Characteristics, outcomes, and risk factors for in-hospital mortality of COVID-19 patients: A retrospective study in Thailand.

Introduction: Data on the characteristics and outcomes of patients hospitalized for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Thailand are limited. Objective: To determine characteristics and outcomes and identify risk factors for hospital mortality for hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who had COVID-19 infection and were admitted to the cohort ward or ICUs at Siriraj Hospital between January 2020 and December 2021. Results: Of the 2,430 patients included in this study, 229 (9.4%) died; the mean age was 54 years, 40% were men, 81% had at least one comorbidity, and 13% required intensive care unit (ICU). Favipiravir (86%) was the main antiviral treatment. Corticosteroids and rescue anti-inflammatory therapy were used in 74 and 6%, respectively. Admission to the ICU was the only factor associated with reduced mortality [odds ratio (OR) 0.01, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.01-0.05, P < 0.001], whereas older age (OR 14.3, 95%CI 5.76-35.54, P < 0.001), high flow nasal cannula (HFNC; OR 9.2, 95% CI 3.9-21.6, P < 0.001), mechanical ventilation (OR 269.39, 95%CI 3.6-2173.63, P < 0.001), septic shock (OR 7.79, 95%CI, 2.01-30.18, P = 0.003), and hydrocortisone treatment (OR 27.01, 95%CI 5.29-138.31, P < 0.001) were factors associated with in-hospital mortality. Conclusion: The overall mortality of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 was 9%. The only factor associated with reduced mortality was admission to the ICU. Therefore, appropriate selection of patients for admission to the ICU, strategies to limit disease progression and prevent intubation, and early detection and prompt treatment of nosocomial infection can improve survival in these patients.

High Mobility Group Box 1 and Interleukin 6 at Intensive Care Unit Admission as Biomarkers in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients.

Exuberant inflammation manifesting as a "cytokine storm" has been suggested as a central feature in the pathogenesis of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study investigated two prognostic biomarkers, the high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), in patients with severe COVID-19 at the time of admission in the intensive care unit (ICU). Of 60 ICU patients with COVID-19 enrolled and analyzed in this prospective cohort study, 48 patients (80%) were alive at ICU discharge. HMGB1 and IL-6 plasma levels at ICU admission were elevated compared with a healthy control, both in ICU nonsurvivors and ICU survivors. HMGB1 and IL-6 plasma levels were higher in patients with a higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score (> 10), and the presence of septic shock or acute kidney injury. HMGB1 and IL-6 plasma levels were also higher in patients with a poor oxygenation status (PaO2/FiO2 < 150 mm Hg) and a longer duration of ventilation (> 7 days). Plasma HMGB1 and IL-6 levels at ICU admission also correlated with other prognostic markers, including the maximum neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, D-dimer levels, and C-reactive protein levels. Plasma HMGB1 and IL-6 levels at ICU admission predicted ICU mortality with comparable accuracy to the SOFA score and the COVID-GRAM risk score. Higher HMGB1 and IL-6 were not independently associated with ICU mortality after adjustment for age, gender, and comorbidities in multivariate analysis models. In conclusion, plasma HMGB1 and IL6 at ICU admission may serve as prognostic biomarkers in critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and treatment outcomes of patients with COVID-19 at Thailand's university-based referral hospital.

BACKGROUND: The epidemiology and outcomes of COVID-19 patients in Thailand are scarce. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included adult hospitalized patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 at Siriraj Hospital during February 2020 to April 2020. RESULTS: The prevalence of COVID-19 was 7.5% (107 COVID-19 patients) among 1409 patients who underwent RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 detection at our hospital during the outbreak period. Patients with COVID-19 presented with symptoms in 94.4%. Among the 104 patients who were treated with antiviral medications, 78 (75%) received 2-drug regimen (lopinavir/ritonavir or darunavir/ritonavir plus chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine), and 26 (25%) received a 3-drug regimen with favipiravir added to the 2-drug regimen. Disease progression was observed in 18 patients (16.8%). All patients with COVID-19 were discharged alive. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of COVID-19 was 7.5% among patients who underwent RT-PCR testing, and 10% among those having risk factors for COVID-19 acquisition. Combination antiviral therapies for COVID-19 patients were well-tolerated and produced a favorable outcome.

Critical Care Management of Patients with COVID-19: Early Experience in Thailand

Since late December 2019, the world has been challenged with an outbreak of COVID-19. In Thailand, an upper middle-income country with a limited healthcare infrastructure and restricted human resources, nearly 3,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported as of early May 2020. Public health policies aimed at preventing new COVID-19 cases were very effective in halting the pandemic in Thailand. Case fatality in Thailand has been low (1.7%), at least in part due to early stratification according to risk of disease severity and timely initiation of supportive care with affordable measures. We present our initial experience with COVID-19 in Thailand, focusing on several aspects that may have played a crucial role in curtailment of the pandemic, and elements of care for severely ill COVID-19 patients, including stratification, isolation, and affordable diagnostic approaches and supportive care measures. We also discuss local considerations concerning some proposed experimental treatments.