Ventilatory Parameters in Obstetric Patients With COVID-19 and Impact of Delivery: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Current evidence on obstetric patients requiring advanced ventilatory support and impact of delivery on ventilatory parameters is retrospective, scarce, and controversial. RESEARCH QUESTION: What are the ventilatory parameters for obstetric patients with COVID-19 and how does delivery impact them? What are the risk factors for invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) and for maternal, fetal, and neonatal mortality? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Prospective, multicenter, cohort study including pregnant and postpartum patients with COVID-19 requiring advanced ventilatory support in the ICU. RESULTS: Ninety-one patients were admitted to 21 ICUs at 29.2 ± 4.9 weeks; 63 patients (69%) had delivered. Maximal ventilatory support was as follows: IMV, 69 patients (76%); high-flow nasal cannula, 20 patients (22%); and noninvasive mechanical ventilation, 2 patients (2%). Sequential Organ Failure Assessment during the first 24 h (SOFA24) score was the only risk factor for IMV (OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.29-2.99; P = .001). Respiratory parameters at IMV onset for pregnant patients were: mean ± SD plateau pressure (PP), 24.3 ± 4.5 cm H2O; mean ± SD driving pressure (DP), 12.5 ± 3.3 cm H2O; median static compliance (SC), 31 mL/cm H2O (interquartile range [IQR], 26-40 mL/cm H2O); and median Pao2 to Fio2 ratio, 142 (IQR, 110-176). Respiratory parameters before (< 2 h) and after (≤ 2 h and 24 h) delivery were, respectively: mean ± SD PP, 25.6 ± 6.6 cm H2O, 24 ± 6.7 cm H2O, and 24.6 ± 5.2 cm H2O (P = .59); mean ± SD DP, 13.6 ± 4.2 cm H2O, 12.9 ± 3.9 cm H2O, and 13 ± 4.4 cm H2O (P = .69); median SC, 28 mL/cm H2O (IQR, 22.5-39 mL/cm H2O), 30 mL/cm H2O (IQR, 24.5-44 mL/cm H2O), and 30 mL/cm H2O (IQR, 24.5-44 mL/cm H2O; P = .058); and Pao2 to Fio2 ratio, 134 (IQR, 100-230), 168 (IQR, 136-185), and 192 (IQR, 132-232.5; P = .022). Reasons for induced delivery were as follows: maternal, 43 of 71 patients (60.5%); maternal and fetal, 21 of 71 patients (29.5%); and fetal, 7 of 71 patients (9.9%). Fourteen patients (22.2%) continued pregnancy after ICU discharge. Risk factors for maternal mortality were BMI (OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.006-1.204; P = .037) and comorbidities (OR, 4.15; 95% CI, 1.212-14.20; P = .023). Risk factors for fetal or neonatal mortality were gestational age at delivery (OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.52-0.86; P = .002) and SOFA24 score (OR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.13-2.08; P = .006). INTERPRETATION: Contrary to expectations, pregnant patient lung mechanics were similar to those of the general population with COVID-19 in the ICU. Delivery was induced mainly for maternal reasons, but did not change ventilatory parameters other than Pao2 to Fio2 ratio. SOFA24 score was the only risk factor for IMV. Maternal mortality was associated independently with BMI and comorbidities. Risk factors for fetal and neonatal mortality were SOFA24 score and gestational age at delivery.

Precision health diagnostic and surveillance network uses S gene target failure (SGTF) combined with sequencing technologies to track emerging SARS‐CoV‐2 variants

