Role of a lower cutoff of high sensitivity troponin I in identification of early cardiac damage in non-severe patients with COVID-19.

Cardiac damage in non-severe patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is poorly explored. This study aimed to explore the manifestations of cardiac damage at presentation in non-severe patients with COVID-19. In this study, 113 non-severe patients with COVID-19 were grouped according to the duration from symptoms onset to hospital admission: group 1 (≤ 1 week, n = 27), group 2 (> 1 to 2 weeks, n = 28), group 3 (> 2 to 3 weeks, n = 27), group 4 (> 3 weeks, n = 31). Clinical, cardiovascular, and radiological data on hospital admission were compared across the four groups. The level of high sensitivity troponin I (hs-cTnI) in group 2 [10.25 (IQR 6.75-15.63) ng/L] was significantly higher than those in group 1 [1.90 (IQR 1.90-8.80) ng/L] and group 4 [1.90 (IQR 1.90-5.80) ng/L] (all Pbonferroni < 0.05). The proportion of patients who had a level of hs-cTnI ≥ 5 ng/L in group 2 (85.71%) was significantly higher than those in the other three groups (37.04%, 51.85%, and 25.81%, respectively) (all Pbonferroni < 0.05). Compared with patients with hs-cTnI under 5 ng/L, those with hs-cTnI ≥ 5 ng/L had lower lymphocyte count (P = 0.000) and SpO2 (P = 0.002) and higher CRP (P = 0.000). Patients with hs-cTnI ≥ 5 ng/L had a higher incidence of bilateral pneumonia (P = 0.000) and longer hospital length of stay (P = 0.000). In conclusion, non-severe patients with COVID-19 in the second week after symptoms onset were most likely to suffer cardiac damage. A detectable level of hs-cTnI ≥ 5 ng/L might be a manifestation of early cardiac damage in the patients.

A clinical staging proposal of the disease course over time in non-severe patients with coronavirus disease 2019.

Information on the clinical staging of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still limited. This study aimed to propose a clinical staging proposal of the disease course in non-severe patients with COVID-19. In this retrospective study, 108 non-severe patients with COVID-19 were grouped according to the duration from symptoms onset to hospital admission: ≤ 1 week, > 1 to 2 weeks, > 2 to 3 weeks, > 3 to 5 weeks, respectively. The dynamic changes of clinical signs were profiled across the four groups. A clinical staging proposal of the disease course over time was proposed from the perspective of the interaction between the virus and host. The prodromal phase, characterized by pneumonia, significant lymphopenia, and slightly elevated inflammatory markers, occurred in the first week after symptoms onset. In the second week, all the hematological and inflammatory markers were at the peak or bottom. Meanwhile, progressive pneumonia as well as the secondary damage of other organs (e.g. cardiac damage, coagulopathy, etc.) was significant during this period, making the disease progress into the apparent manifestation phase. In the third week, the improvement of the majority of clinical signs accompanied by a relatively high degree of inflammatory response defined the remission phase. After 3 weeks, patients were in the convalescent phase, in which all the indicators were maintained at a relatively normal level. We concluded that the disease course over time in non-severe patients with COVID-19 could be divided into four phases: the prodromal phase (in the first week), the apparent manifestation phase (in the second week), the remission phase (in the third week), and the convalescent phase (after 3 weeks), respectively. In clinical practice, tailored therapies should be considered seriously in different stages of the disease course.

Risk Factors Associated With Long-Term Hospitalization in Patients With COVID-19: A Single-Centered, Retrospective Study.

Background: The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic has become a global threat. Few studies have explored the risk factors for the recovery time of patients with COVID-19. This study aimed to explore risk factors associated with long-term hospitalization in patients with COVID-19. Methods: In this retrospective study, patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 hospitalized in a hospital in Wuhan by March 30, 2020, were included. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and radiological data from COVID-19 patients on hospital admission were extracted and were compared between the two groups, defined as short- and long-term hospitalization, respectively according to the median hospitalization time. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression methods were performed to identify risk factors associated with long-term hospitalization in patients with COVID-19. Results: A total of 125 discharged patients with COVID-19 were reviewed, including 123 general patients and two severe patients. The median hospitalization time was 13.0 days (IQR 10.0-17.0). Among them, 66 patients were discharged <14 days (short-term group) and 59 patients were discharged ≥14 days (long-term group). Compared with the short-term group, patients in the long-term group had significantly higher levels of C-reactive protein (P = 0.000), troponin I (P = 0.002), myoglobin (P = 0.037), aspartate aminotransferase (P = 0.005), lactic dehydrogenase (P = 0.000), prothrombin time (P = 0.030), fibrinogen (P = 0.000), and D-dimer (P = 0.006), but had significantly lower levels of lymphocyte count (P = 0.001), platelet count (P = 0.017), albumin (P = 0.001), and calcium (P = 0.000). Additionally, the incidences of hypocalcemia (P = 0.001), hyponatremia (P = 0.021), hypochloremia (P = 0.019), and bilateral pneumonia (P = 0.000) in the long-term group were significantly higher than those in the short-term group. Multivariable regression showed that hypocalcemia (P = 0.007, OR 3.313, 95% CI 1.392-7.886), hypochloremia (P = 0.029, OR 2.663, 95% CI 1.104-6.621), and bilateral pneumonia (P = 0.009, OR 5.907, 95% CI 1.073-32.521) were independent risk factors associated with long-term hospitalization in patients with COVID-19. Furthermore, a ROC curve where the area under the ROC was 0.766 for retained variables is presented. Conclusions: Hypocalcemia, hypochloremia, and bilateral pneumonia on hospital admission were independent risk factors associated with long-term hospitalization in patients with COVID-19. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to highlight the importance of electrolyte imbalance in predicting the hospitalization time of patients with COVID-19.