Relationship between corticosteroid administration and incidence of ventilator-associated lower respiratory tract infections in COVID-19 patients: a retrospective multicenter study (preprint)

Background Ventilator-associated lower respiratory tract infections (VA-LRTI) are  common in patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. The aim of this ancillary analysis of the coVAPid multicenter observational retrospective study is to assess the relationship between corticosteroid adjuvant administration and the incidence of VA-LRTI. MethodsPlanned ancillary analysis of a multicenter retrospective European cohort in 36 ICUs. Adult patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours for a SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia were consecutively included between February and May 2020. VA-LRTI diagnosis required strict definition with clinical, radiological and microbiological documentation. We assessed the association of VA-LRTI with corticosteroid administration using univariate and multivariate cause-specific Cox’s proportional hazard models with adjustment on prespecified confounders.Results 545 patients were included, of whom 191 (35%) received corticosteroids. The proportional hazard assumption for the effect of corticosteroids on the incidence of VA-LRTI was violated (p=0.018) indicating that this effect varied during the ICU stay. We found a lower risk of VA-LRTI for corticosteroid treated patients during the first days in the ICU and an increased risk for longer ICU stay. By modeling the effect of corticosteroids with time dependent coefficients, the association between corticosteroids and the incidence of VA-LRTI was not significant (overall effect p=0.068), with time-dependent hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) of 0.45 (0.18 to 1.10) at day 2, 0.89 (0.62 to 1.27) at day 7, 1.38 (0.99 to 1.92) at day 14 and 1.80 (1.08 to 2.98) at day 21.Conclusions No significant association was found between corticosteroid adjuvant therapy and the incidence of VA-LRTI, although a significant time-varying effect of corticosteroids was identified along the 28-day follow-up. 

Acute respiratory distress syndrome after SARS-CoV-2 infection on young adult population: international observational federated study based on electronic health records through the 4CE consortium ARDS after SARS-CoV-2 infection on young adult (preprint)

Purpose : In young adults (18 to 49 years old), investigation of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has been limited. We evaluated the risk factors and outcomes of ARDS following infection with SARS-CoV-2 in a young adult population. Methods : A retrospective cohort study was conducted between January 1st, 2020 and February 28th, 2021 using patient-level electronic health records (EHR), across 241 United States hospitals and 43 European hospitals participating in the Consortium for Clinical Characterization of COVID-19 by EHR (4CE). To identify the risk factors associated with ARDS, we compared young patients with and without ARDS through a federated analysis. We further compared the outcomes between young and old patients with ARDS. Results : Among the 75,377 hospitalized patients with positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR, 1001 young adults presented with ARDS ( 7.8% of young hospitalized adults). Their mortality rate at 90 days was 16.2% and they presented with a similar complication rate for infection than older adults with ARDS. Peptic ulcer disease, paralysis, obesity, congestive heart failure, valvular disease, diabetes, chronic pulmonary disease and liver disease were associated with a higher risk of ARDS. We described a high prevalence of obesity (53%), hypertension (38%- although not significantly associated with ARDS), and diabetes (32%). Conclusion : Trough an innovative method, a large international cohort study of young adults developing ARDS after SARS-CoV-2 infection has been gather. It demonstrated the poor outcomes of this population and associated risk factor.

Characterisation of Acute Kidney Injury in Critically Ill Patients with Severe Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) (preprint)

Background: COVID19-associated acute kidney injury frequency, severity and characterisation in critically ill patients has not been reported. Methods: Single-center cohort performed from March 3, 2020, to April 14, 2020 in 4 intensive care units in Bordeaux University Hospital, France. All patients with COVID19 and pulmonary severity criteria were included. AKI was defined using KDIGO criteria. A systematic urinary analysis was performed. The incidence, severity, clinical presentation, biological characterisation (transient vs. persistent acute kidney injury; proteinuria, hematuria and glycosuria), and short-term outcomes was evaluated. Results: 71 patients were included, with basal serum creatinine of 69 +/- 21 micromol/L. At admission, AKI was present in 8/71 (11%) patients. Median follow-up was 17 [12-23] days. AKI developed in a total of 57/71 (80%) patients with 35% Stage 1, 35% Stage 2, and 30% Stage 3 acute kidney injury; 10/57 (18%) required renal replacement therapy. Transient AKI was present in only 4/55 (7%) patients and persistent AKI was observed in 51/55 (93%). Patients with persistent AKI developed a median urine protein/creatinine of 82 [54-140] (mg/mmol) with an albuminuria/proteinuria ratio of 0.23 +/- 20 indicating predominant tubulo-interstitial injury. Only 2 (4%) patients had glycosuria. At Day 7 onset of after AKI, six (11%) patients remained dependent on renal replacement therapy, nine (16%) had SCr > 200 micromol/L, and four (7%) died. Day 7 and day 14 renal recovery occurred in 28% and 52 % respectively. Conclusion: COVID19 associated AKI is frequent, persistent severe and characterised by an almost exclusive tubulo-interstitial injury without glycosuria