Introduction The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) pandemic revealed a worldwide lack of effective molecular surveillance networks at local, state, and national levels, which are essential to identify, monitor, and limit viral community spread. SARS‐CoV‐2 variants of concern (VOCs) such as Alpha and Omicron, which show increased transmissibility and immune evasion, rapidly became dominant VOCs worldwide. Our objective was to develop an evidenced‐based genomic surveillance algorithm, combining reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and sequencing technologies to quickly identify highly contagious VOCs, before cases accumulate exponentially. Methods Deidentified data were obtained from 508,969 patients tested for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) with the TaqPath COVID‐19 RT‐PCR Combo Kit (ThermoFisher) in four CLIA‐certified clinical laboratories in Puerto Rico (n = 86,639) and in three CLIA‐certified clinical laboratories in the United States (n = 422,330). Results TaqPath data revealed a frequency of S Gene Target Failure (SGTF) > 47% for the last week of March 2021 in both, Puerto Rico and US laboratories. The monthly frequency of SGTF in Puerto Rico steadily increased exponentially from 4% in November 2020 to 47% in March 2021. The weekly SGTF rate in US samples was high (>8%) from late December to early January and then also increased exponentially through April (48%). The exponential increase in SGFT prevalence in Puerto Rico was concurrent with a sharp increase in VOCs among all SARS‐CoV‐2 sequences from Puerto Rico uploaded to Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISAID) (n = 461). Alpha variant frequency increased from <1% in the last week of January 2021 to 51.5% of viral sequences from Puerto Rico collected in the last week of March 2021. Conclusions According to the proposed evidence‐based algorithm, approximately 50% of all SGTF patients should be managed with VOCs self‐quarantine and contact tracing protocols, while WGS confirms their lineage in genomic surveillance laboratories. Our results suggest this workflow is useful for tracking VOCs with SGTF. The evidence‐based Molecular Epidemiology and Genomic Surveillance algorithm, developed in this study to quickly identify emerging Variants of Concern (VOCs), is a valuable tool for identifying individual carriers of highly infectious variants with the S Gene Target Failure (SGTF) feature, such as Alpha and Omicron, who can then be effectively triaged for isolation, contact tracing, and treatment purposes.

Precision health diagnostic and surveillance network uses S gene target failure (SGTF) combined with sequencing technologies to track emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.

INTRODUCTION: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic revealed a worldwide lack of effective molecular surveillance networks at local, state, and national levels, which are essential to identify, monitor, and limit viral community spread. SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) such as Alpha and Omicron, which show increased transmissibility and immune evasion, rapidly became dominant VOCs worldwide. Our objective was to develop an evidenced-based genomic surveillance algorithm, combining reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and sequencing technologies to quickly identify highly contagious VOCs, before cases accumulate exponentially. METHODS: Deidentified data were obtained from 508,969 patients tested for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with the TaqPath COVID-19 RT-PCR Combo Kit (ThermoFisher) in four CLIA-certified clinical laboratories in Puerto Rico (n = 86,639) and in three CLIA-certified clinical laboratories in the United States (n = 422,330). RESULTS: TaqPath data revealed a frequency of S Gene Target Failure (SGTF) > 47% for the last week of March 2021 in both, Puerto Rico and US laboratories. The monthly frequency of SGTF in Puerto Rico steadily increased exponentially from 4% in November 2020 to 47% in March 2021. The weekly SGTF rate in US samples was high (>8%) from late December to early January and then also increased exponentially through April (48%). The exponential increase in SGFT prevalence in Puerto Rico was concurrent with a sharp increase in VOCs among all SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Puerto Rico uploaded to Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISAID) (n = 461). Alpha variant frequency increased from <1% in the last week of January 2021 to 51.5% of viral sequences from Puerto Rico collected in the last week of March 2021. CONCLUSIONS: According to the proposed evidence-based algorithm, approximately 50% of all SGTF patients should be managed with VOCs self-quarantine and contact tracing protocols, while WGS confirms their lineage in genomic surveillance laboratories. Our results suggest this workflow is useful for tracking VOCs with SGTF.

