Characteristics and outcomes of adverse events after COVID-19 vaccination.

OBJECTIVES: BNT-162b2, mRNA-1273, and Ad26.COV2.S vaccines data regarding adverse events (AEs) are scarce. In this report, we aimed to describe fatal and non-fatal possible AEs after COVID-19 vaccine administration. METHODS: An observational multicenter study investigating the causes of emergency department visits and hospital admissions within 10 days of COVID-19 vaccination. Patients who received first or second doses of COVID-19 vaccines and presented to the emergency department (ED), as well as those admitted to the hospitals or intensive care units (ICUs) were included. Causes of ED, hospital, and ICU admissions and discharges were collected based on the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) coding system. RESULTS: Between December 2020 and March 2021, 1842 patients visited the ED within 10 days of COVID-19 vaccine administration. The mean age was 70.3 years. Overall, 1221 patients presented after the first dose of the vaccine and 653 after the second dose. Trauma (14.9%), hypertensive emergency/urgency (7.8%), generalized pain and arthralgia (5.7%), and chest pain (4.4%) were the most common causes of presentation to the ED. Of all ED presentations, mortality rate was at 2.2% (41 patients) with a median follow-up time of 68.0 days, versus 2.6% in unvaccinated ED patients. Postvaccination acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (46.3%), septic shock (24.4%), and cardiogenic shock (12.2%) were the most common causes of death. CONCLUSION: Although reported AEs are not necessarily caused by the vaccination, this study provides further information about possible AEs after COVID-19 immunization, especially those requiring hospital admission. This study also supports prior data that serious AEs post vaccination are much lower than primary COVID-19 infections. Further studies are needed to investigate causalities between vaccines and reported AEs across all age groups.

D-DIMER-GUIDED ANTICOAGULATION PROPHYLAXIS THERAPY IN COVID-19 IS SAFE AND PREVENTS THROMBOSIS

A high-intensity thrombosis prophylaxis protocol based on D-dimer and weight was implemented across the healthcare system on 04/2020. These data suggest this protocol is a safe and effective thrombosis prophylaxis strategy for critically ill ICU patients with COVID-19. [Extracted from the article] Copyright of Critical Care Medicine is the property of Lippincott Williams & Wilkins and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Does inpatient hyperglycemia predict a worse outcome in COVID-19 intensive care unit patients?

BACKGROUND: We undertook this study to evaluate the association between hyperglycemia and outcomes in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: We conducted a multicenter retrospective study involving all adults with COVID-19 admitted to the ICU between March and May 2020. Patients were divided into normoglycemic (average blood glucose <140 mg/dL) and hyperglycemic (average blood glucose ≥140 mg/dL) groups. Outcomes such as mortality, need and duration of mechanical ventilation, and length of hospital and ICU stays were measured. RESULTS: Among 495 patients, 58.4% were male with a median age of 68 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 58.00-77.00), and baseline average blood glucose was 186.6 (SD ± 130.8). Preexisting diabetes was present in 35.8% of the studied cohort. Combined ICU and hospital mortality rates were 23.8%; mortality and mechanical ventilation rates were significantly higher in the hyperglycemic group with 31.4% vs 16.6% (P = .001) and 50.0% vs 37.2% (P = .004), respectively. Age above 60 years (hazard ratio [HR] 3.21; 95% CI 1.78, 5.78) and hyperglycemia (HR 1.79; 95% CI 1.14, 2.82) were the only significant predictors of in-hospital mortality. Increased risk for hyperglycemia was found in patients with steroid use (odds ratio [OR] 1.521; 95% CI 1.054, 2.194), triglycerides ≥150 mg/dL (OR 1.62; 95% CI 1.109, 2.379), and African American race (OR 0.79; 95% CI 0.65, 0.95). CONCLUSIONS: Hyperglycemia in patients with COVID-19 is significantly associated with a prolonged ICU length of stay, higher need of mechanical ventilation, and increased risk of mortality in the critical care setting. Tighter blood glucose control (≤140 mg/dL) might improve outcomes in COVID-19 critically ill patients; evidence from ongoing clinical trials is needed.

Transaminases are Potential Biomarkers of Disease Severity in COVID-19 Patients: A Single-Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: Considering the rapid spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2), the clinical implications of gastrointestinal (GI) and hepatic manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the U.S. population require analysis. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all adult patients with COVID-19 admitted to our facility. Patients were divided into two groups based on the presence of GI symptoms and transaminitis at presentation. Univariable analysis was performed to assess the differences between study groups. Kruskal-Wallis and Pearson's chi-square tests were used to compare the median of continuous and categorical variables, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of mechanical ventilation, cytokine release syndrome (CRS), and mortality after adjusting for baseline variables. RESULTS: A total of 84 patients were analyzed. After adjusting for baseline comorbidities, presence of GI symptoms (aOR, adjusted odds ratio 4.2, 95% CI, 1.17-15.60, p=0.03) and transaminitis on admission (aOR 5.69, 95% CI, 1.47-21.99, p=0.01) were associated with CRS. Transaminitis on admission and elevated total bilirubin during hospitalization were associated with an increased need for mechanical ventilation (aOR 6.17, 95% CI, 1.49-25.44, p=0.02 and aOR 7.29, 95% CI, 1.73-30.75, p=0.007, respectively). An elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST) on admission (aOR 13.41, 95% CI, 1.08-165.69, p=0.04) and elevated total bilirubin during hospitalization (aOR 82.68, 95% CI, 1.67-4074.8, p=0.02) were independently associated with an increased risk of mortality in COVID-19 patients. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 patients with transaminitis on admission had a higher risk of requiring mechanical ventilation and developing CRS. Patients with elevated AST on admission and elevated total bilirubin had higher mortality. Patients with GI symptoms did not have worse outcomes.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of critically Ill patients with COVID-19 in Northeast Ohio: low mortality and length of stay.

