR ≥3.66, hyponatremia and presence of ground-glass opacities with consolidation were determined as high risk factors in deterioration.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , HyponatremiaABSTRACT
Objectives: To evaluate the impact of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.Methods: We included 229 patients with confirmed COVID-19 in a multicenter, retrospective cohort study. Propensity score matching at a ratio of 1:4 was introduced to eliminate the potential confounders. Patients were assigned to the ACEI/ARB group (n=40) or control group (n=160) according to whether they were current users of medication. Results: Compared to the control group, patients in the ACEI/ARB group had lower levels of plasma IL-1β [(6.27±0.50) vs. (8.23±0.39) pg/ml, P=0.028], IL-8 [(35.74±4.00) vs. (45.88±2.06) pg/ml, P=0.037] and TNF-α [(8.79±0.40) vs. (10.91±0.21) pg/ml, P<0.01]. Patients with the current use of ACEIs/ARBs had a higher risk of shock (23% vs. 8%, P<0.01). Decreased lymphocyte counts [(0.85±0.45) vs. (1.02±0.52)*10^9/L, P=0.041] and elevated plasma levels of IL-10 [(7.39±0.51) vs. (6.18±0.16) pg/ml, P<0.01] were also important discoveries in the ACEI/ARB group. Patients in the ACEI/ARB group had a prolonged duration of viral shedding [(25±7) vs. (20±6) days, P=0.031] and increased length of hospitalization [(23±12) vs. (16±8) days, P<0.01]. These trends were similar in patients with hypertension.Conclusions: For patients with excessive inflammatory responses and stable hemodynamics, ACEIs or ARBs might be tried to relieve the inflammatory storm, but the antiviral treatment should be enforced and the hemodynamics should be monitored closely; for patients with low levels of proinflammatory factors or instability hemodynamics, the agents might not be used to avoid a delay in viral clearance or increase the risk of shock.
Subject(s)
Hypertension , COVID-19ABSTRACT
Background: COVID-19 has been widely spreading. We aim to examine adaptive immune cells in non-severe patients with persistent SARS-CoV-2 shedding. Methods 37 non-severe patients with persistent SARS-CoV-2 presence transferred to Zhongnan hospital of Wuhan University were retrospectively recruited to PP (persistently positive) group, which was further allocated to PPP group (n=19) and PPN group (n=18), according to their testing results after 7 days (N=negative). Epidemiological, demographic, clinical and laboratory data were collected and analyzed. Data from age- and sex-matched non-severe patients at disease onset (PA [positive on admission] patients, n=37), and lymphocyte subpopulation measurements from matched 54 healthy subjects were extracted for comparison. Results Compared with PA patients, PP patients had much improved laboratory findings, including WBCs, neutrophils, lymphocytes, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, albumin, AST, CRP, SAA, and IL-6. The absolute numbers of CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, and NK cells were significantly higher in PP group than that in PA group, and were comparable to that in healthy controls. PPP subgroup had markedly reduced B cells and T cells compared to PPN group and healthy subjects. Finally, paired results of these lymphocyte subpopulations from 10 PPN patients demonstrated that the number of T cells and B cells significantly increased when the SARS-CoV-2 tests turned negative. Conclusion Persistent SARS-CoV-2 presence in non-severe COVID-19 patients is associated with reduced numbers of adaptive immune cells. Monitoring lymphocyte subpopulations could be clinically meaningful in identifying fully recovered COVID-19 patients. Abbreviations COVID-19: Coronavirus disease 2019; SARS-CoV-2: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; HC: Healthy controls.