Clinical characteristics, respiratory management, and determinants of oxygenation in COVID-19 ARDS: A prospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: To identify determinants of oxygenation over time in patients with COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS); and to analyze their characteristics according to Berlin definition categories. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective cohort study including consecutive mechanically ventilated patients admitted between 3/20/2020-10/31/2020 with ARDS. Epidemiological and clinical data on admission; outcomes; ventilation, respiratory mechanics and oxygenation variables were registered on days 1, 3 and 7 for the entire population and for ARDS categories. RESULTS: 1525 patients aged 61 ± 13, 69% male, met ARDS criteria; most frequent comorbidities were obesity, hypertension, diabetes and respiratory disease. On admission, 331(21%), 849(56%) and 345(23%) patients had mild, moderate and severe ARDS; all received lung-protective ventilation (mean tidal volumes between 6.3 and 6.7 mL/kg PBW) and intermediate PEEP levels (10-11 cmH2O). PaO2/FiO2, plateau pressure, static compliance, driving pressure, ventilation ratio, pH and D-dimer >2 mg/L remained significantly different among the ARDS categories over time. In-hospital mortality was, respectively, 55%, 58% and 70% (p < 0.000). Independent predictors of changes of PaO2/FiO2 over time were BMI; preexistent respiratory disease; D-dimer >2 mg/L; day 1-PEEP, and day 1-ventilatory ratio. CONCLUSION: Hypoxemia in patients with COVID-19-related ARDS is associated with comorbidities, deadspace and activated coagulation markers, and disease severity-reflected by the PEEP level required.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of invasively ventilated patients with COVID-19 in Argentina (SATICOVID): a prospective, multicentre cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Although COVID-19 has greatly affected many low-income and middle-income countries, detailed information about patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) is still scarce. Our aim was to examine ventilation characteristics and outcomes in invasively ventilated patients with COVID-19 in Argentina, an upper middle-income country. METHODS: In this prospective, multicentre cohort study (SATICOVID), we enrolled patients aged 18 years or older with RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19 who were on invasive mechanical ventilation and admitted to one of 63 ICUs in Argentina. Patient demographics and clinical, laboratory, and general management variables were collected on day 1 (ICU admission); physiological respiratory and ventilation variables were collected on days 1, 3, and 7. The primary outcome was all-cause in-hospital mortality. All patients were followed until death in hospital or hospital discharge, whichever occurred first. Secondary outcomes were ICU mortality, identification of independent predictors of mortality, duration of invasive mechanical ventilation, and patterns of change in physiological respiratory and mechanical ventilation variables. The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04611269, and is complete. FINDINGS: Between March 20, 2020, and Oct 31, 2020, we enrolled 1909 invasively ventilated patients with COVID-19, with a median age of 62 years [IQR 52-70]. 1294 (67·8%) were men, hypertension and obesity were the main comorbidities, and 939 (49·2%) patients required vasopressors. Lung-protective ventilation was widely used and median duration of ventilation was 13 days (IQR 7-22). Median tidal volume was 6·1 mL/kg predicted bodyweight (IQR 6·0-7·0) on day 1, and the value increased significantly up to day 7; positive end-expiratory pressure was 10 cm H2O (8-12) on day 1, with a slight but significant decrease to day 7. Ratio of partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2) to fractional inspired oxygen (FiO2) was 160 (IQR 111-218), respiratory system compliance 36 mL/cm H2O (29-44), driving pressure 12 cm H2O (10-14), and FiO2 0·60 (0·45-0·80) on day 1. Acute respiratory distress syndrome developed in 1672 (87·6%) of patients; 1176 (61·6%) received prone positioning. In-hospital mortality was 57·7% (1101/1909 patients) and ICU mortality was 57·0% (1088/1909 patients); 462 (43·8%) patients died of refractory hypoxaemia, frequently overlapping with septic shock (n=174). Cox regression identified age (hazard ratio 1·02 [95% CI 1·01-1·03]), Charlson score (1·16 [1·11-1·23]), endotracheal intubation outside of the ICU (ie, before ICU admission; 1·37 [1·10-1·71]), vasopressor use on day 1 (1·29 [1·07-1·55]), D-dimer concentration (1·02 [1·01-1·03]), PaO2/FiO2 on day 1 (0·998 [0·997-0·999]), arterial pH on day 1 (1·01 [1·00-1·01]), driving pressure on day 1 (1·05 [1·03-1·08]), acute kidney injury (1·66 [1·36-2·03]), and month of admission (1·10 [1·03-1·18]) as independent predictors of mortality. INTERPRETATION: In patients with COVID-19 who required invasive mechanical ventilation, lung-protective ventilation was widely used but mortality was high. Predictors of mortality in our study broadly agreed with those identified in studies of invasively ventilated patients in high-income countries. The sustained burden of COVID-19 on scarce health-care personnel might have contributed to high mortality over the course of our study in Argentina. These data might help to identify points for improvement in the management of patients in middle-income countries and elsewhere. FUNDING: None. TRANSLATION: For the Spanish translation of the Summary see Supplementary Materials section.