BACKGROUND: Published coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) reports suggest higher mortality with increasing age and comorbidities. Our study describes the clinical characteristics and outcomes for all intensive care unit (ICU) patients admitted across the Cleveland Clinic enterprise, a 10-hospital health care system in Northeast Ohio, serving more than 2.7 million people. METHODS: We analyzed the quality data registry for clinical characteristics and outcomes of all COVID-19-confirmed ICU admissions. Differences in outcomes from other health care systems and published cohorts from other parts of the world were delineated. RESULTS: Across our health care system, 495 COVID-19 patients were admitted from March 15 to June 1, 2020. Mean patient age was 67.3 years, 206 (41.6%) were females, and 289 (58.4%) were males. Mean Acute Physiology Score was 45.3, and mean Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation III score was 60.5. In total, 215 patients (43.3%) were intubated for a mean duration of 9.2 days. Mean ICU and hospital length of stay were 7.4 and 13.9 days, respectively, while mean ICU and hospital mortality rates were 18.4% and 23.8%. CONCLUSIONS: Our health care system cohort is the fourth largest to be reported. Lower ICU and hospital mortality and length of stay were seen compared to most other published reports. Better preparedness and state-level control of the surge in COVID-19 infections are likely the reasons for these better outcomes. Future research is needed to further delineate differences in mortality and length of stay across health care systems and over time.

Hyperglycemia management in hospitalized patients with COVID-19

It has been well established that patients with diabetes who have COVID-19 have a more severe disease course and higher mortality. Providing adequate care for these patients has required hospitals to adapt protocols for monitoring blood glucose and administering therapy to protect both patient and caregiver safety. Inpatient use of continuous glucose monitoring systems or home-use glucose monitoring systems has provided options for reduced contact glucose monitoring. For therapy, protocols for managing hyperglycemia and diabetes ketoacidosis have been designed with less frequent monitoring and medication administration. Finally, telemedicine has allowed for consultative care in a manner not requiring physical proximity.

Tocilizumab for treatment of patients with severe COVID-19: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Tocilizumab was approved for chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy induced cytokine release syndrome and it may provide clinical benefit for selected COVID-19 patients. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed hypoxic COVID-19 patients who were consecutively admitted between March 13, 2020 and April 19, 2020. Patients with lung infiltrates and elevated inflammatory markers received a single dose of tocilizumab if no contraindication was present. Systemic steroid, hydroxychloroquine, and azithromycin were concomitantly used for majority of the patients. FINDINGS: Of the 51 patients included for analysis, 28 (55%) received tocilizumab and 23 (45%) did not receive tocilizumab. Tocilizumab cohort required more invasive ventilation (68% vs. 22%) at baseline and during entire hospitalization (75% vs. 48%). The median time to clinical improvement in tocilizumab vs. no tocilizumab cohorts was 8 days (Interquartile range [IQR]: 6·25 - 9·75 days) vs. 13 days (IQR: 9·75 - 15·25 days) among patients who required mechanical ventilation at any time (Hazard ratio for clinical improvement: 1·83, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0·57 - 5·84) and 6·5 days vs. 7 days among all patients (Hazard ratio for clinical improvement: 1·14, 95% CI: 0·55 - 2·38), respectively. The median duration of vasopressor support and invasive mechanical ventilation were 2 days (IQR: 1·75 - 4·25 days) vs. 5 days (IQR: 4 - 8 days), p = 0.039, and 7 days (IQR: 4 - 14 days) vs. 10 days (IQR: 5 - 15 days) in tocilizumab vs. no tocilizumab cohorts, p = 0.11, respectively. Similar rates of hospital-acquired infections occurred in both cohorts (18% in tocilizumab and 22% in no tocilizumab cohort). INTERPRETATION: In patients with severe COVID-19, tocilizumab was associated with significantly shorter duration of vasopressor support. Although not statistically significant, tocilizumab also resulted in shorter median time to clinical improvement and shorter duration of invasive ventilation. These findings require validation from ongoing clinical trials of Tocilizumab in COVID-19 patients.

Hyperglycemia management in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

It has been well established that patients with diabetes who have COVID-19 have a more severe disease course and higher mortality. Providing adequate care for these patients has required hospitals to adapt protocols for monitoring blood glucose and administering therapy to protect both patient and caregiver safety. Inpatient use of continuous glucose monitoring systems or home-use glucose monitoring systems has provided options for reduced contact glucose monitoring. For therapy, protocols for managing hyperglycemia and diabetes ketoacidosis have been designed with less frequent monitoring and medication administration. Finally, telemedicine has allowed for consultative care in a manner not requiring physical proximity.